As a pediatric dietitian, the families I work with are doing their best, but sometimes helping their kids get enough nutrition can still be a challenge. Between picky eating, busy schedules, and sensory sensitivities, it’s easy to fall short on key nutrients that are essential for energy, focus, growth, and immune health. Here are my top 5 tips to help your child feel and function at their best every day:
1. Prioritize Iron Early and Often
Iron is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in kids—especially toddlers and young children who are growing rapidly. Low iron can lead to fatigue, poor appetite, mood changes, and even delayed cognitive development. If your child eats mostly beige or low-iron foods, consider adding a gentle supplement like EllaOla’s Unflavored Iron with Vitamin C to support healthy iron levels. The added vitamin C helps boost absorption and it is unflavored, which is a huge plus!
2. Be Mindful of Nutrition Gaps
It’s normal for kids’ appetites to fluctuate, but nutrition gaps can add up over time. If your child only eats a few bites here and there or avoids entire food groups, those missed nutrients—like zinc, B vitamins, and vitamin D—can impact immunity, focus, and energy. A daily multivitamin can help fill in the gaps when food alone isn’t enough.
3. Fruits and Veggies: Aim for Progress, Not Perfection
Less than 10% of U.S. kids eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. These foods are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that support digestion, immunity, and overall wellness. It’s a great idea to offer colorful produce to your kids, even if they don’t always eat it. And if they aren’t a fan of a wide variety of foods just yet, try blending a tasteless multivitamin powder (like EllaOla’s) into their favorite drink or snack—it contains 15 real fruits and veggies, without the battle at the dinner table. And they can work on trying new foods at their own pace.
4. Sensory-Friendly Nutrition Matters
For children with sensory sensitivities, texture, taste, and smell can make mealtime overwhelming. That’s why we created EllaOla’s multivitamin and iron powders to be completely tasteless, odorless, and colorless—making nutrition accessible for even the most selective eaters.
5. Consistency is Key
One supplement won’t fix a poor diet, but consistent daily support makes a big difference. Think of supplements as your safety net—not a replacement, but a reliable boost to help your child meet their daily needs while you keep working on building healthy habits at home.
The Bottom Line:
Every child deserves to feel their best, and good nutrition plays a major role in that. Whether your child is a picky eater, has sensory challenges, or just needs a little extra support, small daily habits, like a smart supplement strategy and consistent, gentle support in adding variety to their diet, can go a long way.
