Vitamin Overload

Could your kids be getting too many vitamins? With the number of fortified foods and beverages on the market, it's possible.

In fact, kids who take a multivitamin and eat breakfast cereals or energy bars may be getting twice what they need. And certain nutrients -- including iron and fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K -- can be toxic in excess amounts. Look over the labels on your kids' food and drink favorites and do the math. If you see "100% of RDA," a multivitamin may not be needed.

If you prefer to keep the basic multivitamin a part of your children's routines, replace a few of their fortified foods with something less fortified but still healthy. Try swapping the Toasty Os for a whole-wheat bagel or steel-cut oatmeal, and trade the energy bar for a snack-bag of trail mix. Also, keep in mind that some kids are likely to need specific vitamin/mineral supplements. If any of the following circumstances apply to your kids, work with your pediatrician to determine how to best meet their nutrition requirements.

• Premature baby
• Vegetarian/vegan
• Child who can't tolerate certain foods (e.g., dairy or wheat)
• Chronically ill child
• Adolescent girl
• Exclusively breastfed baby
• Child who lives in very northern areas and gets little sunlight for many months