My 7yr old DD won't take vitamins

[aprilgail2]

My daughter doesn't eat any veggies, can't stand them so I just make sure she takes her vitamin every day (as per 2 of her Dr's)...one time she told me she didn't like the vitamin so I gave her the choice between veggies or the vitamin, had to be one or the other and now she takes that vitamin every day....she likes the vitamin gumballs now better than the gummy vitamins.

 

[geetey]

Quote:
Originally Posted by geetey
I was concerned because my children (especially my DS) doesn't like to eat very much meat.

Neither do vegetarians and they do just fine .

LOL! I know that, disneysteve, however he also wouldn't eat peanut butter, cheese or other sources of protein. The dr was concerned enough to check his iron levels in a quick finger-prick blood test at his annual physical for a couple of years but he grew into expanding his diet and is okay. Luckily for me, some of my ds's favorite foods are green beans and broccoli!

 

[disneysteve]

LOL! I know that, disneysteve, however he also wouldn't eat peanut butter, cheese or other sources of protein.

I figured as much. I was just being ornery.

I do periodically have a parent come in with a similar concern about their child not eating meat. But I'll ask them all about their diet and they do eat plenty of other protein sources. I sometimes have the hardest time convincing mom or dad that junior can live without beef. I tell them I don't eat it and I'm doing just fine. In fact, DD recently decided she wanted to be a vegetarian so we've been working on that in our house. But she does eat various veggies, fruits, tofu and other soy products, so she's actually doing pretty well with it so far.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

DD takes vitimans to help out her immune system.

But like you I had the same problem about her not taking them. Then I decided to switch to a different brand and tell her that it's candy.
That sure did the trick!! LOL!!!! Now I don't have any problems with her taking her "candy". LOL!!!!

 

[geetey]

I figured as much. I was just being ornery.

I do periodically have a parent come in with a similar concern about their child not eating meat. But I'll ask them all about their diet and they do eat plenty of other protein sources. I sometimes have the hardest time convincing mom or dad that junior can live without beef. I tell them I don't eat it and I'm doing just fine. In fact, DD recently decided she wanted to be a vegetarian so we've been working on that in our house. But she does eat various veggies, fruits, tofu and other soy products, so she's actually doing pretty well with it so far.

Darn Steve - I wish you could be our doctor. I love a doctor with a sense of humor. We left behind a woooooooonderful practice in Nashville. Still haven't found that same feeling here in St Louis.

DS was definitely cutting it close on the protein sources but now is becoming a carnivour. I liked it better when they enjoyed their fruits and veggies more!

 

[slo]

What does your pediatrician think?

I guess I'm not understanding this strong desire you have that the vitamins are required? They really are not unless you and your doctor feel there is a malnourishment issue going on.

If she won't take the vitamin supplements, just buy some of the vitamin fortified cereals and have her eat them here and there.

I guess you've tried all the other vitamins out there. I think the gummy ones are kind of nasty myself and I personally enjoy the Flintstone vitamins.

I haven't talked to my Pediatrician yet, but I'm going to.

I guess the "strong desire" for her to take vitamins stems from my mom and my grandma. They always had me take vitamins and now I feel my DD's should take vitamins.

Buying the vitamin fortified cereals is a great idea, but my DD doesn't eat cereal. She has tried everything from Life to Coco Puffs and she doesn't like any of them

 

[slo]

If you want her to take vitamins Flintstones are the only ones that do not use artificial sweetners.
All the other vitamins are gross....

Petite people eat small meals, that is normal.

My dd is also a bad eater and picky so we try and get alot of the vitamins in at breakfast.

OJ, an egg, 2 pirces of toast, peanut butter, milk, yogurt. That was her breakfast this morning.
I will give her a vitamin if she is on a bad eating jag. It happens.

My DD will not take Flintstones, she basically describes them as being to chalky.

Everything you mentioned that you give your DD for breakfast, except the milk, my DD will not eat. It's very frustrating!!!

 

[slo]

DS7' doctor told me to give him vitamins because he doesn't eat ANY vegetables at all. I asked him about Pediasure and he said "no kid needs Pediasure unless they have cancer or something else that is robbing the body severly of vitamins"

Very interesting!!

Thanks for posting this.

 

[slo]

There is generally no reason why a healthy child needs to take vitamins. Many of our foods are fortified: breakfast cereal, bread, pop-tarts, milk, granola/cereal bars, etc. Even kids who don't go near vegetables end up doing just fine without supplements. If your kid doesn't want to take them, I'd stop trying to give them. It'll save you money too.

Thanks Dr. Steve!!!

