Kid Friendly Foods High in DHA

DHA and EPA are important for proper functioning of the brain, heart and eyes. DHA and EPA can also help children with learning disorders like dyslexia, ADHD and dyspraxia, as well as problems like depression.Some studies have found that DHA and EPA can improve children's performance at school. Unfortunately most children don't get enough DHA and EPA in their diets. Children should get at least 160mg of DHA per day. Most get only about 20mg.

The amount of DHA in fortified foods is a lot lower than the quantities found in fish. Three ounces of wild Alaska salmon or three ounces of sardines can provide 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of DHA and DHA. You would have to drink five glasses of some brands of Omega 3 Whole Milk to consume 500 milligrams. A dozen Smart Balance Omega 3 eggs would also be needed to reach just 500 milligrams. So fish is absolutely the best source of DHA. If your child enjoys fish then reaching about 160mg of DHA per day is much easier because some kinds of fish are naturally high in Omega 3's.

The problem is many children don't enjoy fish and don't even want to take fish oil tablets because they often leave a fishy aftertaste. The following is a list of food and supplements with DHA that will get your child closer to the recommended daily value of 160mg.

Supplements are one way to get your child closer to the recommended daily value. One Omega 3 DHA / EPA supplement that most children will probably like is L'il Critters Omega 3 Gummy Fish. They don't have much of a fish taste at all, so most children will probably eat them. Omega 3 Gummy Fish will provide about 32mg of DHA per day.

DHA and EPA enriched foods are another option. Smart Balance has a brand of Omega 3 eggs that is very high in DHA. A few eggs a week will go a long way in providing your child with needed DHA. At 70 milligrams per serving, that's almost half of a day's recommended daily value. Smart Balance also have a brand of butter with DHA. The butter has 32mg of DHA / EPA per 1 tablespoon serving size.

The Horizons Organic brand of milk has a DHA enriched option. A one cup serving of milk will provide 32mg. So, one or two cups a day will be a big boost.

While many children don't like fish, they often like fish sticks. Gortons has a brand of fish sticks with DHA. Even a few fish sticks with lunch or dinner a couple of times a week will help a lot. Five fishsticks contain 110 milligrams of DHA and EPA.

The Yo Toddler brand of yogurt has a DHA enriched option. Don't worry about the word toddler on the label. You can still give it to older children. Check organic stores if you can't find it in your local grocery store.

If you regularly include DHA enriched foods in your child's diet, you may be able to get them close to the daily recommended minimum of 160 milligrams. And that's far better than getting none.