The best way to make sure your child gets the nutrients he or she needs is to serve a variety of foods. Fortified orange juice, breads, and cereals also can help with balanced nutrition. Worried about a picky eater? Talk to your pediatrician about a daily vitamin and mineral supplement.Fortified Foods
Why kids need it: Zinc may help kids stop colds by helping their immune systems fight viruses and other disease-causing germs. The body needs zinc to grow and develop.Zinc
Why kids need it: Almost every cell and organ in the body needs potassium to work as it should. Potassium also is important for blood pressure, keeping the heart pumping and the muscles working when kids are running around.Potassium
Why kids need it: Magnesium is one of the building blocks of the body's cells, and it's important in making energy. A diet rich in magnesium also will keep your child's heart pumping strongly into adulthood.Magnesium
Why kids need it: Iron isn't just for pumping in the gym. It also helps pump blood in the body. Iron is found in the part of red blood cells that moves oxygen to the rest of the body.Iron
Why kids need it: Choline isn't a vitamin, but it's still an important nutrient. Cells need it for their shape, and the nervous system needs it to speed messages throughout the body.Choline
Why kids need it: Vitamin A is key for kids' good eyesight, especially for color and night vision. It also gives their immune systems an infection-fighting boost.Vitamin A
