by Ann Krier

Created on: April 21, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2008

Vitamins for the children. In our lifetime, we have had exactly three pediatricians and all of them have had different views on the subject.

The first, Dr. Mike as he was known to the children, said that they might as well be chewing on cardboard. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 'a diet based on the Food Guide Pyramid provides adequate amounts of all the vitamins' a child needs. Seems Dr. Mike and the AAP agree.

The second, Dr. Mitch, insisted that they not only take the vitamins, but that they take his special organic brand which was obviously private labeled and in all probability, not as well supervised as Flintstones or some other national brand.

The third and current doctor assumes no personal opinion. He feels that if the family - meaning parents and children - want to take vitamins AND they follow the label carefully with regards to dosage, that they may have some real benefits, including the psychological one of benefit for benefit's sake.

There seems to be a varied consensus that vitamins even have any effect at all. By far the most recommended product for vitamin consumption is to promote a healthy nutritional basis for the children. Getting daily vitamins through nutrition is idea, but it can also be challenging.

When you take the children food shopping (yes, it is a nightmare) play the Vitamin ABC game with them. Teach them that green leafy vegetable can have iron and so can a hamburg. That fruit has fiber and also vitamins like C. Pick up the carrots and apricots and happily announce that they are rich in Vitamin A. That milk provides vitamin D. Older children can play with a pencil and paper by checking them off a list or by writing down the food name.
When you make it game, it becomes something that the child will learn and remember.

Picky eaters are going to need assistance with their nutritional intake. A vitamin is not a cure all, but can be a very important addition to her eating habits. One area physician, cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston, the inventor of the South Beach Diet Plan, notes that "Kids today are literally not only overweight and overfed, but they are literally malnourished." He introduced a child's version of his diet within the Miami-Dade County School system in 2006.

There are some very real dangers in vitamin use. Children's livers and kidney's are less developed than similar organs in an adult. In these organs, most of processing of nutritional elements takes place. In order to avoid any risk or unnecessary damage - follow these guidelines:
- Ask your pediatrician for his or her recommendations.
- Never purchase a multi-vitamin that has more than the RDA (recommended daily allowance)of any supplement.
- Use multi-vitamins that are specifically manufactured for children.

In Dade County, you can use the following public resources for further help or information:
Dade County Schools - Child Nutrition
The Dade Health Women Infant Children's Program visit: http://www.dadehealth.org/wic/WICfoods2.asp

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