Sam Fuller

Dip ION mBANT - Nutritional Consultant

Sam's articles The importance of 5-a-day

Most mums and dads know that their children should be eating a minimum of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but why?  And can't they just take vitamin supplements instead?

Fruit and vegetables contain specific compounds to help support our children's immune systems and reduce their risk of obesity and degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

These compounds help to prevent the development of food intolerances and allergies.  We also know from research that children's behaviour and performance at school can improve substantially if these compounds are within their diet supporting brain function, mood and energy levels.  I know from experience with my own children that if they go to a friend's house and chomp their way through lots of junk food and snacks they will undoubtedly return home bad tempered with dips in energy levels.
So why is it so hard to deliver 5 portions to our little darlings?  Wrinkled up noses and accusations of 'it's got bits in' haunt us, after we have carefully prepared a meal for them.

The secret is to tune-in their taste buds!  A diet with high sugar and salt will numb children's tastes, so that fruit and vegetables will appear bland and uninteresting in comparison.  Moulding their diet from an early age with healthy organic baby food is by far the easiest route However, if your child has fallen prey to these so-called sugary delights then there are still things that you can do.  Mashed vegetables can be added to mashed potato, vegetable soups can be pureed, crushed organic fruits are a delightful treat and can be mixed with natural yoghurt or porridge. All are tempting ways to alter your child's tastes - often with their buy-in.

And 'Yes' organic is always best. An average non-organic Cox Apple may look perfectly rounded and shiny but it could contain 36 toxic chemicals that will reduce the nutrient content.

Although vitamin supplements are useful to increase children's nutrient intake, they lack some of the valuable compounds found in fruit and vegetables.  Guiding your child into a healthy lifestyle is far more favourable than offering them quick fixes and they will thank you when they are adults themselves.

During my clinical consultations I see poor lifestyle and eating habits replicated down the generations in nearly 70% of my clients - an inheritance none of us want to pass on to our own children.