Choosing supplements for kids can be overwhelming. Especially if you don’t have the budget for it or you have a large family on one income; supplementation can very easily become a consuming expense.
In this article I’m sharing what supplements I buy as a mom of 8 kids on one income. Besides a healthy diet and lifestyle these are the supplements I’ve streamlined to be sure I’m providing my family with well rounded health.
Before I share my take on raising a healthy family, I just want to say that I am not a doctor. I’m just a mom who loves to research and read and make my own well informed decisions for my family. You should too:)
Diet/Lifestyle
As they say, “you can’t out supplement a poor diet.” Which I believe is true. Food makes a huge difference in how our bodies are able to function. Eating to feed a healthy gut microbiome, which helps us better absorb the nutrients from our food goes a long way in raising healthy, happy kids.
I used to think I needed to feed my kids roughly 10 cups of colorful veggies a day. That’s what I had learned researching natural cancer treatments over 10 years ago when I was diagnosed. As I had more kids, this became extremely stressful.
I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to save money on the leafy greens/colorful unfilling fruits and veg and invest in amino acid rich beef, cooking in fat soluble vitamin rich animal fat and butter and root veggie stews simmered in mineral rich bone broth.
Buying meat from a butcher? Inquire about suet and bones, many butchers are just wanting to give this stuff away as it builds up in their shop. Animal fat is the best brain food full of those omega 3’s for children’s rapidly growing brains too. Opt out of expensive cod liver oil and liberally use tallow and butter in your children’s meals. Focus on filling veggies like squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and beets. Onions and garlic for flavor amd immune building properties. Limit grains as they can cause leaky gut and poor digestion. Use fruits as treats. We grow and wild harvest a lot of our own fruit as it’s quite expensive amd often sprayed.
Ok, so thats diet.
Lifestyle. Get your kids outside in fresh air and sunshine. Living in remote northern Alberta we have long harsh winters. By May we are emerging into the strengthening sunshine and longer days, soaking in vitamin D rich sun rays and playing barefoot.
We need sun to produce vitamin D and we absorb it much better from the sun than a supplement. However, in our part of the northern hemisphere we only get those vitamin D producing rays about four months out of the year. So vitamin D3 is a supplement I buy for our long winter months.
Living in the country, each precious short summer I encourage my kids to get outside with tank tops and shorts, baring as much skin as possible. Not wearing sunglasses is important too as we absorb a lot of sunlight for vitamin D production in our eyes.
I once heard it said, “the deeper the tan the more stored vitamin D for winter.” I have come to believe this is true as I feel stronger after a summer in the sun. Eating a diet rich in animal fats and working my way up to sun exposure mitigates burning. I find each year my health improves and I don’t burn.
Grounding goes along with lifestyle too. Get kids playing outside on uneven ground with bare feet. Jaw structure, teeth, skeletal development are not entirely genetic. Letting kids feet and toes splay while walking/gripping on large rocks, soil and uneven ground actually affects the growth of the brain, skull and jaw. Allowing more oxygen to the brain and strengthening feet, ankles and the overall skeletal system. Shoes and orthopedic soles simply create a soft dependency. Our bodies need the hard stress of the ground.
Not only that, but grounding reduces inflammation in the body putting it into a parasympathetic state, perfect for growth and healing.
Sunshine and ground are free. As a mom, I do these things too and I’ve noticed my feet/ankles are healthier/stronger and the blood clots and swelling in my legs from multiple pregnancies has gone down.
If you need shoes these are great for kids and adults. Or these which I use for hiking.
Iodine. Unless you’re eating a ton of properly sourced sea food, you need this. Iodine is vital to every organ and function in the body, especially the thyroid gland!
I find that when my body is properly satiated with iodine my mood is more stable and I sleep better.
We take J Crows Lugols Iodine. Myself, husband and older children, 12-18, I give three drops twice a week. To my younger four 2-8, I give one to two drops twice a week. The J Crows website also instructs how to take their iodine. I have also administered it topically by rubbing it on my kids’ feet or thyroid.
Magnesium.
Every year I buy a topical magnesium in bulk. Having this mineral on hand has worked wonders for my family. Sore muscles, cranky toddler, growing pains, struggling to sleep, random bouts of anxiety… I buy this brand.
I’ve tried a lot of topical magnesium’s on my family and this is this by far the best. It doesn’t sting like others do and we feel the difference right away. If you’re consuming a lot of mineral rich bone broth, you might not need this. I find though that even with a well rounded diet rich in animal protein, fat and bone broth, this truly helps.
Iron. My goal is to raise our own beef and make organ burgers to get that influx of iron our bodies crave. Until then, I occasionally purchase a beef organ supplement. I take this when I’m pregnant as my body doesn’t store iron well.
I also occasionally give it to my two teen daughters when they’re in a period of stress. I feel a night and day difference when my body is properly nourished with iron. I even look younger! Ultimately, if you can add beef liver to your diet thats the most affordable way, I just haven’t sourced a good beef liver I can add to our ground beef as most butchers throw it away before I can access it or sell it at a premium here.
As a busy mom, sometimes I need a little extra support, especially when I’m pregnant. I love Everydea vitamins. Their mood support makes a night and day difference in my mood, hormones and energy. I also take their prenatal and nursing vitamins when I’m in those stages.
I give their mood support to my two teenage daughters when they’re in need of a little extra support in times of stress.
I am affiliated with Everydea and if you use my code: WILDWOODSANDHOMESTEAD you receive 10% off your order.
I hope this list helps you as you seek to find the best way to feed and raise your own beautiful family.
Warmest Blessings,
Ashley
