Are We Really Getting the Essential Nutrients We Think We Are?

As parents, we want the best for our children — and that starts with what we feed them. We fill their plates with colourful vegetables, pack their lunchboxes with healthy snacks, and aim to provide balanced meals all in the hopes of packing in those essential nutrients. But what if the fruits and vegetables we rely on aren’t as nutrient-rich as we believe?

The truth is, the nutritional content of our food has changed — and not for the better.

What’s Happened to Our Soil?

Over the past 40–50 years, modern farming techniques have transformed the way we grow food. While these changes have helped produce more food to meet global demand, they’ve also come at a cost: the health of our soil.

Key factors affecting soil nutrition include:

• Intensive farming: Repeatedly growing the same crops depletes the soil of essential minerals.
• Pesticides and fungicides: These chemicals can disrupt the natural balance of soil microorganisms that help plants absorb nutrients.
• Faster growth cycles: Many modern crops are bred to grow faster and resist pests — not necessarily to be more nutritious.

What Does This Mean for Our Food?

Several studies have shown a marked decline in the nutrient density of fruits and vegetables over the past few decades. For example:

• Carrots today contain up to 75% less magnesium than those grown in the 1940s.
• Spinach has shown a reduction in iron levels by up to 60% compared to the mid-20th century.
• Broccoli’s calcium content has dropped by almost 50% in some studies.

In practical terms, you’d have to eat eight oranges today to get the same amount of vitamin A your grandparents would get from just one.

The Impact on Families’ Nutrition

As busy parents, we do our best — and variety is still key. A diverse, colourful diet is essential for growing bodies and developing brains. But even with our best efforts, it’s hard to meet all of a child’s nutritional needs through food alone in today’s world.

Smart Supplementation Can Help Get Your Nutrients In

At AvaCare, we believe in supporting your family with the best of both worlds — nutritious whole foods and clean, high-quality supplements that help bridge the nutritional gap.

Our Child Multivitamin + Omega 3 and Baby Multivitamin & Mineral Drops are designed with optimal forms and doses of essential nutrients to complement your child’s daily diet — without the added sugars, allergens, or synthetic ingredients found in many other brands.

Simple Steps for Healthier Nutrition

• Rotate fruits and vegetables to provide a broader nutrient profile
• Prioritise organic where possible to reduce pesticide exposure
• Choose supplements with bioavailable forms (like methylated B12 and folate)
• Stay informed and read labels carefully

Our goal is to empower you to make the healthiest choices for your family — one bite (and drop) at a time.