Should My Child Take a Supplement?
Air Date: October 27, 2025
Host: Christine Miroddi Yoder
Hi, and welcome to the podcast today. My name is Christine, and I’m your host. I’m coming to you with a new baby laying on my chest, so if you hear a few noises, hopefully she stays asleep during this! If not, we’ll pause and regroup.
Today, we’re talking about supplements for picky eaters. Parents ask me all the time: Should my picky eater be on a supplement? You want to make sure your kids are getting the right nutrients because picky eaters are usually missing a lot. But you’ve also heard that supplements can be a waste of money or full of junk. So which is it? Do they even need them? Are they helpful—or maybe even harmful?
Let’s cut through the noise. I’ll share the pros, cons, and how to tell whether a supplement makes sense for your child—plus what to look for on the label so you’re not wasting money or giving them ingredients that might actually work against you.
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Why Supplements Are Such a Hot Topic
There are three big reasons parents ask about supplements so often:
1. Picky eating creates nutrient gaps.
Kids who eat fewer than 20 foods or skip entire food categories like proteins or vegetables are naturally at risk for nutrient deficiencies.
2. Supplements are everywhere.
You’re constantly bombarded with ads and influencers promoting different brands.
3. They make parents feel in control.
When mealtimes are chaotic and your child refuses most foods, a supplement feels like something you can control—a way to get “something healthy” in.
Research shows many picky eaters are low in essentials like iron, zinc, and vitamin D. So supplements can feel like a safety net. They’re colorful, fun, and often look (and taste) like candy—making them easy to say yes to. But not all supplements are created equal.
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The Pros of Supplements
1. They can bridge gaps temporarily.
For kids with limited diets, a high-quality supplement targeted to their needs can act as a safety net while you build food variety—not instead of it.
2. They help during certain seasons.
Growth spurts, illness recovery, or cold and flu season might warrant short-term support.
3. Some nutrients truly require supplementation.
Deficiencies in things like iron, vitamin D, or omega-3s often need extra help.
I’ve personally seen supplements transform lives. When my son was younger, we used a blend called Speak Smooth with phosphatidylcholine and high-dose fish oil. Within weeks, his speech exploded—30 new words in a month, and he finally said “Mama.” This was after months of intensive therapy. So the right supplement can unlock what food alone can’t—yet.
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The Cons of Supplements
1. Junk ingredients.
Many kids’ vitamins are candy in disguise—filled with artificial dyes, sugar alcohols, hydrogenated oils, and citric acid (which is often made from black mold). These can irritate the gut and counteract the benefits.
2. Poor absorption.
Nutrients from supplements don’t always mimic food’s natural synergy. For example, vitamin C from food comes with bioflavonoids that help absorption. Gummies rarely do, so that “100% daily value” isn’t always what your body absorbs.
3. False sense of security.
Relying too much on supplements can stall food progress. A gummy doesn’t teach tasting, chewing, or enjoying meals. Supplements should support variety building—not replace it.
4. Wrong forms can cause problems.
A big one is folic acid, a synthetic form of folate. For people with the MTHFR gene mutation (like me), the body can’t process folic acid properly. It builds up instead of being used. What you want is methylfolate, the natural, active form. Unfortunately, not all doctors are familiar with this distinction, so you have to be your own advocate.
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What to Look for in a Supplement
1. Read the label like a detective.
If it reads like a candy wrapper—full of dyes, preservatives, or ingredients you can’t pronounce—skip it.
2. Check for third-party testing.
Certifications like NSF Certified or USP Verified help ensure quality and purity. You can also contact the company directly for details.
3. Tailor it to your child.
Everyone’s body is different. That’s why I recommend gut testing and professional guidance. It’s not about taking what’s trending on Instagram; it’s about knowing what your child’s body needs and absorbs well.
4. Prefer whole-food-based ingredients.
Supplements sourced from fruits, vegetables, and herbs are gentler on the system and more bioavailable (easier to absorb).
5. Buy from reputable sources.
Avoid third-party sellers on Amazon—supplements are one of the most counterfeited product categories. Always buy directly from the manufacturer or a trusted distributor.
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My Approach: Food First, Supplements as Backup
My philosophy is simple: food first, supplements as backup. They can bridge the gap, but they should never replace real nutrition, textures, or experiences.
Inside my Unlocking Mealtimes program, we address the Four Pillars of Feeding Success:
1. Gut health and medical foundations
2. Sensory processing
3. Oral motor skills
4. Mindset
When you’re supporting all four, supplements become optional tools—not crutches. Sometimes the pros outweigh the cons—like my son’s fish oil blend that had flavor additives I’d normally avoid, but the results were worth it.
The goal is to make intentional, individualized choices that fit your child’s needs.
If you’re wondering whether your child needs a supplement, it might be a sign that food progress is stalling. Take the free Picky Eater Quiz at thepickyeaterstest.com to find out if your child is fearful, stuck, or curious—and get your next steps for building variety without relying on supplements forever.
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Recap
* Supplements can bridge nutrient gaps and support growth.
* But beware of junk ingredients, poor absorption, and synthetic forms.
* Read labels carefully, look for third-party testing, and avoid counterfeits.
* Use supplements based on actual testing and your child’s specific needs.
* Food progress always comes first.
You’re already the kind of parent who asks questions, reads labels, and makes informed choices—and that’s exactly what helps your child thrive. Every piece of information you gather is another puzzle piece leading you closer to progress.
I’m so grateful for the information that changed things for my family—and I hope this episode does the same for yours.
As a speech pathologist, I can tell you: nutrition matters more than we were ever taught. Speech, focus, mood—they’re all fueled by what we eat. So when we nourish the body, we support the brain too.
Thanks for listening today. This little one is starting to stir, so we’ll wrap it up here. I hope this episode was helpful, and I’ll see you again next week.
