If your child's favourite foods are beige, you're certainly not alone.
Many young children go through periods where their accepted-food list seems to consist of toast, pasta, yoghurt and perhaps one particular type of fruit.
Most will still obtain plenty of nutrition. But the narrower a child's diet becomes, the more useful it is to consider what foods are missing — not simply how much food they're eating.
Here are five nutrients we think parents should know about.
Iron is found in red meat, poultry, eggs, beans, lentils and fortified cereals. It supports normal cognitive development in children and normal formation of red blood cells. UK guidance encourages children aged 1–5 to regularly eat iron-rich foods; routine iron supplementation isn't recommended for every child unless advised by a health professional. GOV.UK
Vitamin D supports normal growth and development of bones and normal immune function. Dietary sources are relatively limited, which is one reason UK guidance recommends vitamin D supplementation for young children. nhs.uk
DHA Omega-3 is a long-chain fatty acid found particularly in oily fish and algae. Children who refuse oily fish may therefore have very little DHA coming directly from their diet.
Zinc supports normal growth and immune function. Sources include meat, cheese, milk, eggs, legumes, nuts and seeds.
And finally, iodine supports normal growth and cognitive function in children. Important dietary sources include dairy products, fish and eggs. Fortification matters if families use plant-based alternatives: recent SACN guidance recommends plant-based drinks are fortified with nutrients including iodine, calcium, B12, riboflavin and vitamin A. GOV.UK
The solution isn't to obsess over nutrients at every meal.
Instead, keep offering variety, allow repeated low-pressure exposure to unfamiliar foods, and think about nutrition across the whole week.
For children whose diets remain very restricted, an appropriately formulated daily supplement can sit alongside these efforts.
Think of supplementation as supporting the journey — not replacing it.