What’s So Great About Fruits and Vegetables Anyway?

An excerpt from “Eat your Vegetables and Other Mistakes Parents Make” Dr. Natalie Muth, MD, RD, MPH and Dr. Mary Tanaka, MD

Once your kids get the message that fruits and vegetables are great for their health, they might ask you what’s so great about fruits and vegetables anyway? What follows are a few talking points to help answer that question. (It’s a good idea to avoid “Because I said so” or “They just are.”) Information is persuasive and in some cases may convince a skeptical seven-year-old to—on her own—decide to try just a bite of a hated vegetable.

Specific types of vegetables are especially important because they contain high levels of nutrients known to be lacking in the diets of young children. These include leafy dark green vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, and deep yellow vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes. The following table highlights some of the most important nutrients for children and the vegetables and fruits that contain large amounts of these nutrients. 

FIBER
Diets rich in dietary fiber have been shown to have a number of beneficial effects, including decreased risk of coronary artery disease. Fiber also helps food move through the digestive tract, and that makes going to the bathroom easier.	Good fruit and vegetable sources: navy beans, kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, lima beans, white beans, soybeans, split peas, chick peas, black-eyed peas, lentils, artichokes, dates, raspberries, pears, and apples A rough estimate of how much fiber (in grams) your child needs per day is his age (years) + 5 (for example, a 4-year-old needs about 9 grams of fiber).
POTASSIUM
Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure.	Good fruit and vegetable sources: sweet potatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, beet greens, white potatoes, white beans, lima beans, cooked greens, carrot juice, and prune juice
VITAMIN A
Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy and helps to protect against infections.	Good fruit and vegetable sources: sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, collard greens, winter squash, cantaloupe, red peppers, and Chinese cabbage
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C helps heal cuts and scrapes and keeps gums and teeth healthy.	Good fruit and vegetable sources: red and green peppers, kiwi, strawberries, sweet potatoes, kale, cantaloupe, broccoli, pineapple, Brussels sprouts, oranges, mangoes, tomato juice, and cauliflower
IRON
Iron is very important for a child’s developing brain, and it also helps the body use energy. Many children are iron-deficient (anemic) due to poor intake of iron-rich foods. Also, iron is poorly absorbed, but absorption can be greatly increased by pairing an iron-rich food with a food high in vitamin C.	Good fruit and vegetable sources: spinach and other leafy dark green vegetables, beans, peas, and dried apricots Other sources: fortified cereals and breads, lean beef, and eggs The average child needs about 10 mg of iron per day.
CALCIUM
Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth. Childhood and young adulthood offer the only opportunities for us to build bone strength. After that, the goal is to prevent bones from weakening.	Good vegetable sources: broccoli, kale, and other leafy dark green vegetables, soybeans, and tofu Other sources: milk, yogurt, cheese, sardines, and frozen yogurt Kids need 500 to 800 mg of calcium per day depending on their age.