{"id":1296,"date":"2021-03-28T11:57:03","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T11:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/?p=1296"},"modified":"2021-05-07T12:13:52","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T12:13:52","slug":"10-vital-nutrients-for-your-toddler-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/10-vital-nutrients-for-your-toddler-development\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Vital Nutrients for Your Toddler Development"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The majority of parents are well aware that their kids need vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients to remain healthy. But it\u2019s not always easy for moms and dads to know what are nutrients that most benefit kids, what <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/what-is-a-well-visit-and-well-visits-checklist\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">daily essential nutrients<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> their children need, and which types of food contain these nutrients. On top of that kids are notoriously picky when it comes to food because they don\u2019t really grasp what are nutrients and what is junk food. Ask the average toddler what is the most important nutrient or what kind of food are particularly nutritious and he or she would probably say ice cream.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The fact remains, however, that toddler nutrition is one of the three pillars that underlie your kid\u2019s future development. The other two are environmental and genetic factors. It is important, therefore, that parents know which nutrients are particularly important for preschool children. And they absolutely have to make sure their toddler consumes enough of the 6 essential nutrients (Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, Water).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Link Between Academic Performance And Nutrition<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At first glance, it might appear outlandish to claim that toddler nutrition will eventually impact a child\u2019s ability to learn. Research has, however, proven that there is a clear link between the vital nutrients you consume during your childhood years and academic performance later in life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Throughout your child\u2019s early childhood, it is very important to educate yourself on what are nutrients, early childhood nutrition, what are organic nutrients, what is the most important nutrient, what the daily essential nutrients are, and what organic nutrients are and the role they play in your child\u2019s development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You should also monitor his or her intake of nutrients for the benefit of their future performance. Breastfeeding, for example, seems to boost IQ development, while there is a correlation between iron deficiency and reduced performance and cognition at school going age. Protein is also extremely important because this nutrient is needed for proper growth and development. It are particularly important for preschool children.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the reasons for this could simply be that under-nourished kids who miss out on organic nutrients and other vital nutrients will miss more school days because they get sick more regularly than their properly-fed counterparts. This in turn causes them to start lagging behind the other children in the class. But there\u2019s more to it than that: research shows that kids who eat a healthy breakfast that contains the 6 essential nutrients before going to school fare better in tests than those who do have to go without breakfast. Of particular importance in this regard are the daily essential nutrients discussed below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While eating organic nutrients or any specific food cannot guarantee that your child will be healthy and smart, research shows that the quality of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/topics\/nutrition-for-children\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">toddler nutrition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is directly linked to a child\u2019s future health and academic performance. Parents should therefore know what kind of food are particularly nutritious. Protein for kids, for example, is crucial in early childhood nutrition because this nutrient is needed for proper growth and development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To make things easier for parents who want to know what are nutrients and what is the most important nutrient that will most benefit their kids, and also what are the daily essential nutrients, we have compiled a list of 11 vital nutrients for toddler development. After reading this you will know what kind of food are particularly nutritious and what should rather be avoided.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>1. Carbohydrates For Energy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite what the headlines claim, carbohydrates are one of the organic nutrients. They are also your child\u2019s most vital source of energy and therefore a crucial part of toddler development. They help the child\u2019s body to use protein and fat for repairing and building tissue. Carbohydrates are found in many different forms such as starches, sugars, and even fiber. Children should, however, preferably eat less sugar and more fibers and starches.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Below are a couple of good carbohydrate sources:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cereals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bread<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Crackers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rice<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Potatoes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pasta<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1298 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy.jpg\" alt=\"Toddler Girl Eat Pasta Macaroni Bolognese With Minced Meat\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/1.-Carbohydrates-For-Energy.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>2. Protein For Kids: More Important Than You May Think<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Protein plays a particularly important role in early childhood nutrition because this nutrient is needed for proper growth and development. Protein is vital for helping your child\u2019s body build cells, assisting with fighting infection, breaking foods down into energy, and transmitting oxygen. When asking yourself what is the most important nutrient, proteins should definitely be high on the list. Because it\u2019s so important, we have to repeat: this nutrient is needed for proper growth and development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods are excellent protein sources for kids:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dairy products, beans, nuts, eggs, fish, poultry, and meat.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>3. Fats As An Energy Source and Much More<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fats are an excellent energy source for children and they can also easily be stored by the body. On top of that, they also play a role in helping the child\u2019s body to properly utilize some of the other core nutrients. As such, they play a very important role in toddler nutrition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods are great sources of fats:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whole-milk dairy products, fish, meat, cooking oils, and nuts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>4. Calcium: Not Only For Healthy Teeth and Bones<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, calcium with one of the 6 essential nutrients with a good reason. It plays a vital role in toddler development because it helps your child\u2019s body to build healthy teeth and bones. It plays an important role in blood clotting and muscle, nerve, and heart function.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to many pediatricians, kids between the ages of 1 and 3 need about 500mg of calcium per day. Between ages 4 and 8, calcium consumption should be increased to 800mg per day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods are great sources of calcium:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Milk, yogurt, cheese, egg yolks, ice cream, spinach, broccoli, and tofu.