Are your kids getting their Omega-3?

Do your kids happily gobble up fatty fish (salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel or herring) twice a week? If not, chances are they likely don’t have their healthy omega-3 fats covered.

The Canadian Nutrition Society Conference on Dietary Fatty Acids confirms that most kids still fall short of getting enough DHA; the type of omega-3 fat researchers have found is critical for optimal brain and eye development.

I say, “optimal” because there is no evidence DHA will make our kids smarter beyond their natural potential.

How much DHA should children consume each day?

On average, children consume only 30-40mg of DHA per day. This is low when you consider how much DHA children need each day.

Age	Optimal Daily DHA
1-3 years old	70 mg
4-8 years old	90 mg
9-13 years old	120 mg

Omega-3 eggs

While a regular shell egg provides around 40mg of DHA, depending on the brand, one omega-3 enriched egg provides anywhere from 75-130 mg of DHA. That means, for a 1 to 3-year-old child, one omega-3 egg provides 100% of their DHA for the day.

What are omega-3 eggs?

Omega-3 eggs are specialty eggs rich with DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 eggs are produced by feeding hens a diet that includes flaxseed.

While humans are not very efficient at converting alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) from plant-based sources like flaxseed into the essential DHA and EPA that our bodies need, hens are surprisingly gifted at this process. As a result, omega-3 eggs are a great source of both DHA and EPA for those seeking to increase their intake of important omega-3 fatty acids.