Fruits are an essential part of a healthy diet, especially when it comes to young children in their growing years. We all want our kids to grow tall, strong and healthy. What better way to do so then to provide them with the essential vitamins and minerals they need for optimal growth and development?
Fruits are not only delicious and colourful, but also packed to the brim with essential nutrients capable of supporting your child’s growth. Here are five fruits you should consider introducing to your child’s diet today!
Bananas, a Nutritional Powerhouse
Bananas are excellent for growing children. The fruit is naturally sweet and appeals to the taste buds of children who often have a sweet tooth. Bananas will suit children who are active and love to participate in physical activities and sports. Bananas are well-known for being rich in potassium, an essential mineral for those who love to exercise. A key function of potassium is fluid management in the bloodstream and cells. Both sodium and potassium levels contribute to blood pressure and regulate fluid throughout the body. When you exercise, you lose potassium in the muscles, leading to nausea, slower reflexes, vomiting, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, cramping, and rapid heart rate. Bananas help to replenish the potassium deficiency caused by exercise. Regular physical activity helps your child to build healthy bones, muscles, heart and lungs, and a healthy consumption of bananas will supplement this.
Strawberries, the Bite-size Immunity Booster
Strawberries are a well-known antioxidant that can strengthen your child’s immune system and reduce their risk of falling sick. Children are prone to falling sick due to their immature immune systems. Falling ill frequently can be a major roadblock for your child’s growth and development. This makes the immune system boosting capabilities of strawberries vital for your child. In addition, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, which further supports your child’s body’s natural defences against illness and infection. Additionally, strawberries are high in fibre, making them the perfect choice for improving digestion and maintaining a healthy digestive system.
Mangoes, a Sweet, Versatile Tropical Fruit
Mangoes are native to South Asia and used for various culinary applications, including salads, smoothies, juices, desserts, and even savoury dishes. If you are a mango lover, that’s great because the fruit is not only delicious but also a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and folate. In addition, they contain dietary fibre and antioxidants, which contribute to their nutritional value and potential health-promoting properties.
The nutrients found in mangoes are not only beneficial for adults but can also benefit your child’s growth. The naturally sweet taste that the mango is famous for makes introducing them to your child’s diet a simple task. More importantly, the vitamins and minerals found in mangoes are crucial for your child’s growth. Vitamin A is vital for healthy vision and immune function, while vitamin C supports collagen production, wound healing, and iron absorption. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage.
Grapes, Small but Yummy
Grapes are a hydrating fruit that provides vitamins C and K, antioxidants, and fibre. Due to their small size, grapes can be a convenient and healthy snack for children. Opting for seedless grapes or slicing them lengthwise can help to reduce choking hazards for young children.
Grapes are packed with essential nutrients that can contribute to your child’s overall growth. They contain vitamins C and K, which are important for bone health, collagen synthesis, and proper immune function. Grapes also provide dietary fibre, which supports digestion and maintains a healthy gut.
Oranges, a Vibrant Citrus Fruit
When you think of sources of vitamin C, oranges will probably be the first fruit that comes to mind. The tangy citrus fruit is well-known for being rich in vitamin C, which is an essential vitamin that not only strengthens the immune system and aids in fighting off infections and illnesses, but also promotes the growth and repair of tissues, as well as collagen synthesis.
Children are often more vulnerable to infections and illnesses. Vitamin C is crucial in strengthening your child’s immune response, which will keep your child healthy, especially during their growing years. While oranges are famous for being rich in vitamin C, the fruit contains more than just vitamin C. The fruit can provide an array of essential nutrients such as vitamin A, folate, potassium, and thiamine. These nutrients are vital for healthy vision, cell growth, brain function, and overall growth and development in children.
Why does my child dislike fruits?
When parents try to introduce fruits to their children’s diet, they often face a common problem. Their child dislikes or refuses to eat the fruit! How can we fix this problem? Telling your child about the nutritional values of fruits as highlighted in this article will most likely yield no results.
In comparison to adults, children often perceive sweetness and bitterness differently. Children may even taste things that we adults are unable to, and vice versa. Children also tend to be extremely averse to bitterness and sourness, which can sometimes be tasted in natural fruits that do not contain added sugars.
Try Gracious Goodness!
If your child hates eating fruits, why not let them try Gracious Goodness? Gracious Goodness’ freeze-dried fruits may be the perfect solution for your problem. Made purely from natural fruits, our freeze-dried fruits are healthy and can provide your child with the same nutritional value as their normal counterparts. Due to the freeze-drying process, Gracious Goodness comes with an addictive crunch that your child may love! It is also bite-sized and easy to consume as a snack, so you can give it to your child in between meals when they want to have a something to munch on. In addition, Gracious Goodness allows you to skip the washing and slicing of fruits, making your day much simpler!
Gracious Goodness features a large range of fruit variants, including some of the fruits that are essential for your child’s growth as listed above in this article, such as strawberries and mangoes.
Gracious Goodness’ Freeze-Dried Mango is one of our tops sellers for good reason! It is crispy and sweet making it the perfect snack for your child to crunch on!
Gracious Goodness’ Freeze – Dried Strawberry is naturally sweet and full of vitamin C and nutrients! Your children will love this berrilicious treat!
Gracious Goodness’ Freeze – Dried Banana is the perfect energy booster for your active and busy children! Keep these in your children’s school bags, so they can grab a quick bite when they need to!
Check out Gracious Goodness today and supercharge your child’s growth today!
