Feeding children a balanced diet can often feel like a herculean task, particularly for parents of picky eaters. It’s a common challenge that leaves many families grappling with how to ensure their little ones get the essential nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Melissa Snover, a qualified nutritionist and founder of Nourished, sheds light on this pervasive issue, providing both insight and practical solutions.
“In today’s busy lifestyles, giving children all the nutrients they need, every day, can be challenging enough, but it is even harder if your child is a picky eater,” Snover explains. Picky eating often leads to restricted diets, with children reluctant to try new tastes and flavours. This hesitancy can result in nutritional gaps, which Snover stresses are crucial to address early.
One of the main concerns surrounding picky eating is the lack of variety in children’s diets, particularly when it comes to fruit and vegetables. “It’s often difficult to introduce enough fruit and vegetables into children’s diets, yet it is so important for them to get a wide variety,” she says. Without these foods, children miss out on key vitamins and minerals that are essential for their development and overall health.
Snover highlights five essential nutrients that are often missing from the diets of picky eaters:
1. Vitamin A
Crucial for maintaining normal vision and supporting the immune system, Vitamin A can be found in dark, green leafy vegetables, as well as orange and yellow vegetables.
2. Vitamin B12
This nutrient promotes healthy energy levels and supports heart health. Foods rich in B12 include meat, fish, milk, cheese, and eggs.
3. Vitamin C
Known for its immune-boosting properties, Vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits, strawberries, blackcurrants, broccoli, and sprouts.
4. Zinc
Essential for bones, hair, skin, and nails, zinc is found in meat, fish, and seafood.
5. Folic Acid
Necessary for healthy cell and tissue growth and energy conversion, folic acid can be sourced from leafy green vegetables, chickpeas, kidney beans, and fortified cereals.
While it may sound daunting to introduce these nutrients into a picky eater’s diet, there is a solution for parents seeking additional support.
Nourished Kids Picky Eater Stack
“The innovative Nourished Kids Picky Eater Stack is designed to help replenish some of the essential nourishments found in fruits and vegetables,” Snover notes. Coated in a sugar-free sour cola flavour, the Nourished Kids Picky Eater Stack is designed to be both appealing to children and effective in addressing their nutritional needs. The unique blend is packed with 11 essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients including vitamin C for immunity, vitamin E for healthy DNA, folic acid to convert food into energy and zinc to help strengthen bones, hair, skin and nails.
The rise in picky eating has sparked broader discussions about the role of diet in childhood development. Experts like Snover agree that variety is key, but so is patience. Encouraging children to explore new foods requires creativity and persistence. For instance, involving kids in meal preparation can make them more inclined to try unfamiliar foods, while presenting fruits and vegetables in fun, visually appealing ways can also make a difference.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t perfection but progress. “By finding ways to bridge the gap in nutrition, whether through innovative products or gradual dietary changes, parents can ensure their children grow up healthy and strong,” Snover emphasises. Her insights serve as a valuable reminder that with the right tools and strategies, tackling picky eating is a challenge that parents can overcome.
About the expert
Melissa Snover is an award-winning entrepreneur in the fields of food technology and additive manufacturing. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial success and several successful exits, she has established a strong track record for innovation and brand building on a global scale. She is a registered nutritionist and the inventor of several patented technologies. In 2019, she founded Rem3dy Health and raised the highest ever female founder seed round in UK history. Her latest creation, Nourished, the world’s first 3D-printed personalised gummy stacks, exemplifies her innovative approach to consumer centric product development and commitment to better life through science.
