Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Kids
Vitamin means ‘vital for life’
Vitamins and minerals are compounds necessary for the healthy functioning of our bodies. We need vitamins and minerals to help us grow, to see properly, to make bones, muscles, skin and organs and to help battle infections. Deficiencies in some vitamins and minerals can lead to serious problems.
The best way to ensure your child receives enough vitamins and minerals for normal growth and development is to provide a wide variety of fresh foods including wholegrains, vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts and legumes and dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt.
According to the 2007 National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, children are not consuming enough calcium-rich foods with only 45% of girls aged 9-11years, 11% aged 12-13 years and 18% aged 14-16 years meeting their daily calcium requirement. For boys only 65% aged 9-11years, 50% aged 12-13years and 56% aged 14-16 year are meeting their daily requirements.
Other vitamins and minerals that are not being consumed in required amounts for all age groups include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Iodine.
Download the Vitamins and Minerals Fact Sheet
Latest News
Front of Pack Labelling (FOPL) has been getting a decent amount of media attention lately as the government is likely to announce its stance on the matter in response to a commissioned report and prior to the federal-state food ministers’ meeting. The push for front of pack labelling is based on...