Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases (like heart disease and cancer), and promote your overall health.

Plan meals with your kids to make sure you all get enough of the ABCs:

• Vitamin A is essential for growth, development and a healthy immune system. Pre-formed A, called retinol, comes from animal products (liver, whole milk). Carotenoid A is found in certain colorful fruits and veggies, and is transformed into retinol in the body.
• B vitamins are needed for energy, brain function and stress management. Do you eat a lot of processed foods and refined carbohydrates? If so, you better boost your B intake!
• Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant for a healthy inflammation response and is crucial for immune and brain function.
• Vitamin D plays a major role in bone development, so deficiencies in this vitamin can impair growth. The good news: exposure to sunlight causes the body to produce D — and kids love to play outside! Just remember that in winter, when living in northern climates or if you just don’t spend much time outdoors, you might need to supplement.