Is Your Child Getting Essential Nutrients?

If you’ve ever felt the stress of wondering whether your child is getting all the nutrients they need to thrive, you’re not alone. Between diagnoses that require extra nutrition, picky eating, and busy schedules, mealtimes can feel like a challenge. At Kate Farms, we understand how overwhelming it can be—and we’re here to help turn those worries into peace of mind. 

Here’s a guide to a few essential nutrients and how Kate Farms® Kids Nutrition might be able to help fill the gaps.   

What nutrients are essential for children? 

Macronutrients like protein, carbs, and fats give our bodies energy to grow and stay strong. Micronutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, help support overall health and make sure our bodies work properly. Getting enough of both macronutrients and micronutrients is essential for the body to do its job. 

Do your best to get the following nutrients in your child’s diet. If you need a little support, that’s where Kate Farms Kids Nutrition can help.

For immune system support:¹  

• Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps support a healthy immune system and is needed for the growth of tissues in your child’s body. It is an important building block in the formation of cartilage, bones, and teeth, and helps form collagen, an important protein structure.  

• Foods with vitamin C: citrus, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and strawberries 

• Amount per serving in Kate Farms Kids Nutrition: 22 milligrams, 25% of the recommended daily value  

• Vitamin E: Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it helps protect the body from damaging free radicals that can harm cells and organs. ²

• Foods with vitamin E: sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, spinach, turnips, butternut squash, avocado, and kiwi  

• Amount per serving in Kate Farms Kids Nutrition: 1.9 milligrams, 15% of the recommended daily value  

• Selenium: Selenium helps support immune function and a healthy thyroid.³

• Foods with selenium: Brazil nuts, beans, mushrooms, meats, eggs, seafood, and whole grains 

• Amount per serving in Kate Farms Kids Nutrition: 10 micrograms, 20% of the recommended daily value  

• Zinc: Zinc helps support growth and development, immune function, and protein formation.⁴

• Foods with zinc: legumes, seeds, whole grains, nuts, dairy, eggs, and meat  

• Amount per serving in Kate Farms Kids Nutrition: 1.5 milligrams, 15% of the recommended daily value 

For muscle and bone growth:  

• Protein: Protein helps build and repair muscle and tissue, regulate hormones, and carry oxygen throughout the body.  

• Foods with protein: yellow peas, meat, eggs, fish, legumes, tofu, yogurt, nuts, and seeds 

• Amount per serving in Kate Farms Kids Nutrition: 8 grams of organic yellow pea protein, 16% of the recommended daily value, including a plant-based protein source 

• Calcium: Calcium is a mineral that helps build strong bones and teeth and is important for muscle contractions and nervous system function.⁵

• Foods with calcium: calcium-fortified plant milks, dairy milk, cheese, and leafy greens 

• Amount per serving in Kate Farms Kids Nutrition: 280 milligrams, 20% of the recommended daily value 

• Vitamin D: Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb the essential nutrients, calcium and phosphorus.⁶

• Foods with vitamin D: mushrooms, seafood like salmon and tuna, and fortified dairy 

• Amount per serving in Kate Farms Kids Nutrition: 7.5 micrograms, 40% of the recommended daily value 

For developing brains and eyes: 

• DHA: DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that helps support developing brains and eyes of children.   

• Foods with DHA: cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel, or tuna. It is also found in plant-based sources like algal oil 

• Kate Farms Kids Nutrition provides 35 milligrams of DHA omega-3 fatty acids derived from algal oil 

Ways to incorporate more nutrients into your kid’s diet: 

Whether it’s mealtime or snack time, try to create balanced meals and easy-to-eat snacks. Use your favorite household protein-based foods and quality carbohydrates, such as brown rice, potatoes, quinoa, and chickpea snacks. As a rule of thumb, the more colors from foods (as opposed to sauces) on your plate, the better! 

You can easily sneak ingredients that contain key nutrients into their diet by adding greens and fruit to a smoothie; baking with ingredients like carrots, zucchini, and banana; or adding veggies to pasta and soup dishes. Try adding fruit to cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, or on top of toast for breakfast, and include a piece of fruit and some veggies in school lunches. Use colorful fruits and vegetables in fun shapes to encourage your child’s interest in eating. Sometimes it can help when the fruits and vegetables are peeled.   

We’re here to support you and your child. 

At Kate Farms, we understand how challenging it can be to ensure your child gets all the nutrients they need. That’s why we created Kate Farms Kids Nutrition — a USDA Organic, plant-based shake designed for kids ages 1 to 13. Each serving delivers 8 grams of plant-based protein along with essential vitamins and minerals to help fill nutritional gaps and support your child’s growth and development.

Available in flavors kids will love, like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, our shakes are not only nutrient-dense but also delicious. Whether enjoyed on their own or blended into a homemade smoothie, Kate Farms Kids Nutrition make it easier — and tastier — for your child to thrive.