Your Kids Will Happily Eat Omega-3 Like This !

Getting your kids to take Omega-3 

Remember those days when you had to chug down Cod Liver Oil and you did it because you had to? These days kids will run a  mile  if you even suggest anything they think tastes even slightly nasty. When my kids were younger (especially under five years old ) they were  pretty stubborn in their refusal if they didn’t like a certain food. They still are ! Omega 3 is great for kids though. Especially in the winter months a good dose of it can help strengthen their immune system and keep colds and coughs at bay. The trick is to get them buy into it and eat it. Over the years I have gotten creative with getting my sometimes fussy kids to eat this nutrition powerhouse! So, here are some of my simple tried and tested methods.

Brain building : Omega -3’s are essential fatty acids that have Vitamins A and D, DHA, and EPA. These essential nutrients help feed the brain and keep the brain healthy. Kids on a steady dose of Omega -3 are found to score better on tests and preschool activities. DHA in Omega -3 is a super essential ingredient for healthy brains.

There are various other benefits to this amazing nutrient like cardiovascular benefits, anti-inflammatory benefits etc, but since this post is specific to children I will address the other benefits in another post.

Flax seed: Can be added to muffins, breadcrumbs, casseroles, soups and a lot of dishes. Alway grind the flax-seed to get maximum benefits. Read my post titled ” Fabulous Flax, Feed Into It”  to get some tips on using both flax-seed and flax oil. This is perhaps me favorite way to get Omega -3 into their system. I use flax in everything …from banana bread to breadcrumbs ! It is such a versatile super food ! 

Child Friendly Supplements : The benefit to these are they have a smooth texture and delicious taste. No icky fish burps!  My kids will lap up these without a fuss. Great for grown ups too. I myself prefer the unflavored capsules. Compared to the raw stuff I used to take a kid, pills are easy 🙂 ! You only need one capsule or sachet/ day of the squeeze packs for kids.

Carlton Kids : They have a great tasting line of Omega 3 in all kinds of flavors. My kids love the lemon flavored syrup. When mixed into juice it tastes good! A great place to get it cheaper  is at vitacost.com.

Corona Omega -3 : These are squeeze packs where it feels like you’re eating a buttery gel. Good highly digestible form.

Nordic Naturals, Children’s DHA : Another great tasting capsule which comes in different flavors. My kids loved the strawberry flavored version and would ask for more 🙂 !

There are several other child friendly versions. I have tried these three so I know they have worked for my kids and clients.

**Please note that I have not received any samples or remuneration for recommending these products. I am merely recommending them on my experience with my own kids and my work as a Community Nutritionist with children.

Food sources: Alway good to add a healthy dose of these foods to your family’s  diet. They contain moderate to good sources of Omega-3 ! Click on the gallery to view them  !

 

Walnuts, Brazil nuts, Salmon, Sardines, Flax, Brussels Sprouts, Soybeans, Olive Oil, Kale, Spinach and Salad Greens  are some of the foods high in Omega -3.

There are a lot of snacks, foods and drinks fortified with Omega-3 that seem to be very popular. These are called functional foods. While I may consume a few of these foods at random, I prefer to incorporate flax oil,  flax-seed  into my cooking, give my kids the pills  and  eat more food sources.

My recommendation is to eat these foods and take a supplement as extra insurance. If you have any other ideas to make your children eat and love Omega -3 foods, please share. Would love to hear from you !