Child nutrition is something every parent should be concerned with. Nutrition is directly linked to the development of the brain, as well as the proper development of the body. This means that through proper nutrition your child should not only be smarter, but should develop at the right time, be less prone to illness, and have a happier and more vibrant life. Sound nutrition and fitness habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime, so start today to teach your child how to take care of their body and meet their nutritional needs through the foods they eat.

There is a huge need to modify children's diets to reduce their risk of chronic diseases, but also to promote optimal growth and development. Too many children are filling up on the convenient snack foods that provide little to no nutritional value, and are completely missing out on the foods, vitamins, nutrients, etc. that sustain proper growth.

While your child may be eating a lot, and appear to be at a healthy weight (or maybe even overweight) under-nutrition could very well be a problem. Under-nutrition and hunger are significant and growing problems for American children today, many of whom don't get enough of the right food to sustain proper growth and development.

It is important to understand that the children referenced are not necessarily from poverty-stricken families. Many under-nourished children are fed when they are hungry, and they eat three meals (or more) a day. So how is it possible that they can still be under-nourished? This is caused when the foods they are eating are not providing them with the things their bodies need for proper and sustainable growth. Foods that are high in sugar, salt, or basically that are processed and refined generally do not provide your child with any of the nutrients they need. However, most parents find it difficult to get their children to eat the foods that do provide what their bodies need.

The neatly packaged, processed, and refined foods are the foods the child wants, will eat, and that are convenient and easy for you to give them. If you, like many other parents, have trouble getting your child to eat the right things; if your child won't eat his or her vegetables; if you find yourself breaking out the pre-made frozen waffles rather than mixing up a batch of whole-wheat waffles for breakfast in the morning, take comfort; you are not alone. However, this only means that like many others you may not be providing your child with the proper nutrition they need for longevity and health.

What can you do? You can do a lot of things, like change their entire lifestyle, tie your child to their chair, and force food down their throat etc. But what can you realistically do to ensure that your child is getting what they need each day?

In order to get your child's nutrition where it needs to be you need to find foods or drinks that are easy, convenient, appealing, and also that contain all of the things our bodies need to function optimally. The natural health beverage Zija would be a great way to start your child on the path to proper nutrition. Zija comes in a convenient can, much like a soft drink, so while it is a health food it still holds the appeal to a child. It is refreshing, so unlike asparagus or other vegetables you child may not like because of the taste, you will find they will drink Zija. And, most importantly, it is chock full of the nutrients, vitamins, etc., that your child needs for optimal growth. Zija is not artificially fortified. Rather, it is made from the leaves, seeds, and pods of the incredible Moringa tree, one of the most nutritional plants on the planet. The nutritional value found in the plant is not lost through heavy processing and refining, rather it is captured and all the nutrients and vitamins are completely bio-available in this convenient on-the-go nutrition that fits into your lifestyle.

Children will be faced with food choices at home and in the marketplace their entire lives, and choosing the pastry over the apple is probably going to happen every now and again, so in order to empower them with health, and empower them to become judicious consumers, you must give them the tools to make good food choices, and find foods and beverages, like Zija that both fit into their lifestyle, and are healthy.