Parent Teacher Magazine Cabrrus County Schools March 2014 | Page 12

KIDS NEED THEIR NUTRIENTS
A special contribution from Novant Health

Most parents know that children need vitamins and minerals to
stay healthy. But knowing exactly what nutrients and how much they
need of each is not always easy. Learning a bit more about vitamins
and minerals can help ensure your kids are on the right nutritional
track.
Despite parents’ best efforts, kids may not always get all the
vitamins and minerals they need. To make sure your kids are getting
the full range of nutrients that they need, be sure to offer your
children a variety of foods. Start by taking a closer look at the foods
your kids eat on a regular basis.

Vitamins A, B, C , D
Iron and Calcium
Understand the vitamin alphabet
The nutrition labels on food packaging can show you which foods
contain the proper nutrients. Below is a breakdown of the essential
vitamins and minerals that kids and teens need for different areas of
growth and where to find them:
l Vitamin A is important for healthy skin and normal growth,
and it also helps vision and tissue repair. Vitamin A can be found in
rich quantities in yellow and orange vegetables, dairy products and
liver.
l Vitamin B helps the body produce red blood cells and assists
in metabolic activities. Vitamin B is found in meat, poultry, fish, soy,
milk, eggs, whole grains and enriched breads and cereals.
l Vitamin C is the body’s tool for healing and fighting off
infection, and it also strengthens tissue, muscles and skin. For
healthy doses of vitamin C, look to ci