I’m ashamed to admit that Dexter has a terrible diet. Heidi is happy to dive headfirst into the fruit bowl and doesn’t mind a little greenery on her dinner plate, but Dexter is a different story. If we want him to eat a banana he’ll insist on being rewarded with a cookie, and he’ll happily wage a hunger strike if so much as a single brussel sprout is served alongside his chicken nuggets. It’s a huge problem for us and one we’re actively seeking a miracle to solve.
Yet we’re forever being advised that our children need a vitamin-rich diet to help their growing bodies and developing brains, and not a week goes by when the British media hasn’t paraded some 16st 8 year old in front of the This Morning sofa as a way of inviting discussion about the forthcoming sugar tax. Yet for all the advice and nannying that goes on, it’s easier said than done when you can’t even get your child to swallow a piece of broccoli.
With this in mind, I was very excited to give the new Bioglan SmartKids multivitamin range a go. We know it’s not a solution for Dexter, but it will give us some peace of mind to know that something good is going in.
The Bioglan SmartKids multivitamin range
Priced from just £9.99 and available in four innovative formats, including Chewable Burstlets and a delicious Chocolate Shake, the SmartKids range is especially designed for fussy eaters. Although I’m not entirely sure where I stand on tricking kids to eat sensibly, in our case I can see the benefit. These four new products are packed with highly nutritious fruit, vegetable and superfood ingredients, and enhanced with essential vitamins and minerals* - none of which I’d stand a realistic chance of getting into Dexter without a little help.
* It’s also well worth pointing out that most of the products are nut, soya, gluten and dairy free with no artificial flavours or colours - so safe for little people with allergies. See packs for more details.
The range
SmartKids Brain Formula
SmartKids Brain Formula, suitable for children aged 4+, is designed to support healthy brain function. Perfect for students both mini and not-so-mini, it’s rammed full of complex nutrients that’ll help support a child’s learning and memory.
It’s a citrus capsule that bursts in the mouth and delivers a “squirtilicious” burst of vitamin goodness. The supplement contains Omega-‐3 fish oil, which is especially high in DHA, the fatty acid best known for its role in brain health. The formula is further fortified with several B‐vitamins which contribute to normal nervous system function, and Iron which plays a vital role in oxygen transport to the brain and the rest of the body, as well as contributes to the normal cognitive development of children.
I tried one of these myself and gagged a little. You could literally taste the fish oil and the bitterness was overwhelming. I also thought the capsule was a little strange. It burst easily enough but the skin was much harder to break down. But this trial isn’t aimed at me, so I gave Dexter a capsule and pimped up the experience by framing it as a delicious after-dinner treat. Surprisingly, he chomped on it with a grimace but swallowed the skin without complaint. I guess that means it deserves a thumbs up but I can’t see this being an easy ride if he is given it daily.
SmartKids Fussy Eaters Multivitamin
This is the real reason I accepted this trial. The SmartKids Fussy Eaters Multivitamin is aimed squarely at children like Dex who regularly throw a wobbly when asked to eat their greens. Although it cannot replace a healthy balanced diet full of fruit and vegetables, this supplement can help support a child’s daily nutritional requirements. It combines a wide spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals together with a high ORAC blend of fruit and veg.
This comes in a “fizzilicious” chewable tablet in a berrilicious blackcurrant and strawberry flavour. Like before, I went first and absolutely LOVED the flavour. It broke easily in my mouth and disappeared in a matter of seconds leaving a really pleasant aftertaste. Better still, Dexter loved this too. So much so, he immediately asked for another. Since then he’s been gratefully accepting his one-a-day. Success!
Have I noticed a difference? Well not really, and it would be silly of me to attribute any minor improvements in mood, energy or learning to a tablet - but I am overjoyed he’s taken to them - hell, even enjoying them! I won’t hesitate to buy more when this current batch runs out.
Bioglan SmartKids Happy Tummies
Bioglan SmartKids Happy Tummies is perhaps the most novel of the four. These “yog-a-licious” strawberry flavoured balls are old school bonbon-sized and yield easily under teeth. They’ll help boost your child’s live culture intake and provide their tummies with the good bacteria they need. Each yogurt ball contains 1 Billion good bacteria - Lactobacillius acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis - two well known and researched strains often found in yogurt.
Kids can enjoy up to three of these a day, and I must admit, I thought they were nice. I drink a probiotic yogurt drink every morning, and find it really helps with intermittent bouts of IBS. I would have so loved it if Dexter would have embraced this one and followed suit, but unfortunately he spat these out after a few tentative sucks.
Superfood Shake
From another miss, to another hit, this chocolate flavoured Superfood Shake contains a super-nutritious blend of hidden fruit and veggies. With 9 greens, live bacteria for happy tummies and vitamin D to support healthy bones and the normal function of the immune system - this is the ultimate nutritious weapon for exasperated mums everywhere.
Perfect as a before and after school snack, or for busy kids on the go, and including no nasties like added sugar and artificial sweeteners and flavours, use it to prepare milkshakes or smoothies, or simply add to cereal or yogurt. Just adding 1.5 tbsp to any of your child’s favourites delivers a burst of goodness with them none the wiser.
When preparing this I was instantly struck by how much it smelled like Baileys. It tastes surprisingly similar to my chocolate whey protein shakes, turning milk a dull brown/green colour. I thought the colour might put Dex off, but he was eager to try it when we told him it was “just like McDonald’s”. It’s actually incredibly tasty, more on the dark chocolate side, rather than milk chocolate. In any case, Dex gobbles this up with gusto and, given this is a fraction of the price of many well known alternatives, we’ll definitely be buying it again.
A mixed bag
Although it might seem as though Dexter wasn’t impressed by some of the above, this is gigantic leap forward for my little man. The fact he’s now getting some greens into his system, with multivitamins to boot, Craig and I are happy to pay for him to have these month on month, even when his fussiness subsides… it will, right?
Originating in Australia over 25 years ago, Bioglan is a serious provider of quality Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements and has a strong reputation for unique formulations and first-to-market-innovations. All products are formulated by qualified naturopaths with years of health experience and are based on only the strongest clinical trials and long-term evidence. For more information visit Bioglan.co.uk.