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>5. Iron For Hemoglobin<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A typical toddler needs around 7mg of iron per day. This is essential in the production of hemoglobin, which in turn is necessary for transporting oxygen to every corner of your child\u2019s body. If your kid consumes too little iron one day but more than enough the next day, their body will adjust. But consistent underconsumption of iron could lead to anemia, which could cause fatigue, muscle weakness, and impaired brain development. Its role in this regard makes iron one of the 6 essential nutrients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods are good sources of iron:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Iron-fortified cereals, liver, nuts, red meats, beans, poultry, whole grains, and shellfish.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>6. Fiber: Not Just For Regular Bowel Movements<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Although fiber is necessary to ensure your kid enjoys regular bowel movements, it could also be essential to help prevent cancer and heart disease later in life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods are excellent sources of fiber:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nuts, seeds, kidney beans, lentils, and chickpeas.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>7. Folate: Important For Both Pregnant Moms And Kids<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Folate, which is one of the essential B vitamins, plays an important role in preventing anemia in pregnant mothers and toddlers. That\u2019s because it is vital for the healthy development and growth of body cells. Folate is also of great importance in helping to prevent NTDs (Neural Tube Defects) in babies and for the development of the human nervous system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What kind of food are particularly rich in folate? Here are some of the most common ones:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Brussels sprouts, black or kidney beans, spinach, asparagus, chickpeas, lentils, and whole-grain cereals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>8. Vitamin D: The Sun Might Not Be Enough<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) toddlers, infants, and adults should consume about 400 IU of vitamin D on an average day. This is essential for helping to build strong teeth, bones, and muscles. Although our bodies are able to absorb a significant share of that from the sun\u2019s rays, smog, adverse weather and sunscreens can negatively affect this process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods are excellent sources of vitamin D, both for toddlers and adults:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Salmon, tuna, milk, eggs, and fortified orange juice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>9. Vitamin A: Not Just For Healthy Skin, Nails, And Hair<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vitamin A serves several purposes, both in adults and children. It helps your eyes to adjust to bright or dim light, boosts growth, helps to fight infection, and keeps your skin, nails, and hair healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vitamin A is mainly present in animal products, although some vegetables and fruits (including bananas and carrots) contain carotenoids, which our bodies can convert to vitamin A.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods are great vitamin A sources:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sweet potatoes, carrots, apricots, squash, broccoli, spinach, fish oils, cabbage, and egg yolk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1299 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair.jpg\" alt=\"Child Eats Vegetables Broccoli and Carrots\" width=\"1000\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair-200x90.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair-400x181.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair-600x271.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair-768x347.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair-800x362.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2021\/03\/9.-Vitamin-A-Not-Just-For-Healthy-Skin-Nails-And-Hair.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>10. Vitamin C: From Healing Wounds To Strong Teeth and More<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not only does Vitamin C help to fight off the common cold but it also boosts our immune systems, makes the walls of our blood vessels stronger, helps to keep the body\u2019s cells working as a unit, assist with the healing of bruises, cuts, and other wounds, and plays a role in building strong teeth and bones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The following foods contain high levels of vitamin C:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mangos, citrus fruits (e.g. oranges), papayas, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, melons, potatoes, tomatoes, and strawberries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We hope you have learned a lot about how important nutrition is for your toddler. Is there perhaps an important question we failed to answer? Please feel free to leave a comment below and we will try to help. Otherwise, you are always welcome to visit our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">website <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">to find out more about what the best pediatrician in Miami can do for you and your child.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boystownpediatrics.org\/knowledge-center\/toddler-nutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.boystownpediatrics.org\/knowledge-center\/toddler-nutrition<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parents.com\/kids\/nutrition\/healthy-eating\/must-eat-nutrients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.parents.com\/kids\/nutrition\/healthy-eating\/must-eat-nutrients\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/novakdjokovicfoundation.org\/importance-nutrition-early-childhood-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/novakdjokovicfoundation.org\/importance-nutrition-early-childhood-development\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stanfordchildrens.org\/en\/topic\/default?id=kids-need-their-nutrients--1-19820\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.stanfordchildrens.org\/en\/topic\/default?id=kids-need-their-nutrients&#8211;1-19820<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www1.health.gov.au\/internet\/main\/publishing.nsf\/Content\/health-pubhlth-strateg-folate-index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www1.health.gov.au\/internet\/main\/publishing.nsf\/Content\/health-pubhlth-strateg-folate-index.htm<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www1.health.gov.au\/internet\/main\/publishing.nsf\/Content\/health-pubhlth-strateg-folate-index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/study.com\/academy\/lesson\/organic-vs-inorganic-nutrients-differences-importance.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The majority of parents are well aware that their kids need vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients to remain healthy. But it\u2019s not always easy for moms and dads to know what are nutrients that most benefit kids, what daily essential nutrients their children need, and which types of food contain these nutrients. On top  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[149,155,158,160,147,150,157,152,156,151,153,148,154,159],"class_list":["post-1296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrients-for-toddler","tag-6-essential-nutrients","tag-daily-essential-nutrients","tag-early-childhood-nutrition","tag-important-for-preschool-children","tag-ital-nutrients","tag-organic-nutrients","tag-proper-growth-and-development","tag-protein-for-kids","tag-this-nutrient-is-needed-for","tag-toddler-development","tag-toddler-nutrition","tag-what-are-nutrients","tag-what-is-the-most-important-nutrient","tag-what-kind-of-food-are-particularly"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}