Child's Health Alert

Are your children getting enough iron and zinc?

"They could be at an increased risk," says Mary K. Young, executive NCBA director of Nutrition. That's because the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released new nutrition guidelines for schools, allowing them to serve 100 percent vegetable protein products in place of meat, fish and poultry. "This rule puts school children further away from a well-balanced diet," Young said. "This is important," Young says because deficiencies in both iron and zinc can decrease immunity, and impair cognitive development and physical growth. These nutrients play a critical role in a child's ability to learn."

Young also said that according to government surveys, more than 50 percent of school-age children are not getting enough zinc. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control reports that iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the U.S., affecting nearly 8 million adolescent girls and women of child bearing age and over 700,00 children between the ages of 1 and 2.

Young suggests offering soy products should be an option, not a replacement for meat, fish, and chicken products. Beef supplies more than 10 percent of the recommended daily value for essential nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, niacin and vitamins B12 and B6 (necessary for a healthy nervous system). In many cases, the only nutritious meal available to children is given at school, and now there chances for a well-balanced meal may be jeopardized.

Prior to this rule, school lunch programs were allowed to be only 30 percent 'vegetable protein.' The new rule now allows for 100 percent substitution. Vegetable products like soy are fine but do not contain iron and zinc. It should be noted that the new rule also takes away the requirement that vegetable proteins be fortified with iron and zinc.

Even with a well-balanced diet, an active child's body uses up quite a bit of iron, zinc, and many essential vitamins. Make sure your children are getting enough nutrients and give them a multivitamin/mineral supplement.

SOURCE: National Cattlemen's Beef Association