There are some key nutrients that are crucial in a child’s development, such as vitamin C, iron, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, protein, to name a few.
So as parents, it’s pertinent to know what we are feeding our kids and how the nutrients complement each other.
For example, if you are feeding your child plenty of vitamin C in their diet, they are more likely to absorb iron effectively. To put it into real meals, if you’re eating a lot of dark leafy vegetables, which are rich in vitamin C, the body is able to absorb more iron from fish or lean meats.
When the two foods are paired together, it makes for good food synergy.
Another example is Vitamin D and calcium, wherein vitamin D plays an important role in the absorption of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, which are all key nutrients for strong bones3.
Vitamin B12 and folate are another two top nutrients that are talked about in child development. Folate is dependent on vitamin B12 to be absorbed, stored and metabolised4.
We commonly feed our kids meat, eggs, milk, and other foods of animal origin, which are rich in vitamin B12, while natural sources of folate include leafy green vegetables, beans, and legumes.
