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Many parents strive to provide their kids with the best food, but not many of us know that the next generation of foods for kids take a steep turn towards functional ingredients that go far beyond basic nutrition. Functional foods for kids not only will improve their overall health, but also train them on how to make intelligent food choices in the long run. By the end of this paradigm shift, the next generation of kids will be ready to “digest” foods that meet their genetic needs and dispositions. Parents frequently ignore these healthful choices in favor of what they believe to be more kid-friendly options, such as hot dogs, pizza, French fries, chicken nuggets, artificial juice, and soda. At the end of the day, it is all about our children’s health and prosperity, and our job and commitment is to make this world a better place. A place made of dreams and knowledge.

Kids’ Functional Nutrition

The fundamentals of nutrition for children are the same as those of nutrition for adults. Everyone requires the same nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, carbs, protein, and fat. Children, on the other hand, require various amounts of specific nutrients at different ages. So, what is the ideal formula for promoting your child’s growth and development? The answer lies with natural, functional foods for kids. Check out the nutrition principles below, for girls and boys of various ages:

1. Vegan Vitamin D3 Oil

It is a product to truly benefit you or your kid’s health. Our High Phenolic Olive + Algae Vegan Vitamin D3 Oil contains the best of the olive and algae that can supply you 600 IU of the purest form of vitamin D3 from algae, together with, a complete bioactive compound-complex from the olive tree. We consider this to be among our best and most advanced natural foods for kids.

There are so many health benefits associated with the daily intake of vitamin D3 that you can’t ignore. It has a great anti-inflammatory response, boosts the immune system, supports brain function, promotes bone health, and is essential for kid development. But how do you take it from food or what are the latest functional food choices to support your kids’ needs? The short answer is that it is definitely best to receive it from food not tablets. The long answer is that the effective absorption of vitamin D3 is a much more complicated process.

Vitamin D3 differs from other vitamins in that it is spontaneously created by the body’s cholesterol cells when your skin is exposed to sunshine. But most people don’t get enough sunshine or eat enough vitamin D-rich functional foods to get an adequate supply. More than 4 in 10 Americans get insufficient levels of vitamin D3 1. In a recent study, Colin Smith, a Professor of Functional Genomics at Brighton, said in a press release: “We have shown that vitamin D3 appears to stimulate the type I interferon signaling system in the body — a key part of the immune system that provides a first line of defense against bacteria and viruses. Thus, a healthy vitamin D3 status may help prevent viruses and bacteria from gaining a foothold in the body.” This is crucial since previous studies suggested that both forms of vitamin D were equally beneficial. However, this new study implies that foods fortified with vitamin D should favor D3 over D2.

2. Vegan Calcium and Potassium

We have designed a product to support your kid’s calcium and potassium needs in parallel to providing you with the great antioxidant benefits associated with the consumption of pomegranate concentrate. It has an amazing taste that your kids will love. Pour 10ml over their yogurt, salad, or simply add it to their smoothies or juices. Visit our nutrition tips section and discover delicious, functional recipes and suggestions on how to use our products and how to quickly prepare intelligent foods for kids.

3. Vegan Organic Protein

Choose eggs, beans, peas, soy products, nuts, and seeds. Eggs, for example, are a great source of protein, and yes they do contain cholesterol, but not much saturated fat, which is the most essential element in elevating a person’s cholesterol level. Still, an egg every other day is sufficient for most children.

4. Organic Fruits

Encourage your youngster to consume a variety of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Apples for example make an excellent snack. They’re sweet (or tart, depending on the kind) and low in calories (about 90 calories for a medium apple). They’re also high in vitamin C and contain roughly 5 grams of fiber per unpeeled whole apple 2. Keep in mind that apples, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries contain very low amounts of natural sugar. As fruits are very susceptible to pathogens during cultivation, an extensive use of phytochemicals and pesticides are typically applied in the fields. For this reason, always choose organic certified fruits that do not contain any harmful chemicals for your kids or yourself.

5. Organic Vegetables

Serve a selection of fresh, frozen, or dried organic vegetables. Each week, try to include a variety of vegetables, such as dark green, crimson, and orange, beans and peas, eggplants, carrots, kale, zucchini, and others. In fact, some high-protein veggies contain up to 8 grams of protein per cup. This may seem insignificant in comparison to a chicken breast (34 grams per 4 ounces) or burger (26 grams per quarter pounder), but veggies are also high-fiber foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins.

6. Organic Grains

Organic whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, oats, quinoa, or wild rice, are a great choice. The phrase whole wheat is only applied to goods that use the entire wheat kernel. So it’s best to stick to whole grain or whole wheat varieties because they contain the most nutrients 3. Refined flours, unlike whole grains, have had their germ and bran removed, removing numerous minerals and fiber. The fiber, good fats, and minerals present in the germ and bran of the grain kernel are the source of the majority of research pointing to the health advantages of grains. A diet high in whole grains has been associated with a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and early death in numerous studies 4 5 6. On this basis, refined grains, such as white bread, pasta, and rice, should be avoided 7.

7. Organic Dairy

Encourage your child to consume fat-free or low-fat dairy products such milk, yogurt, cheese, or fortified soy beverages (non-gmo). Pay attention to the organic label, it is vital for your kids’ health. Remember to check the labels for ingredients like added sugar or unwanted additives and avoid those with undesirable add-ins.

MILESTONE® Tip: Boil an organic egg or two for 5 minutes. Peel it and place it in that small bawl that your kid loves to have its breakfast. Add 10ml of High Phenolic Olive + Algae Vegan Vitamin D3 Oil and half a slice of sourdough 100% whole wheat bread. It is very high in fiber and nutrients 8 9. Sourdough bread is created by a fermentation process that relies on naturally existing yeast and bacteria to rise, which makes sourdough bread an excellent prebiotic food for gut and microbiome 10 11. Combines this with a sufficient vitamin D3 intake and you’ll have the best functional food for vitamin D3.

Foods for Kids to Avoid

1. Sugar 12 13
2. Dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, and ice cream)
3. Margarine – Artificial Trans Fats 14 15
4. Meats or Processed Meat 16 17
5. Vegetable oils (e.g. corn, safflower, soybean, peanut, and cottonseed oil) 18
6. French fries and other fried foods
7. Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages
8. Refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and pastries 19 20 21

Summary

There are so many health benefits associated with the daily intake of vitamin D3 that you can’t ignore. It has a great anti-inflammatory response, boosts the immune system, supports brain function, promotes bone health, and is essential for kid development. So, if you are ready to dive into the world of functional foods for kids, feel free to navigate to our corresponding foods for immune category and discover the benefits of our functional foods designed for vitamin D3 deficiencies.

A Word From MILESTONE®

MILESTONE® Food for your Genes uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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