It's good to hear this from a doctor. You have made me feel much better about this. I was never losing sleep over this, but I was concerned

 

[slo]

OP's DD is going to love The Dis.

I give my DD vitamins occasionally; she'll eat the Disney Princess ones. But, that's only if she's going through a chicken nuggets/pizza phase.

You bet she will!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Our pediatrician recommends V8 Splash or Carnation instant milk. I offer a milkshake as part of their breakfast sometimes and they love it! Has all of the vitamins and minerals they need. (I like it too.) I make fruit smoothies with the V8 Splash some days. It's good as is too.

I don't offer either of them daily. It depends on how they have been eating. I like to keep them both on hand.

HTH!

 

[disneysteve]

my DD doesn't eat cereal.

Everything you mentioned that you give your DD for breakfast, except the milk, my DD will not eat.

So what exactly does your DD like to eat? Maybe if you share more about that, we can recommend more ways to boost the nutrition she's getting.

OceanAnnie - Those are 2 very good ideas for getting more vitamins in a form most kids won't mind taking.

 

[slo]

Our pediatrician recommends V8 Splash or Carnation instant milk. I offer a milkshake as part of their breakfast sometimes and they love it! Has all of the vitamins and minerals they need. (I like it too.) I make fruit smoothies with the V8 Splash some days. It's good as is too.

I bought the Carnation Instant Breakfast and my DD took one sip and that was it - instant hate!!!

I did ask her if she would drink some smoothies if I found some recipies on how to make them, and she said she would. We'll soon find out!!

 

[slo]

So what exactly does your DD like to eat? Maybe if you share more about that, we can recommend more ways to boost the nutrition she's getting.

Good question!!

For breakfast she will have some bread w/ a little margarine on it and water - she will not have juice or milk in the morning If she doesn't want bread than maybe some Goldfish. Lately she has been eating a 1/2 of Pop Tart - only Strawberry flavor.

For lunch she has been buying lunch at school, but she said that she doesn't eat all of it because she doesn't have enough time. If she's home she will eat a 1/2 of turkey sandwich and some canned fruit w/ some milk

For dinner, she will eat very little of what I make for dinner w/ some milk.

Her most favorite food in the world is cherry tomatoes, so she eats alot of those.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Have you tried strawberry syrup for the milk? I use just enough to turn the milk pink and that does the trick. Not a regular thing. I'm sure you know, you have to have a lot in your bag of tricks!

ETA- I meant for breakfast.

 

[slo]

Have you tried strawberry syrup for the milk? I use just enough to turn the milk pink and that does the trick. Not a regular thing. I'm sure you know, you have to have a lot in your bag of tricks!

ETA- I meant for breakfast.

I have never tried this and it's a great idea!!!

Her favorite color is pink and she would probably get a kick out of having pink milk

Thanks!!!

 

[disneysteve]

I did ask her if she would drink some smoothies if I found some recipies on how to make them, and she said she would. We'll soon find out!!

I make great fruit smoothies (if I do say so myself ). The secret is frozen fruit. I buy frozen strawberries, raspberries and peaches. I buy fresh bananas. Let them get good and ripe. Then peel them and freeze them in ziploc bags. I also freeze mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, cut up mango.

To make the smoothie, get out the blender and toss in 4-6 sliced strawberries, some raspberries, a sliced up banana and about a cup of OJ. No sugar, no water, no ice. So it is all natural and very healthy. Of course, you can combine any fruits or any juice she likes. This is just one example.

There is a great book called Super Smoothies (there was a sequel too). You can find it at your local bookstore or specialty cooking store.

You can add some more nutrition with either some plain low fat yogurt or a protein powder or a spoonful of Carnation mix.

 

[disneysteve]

I bought the Carnation Instant Breakfast and my DD took one sip and that was it - instant hate!!!

Don't use the whole package. Try just stirring in one spoonful of powder into a glass of milk. And adding a squirt of strawberry or chocolate syrup couldn't hurt. She may not like the thicker texture of a full pack of mix.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Yes, don't give up on the Carnation instant milk!

It comes in strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. (some flavors are harder to find than others) If you get the strawberry flavor and just add a little to the milk and add a squirt of the strawberry syrup (as disneysteve suggested) then you really have something going! You'll have that double strawberry taste. Hard to pass up!!

 

[disneysteve]

This might sound like a silly question, but does she eat cookies and/or muffins? Both are great places to "hide" vegetables. Use a blender or processor to grind up carrots and zucchini and add them to the batter. Also, substitute equal parts of applesauce in place of oil, or substitute plain yogurt in place of butter. The texture may be a bit different, but you will have cut out a lot of fat and boosted the nutrition.