Toddler Nutrition: Important Nutrients for Toddlers

Children’s bodies and brains grow at the highest rate in the first few years of life, making nutrition crucial to proper development. Read on to learn more about important nutrients for toddlers and how Kabrita Goat Milk Toddler Formula can help to fill nutrition gaps.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Toddlers

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that plays an important role in brain, eye, and neurological development in children. There are many studies that highlight the importance of DHA in children, including in the visual system and cognitive development.

Children’s brains are rapidly growing in the first two years of life, and DHA is especially important to support development during these years. DHA is mainly found in fatty fish, such as anchovies, salmon, and tuna, or can be taken as a supplement. Kabrita Goat Milk Toddler Formula is fortified with DHA to support toddler development, containing 23.5 mg per cup.

Vitamin D and Toddlers

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is made by the body in response to UV light from the sun hitting our skin. It aids the absorption of calcium to promote strong, healthy bones and teeth, while also helping to boost the immune system and promote healthy cell growth.

While playing outside has many benefits in childhood, it is often not enough for children to get the recommended dose of vitamin D, especially when appropriately applying sunscreen. Toddlers are recommended to consume 600 IU of vitamin D per day. Liquid supplements are readily available for children. Kabrita is also fortified with vitamin D, providing 94 IU per cup.

Prebiotics and Toddlers

Research on the importance that gut health has on overall positive health outcomes, including the digestive system, immune system, and the cardiovascular system, is growing. Prebiotics are nondigestible plant fibers that probiotics, the healthy bacteria in the gut, use as fuel.

There are many food sources of prebiotics including asparagus, eggplant, and legumes. Goat milk formula contains naturally occurring oligosaccharide prebiotics shown to have beneficial anti-infection properties. Kabrita Goat Milk Formula also adds specific galactooligosaccharide prebiotics (GOS) to support gut health in tiny tummies.

While a diet rich in diverse and whole foods remains the ideal way to consume important nutrients, nutrient gaps may still occur especially for picky toddlers. Kabrita Goat Milk Toddler Formula is fortified with 22 vitamins and minerals, as well as DHA and prebiotic GOS. Adding two, 4-oz servings of Kabrita each day is a wonderful complement to your little one's day, and can help to fill the nutrient gaps. If you’d like to try Kabrita with your little one, check out our free offer.

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Original Content Published: December 17, 2014, 2:19 pm