How much algae can children eat?

Since children are in a stage of rapid growth and development, they especially need the trace minerals and amino acids that are found in foods like the algae. It is important to remember, however, that because algae is a food, one specified regimen is not always best for everyone. With babies and toddlers, begin very slowly by sprinkling some granules of algae on cereal or in juice. School-age children can generally follow the adult eating guidelines; however, the quantity should be adjusted appropriate to their size and age. Most children are not fond of taking capsules or pills. If that is the case with your child, the following products are tasty alternatives: Simply SBGA sprinkled on other foods or in juice, BG Bar®, Super Sun Smoothie, and Go Green.

What about probiotics and enzymes?

Regarding probiotics, for children less than a year old only Bifidus should be given because bifidum occur naturally in the intestinal flora of humans, including infants, whereas acidophilus is considered a "foreign" substance. Since an infant's system is more sensitive to dietary influences, we do not recommend introducing acidophilus during the first year. As regards enzymes, although the recommendation is to wait until a child is one year old, the SBG Zymes may be fed in very small amounts to infants. It is suggested that the enzymes be sprinkled on food, as there could be a coagulation effect if enzymes are mixed with formula. We suggest using SBG Zymes rather than SBG Zymes Plus, since the young palate may not be ready for the cayenne in SBG Zymes Plus. After one year of age, a child may be fed both Acidophilus and Bifidus, as well as SBG Zymes or SBG Zymes Plus. Start slowly and experiment as needed. Of course, any concerns regarding dietary supplementation should be discussed with the child's physician or alternative health care practitioner.

Some ideas to encourage your kids to eat algae:

1. Algae through mother's milk
   If a nursing mother eats algae, her baby receives nutrients from the algae through the mother's milk. We have heard of many healthy "algae babies" who are amazingly alert and relate in a delightful way to the people around them and to their environment.

2. Green oatmeal
   Try mixing the algae in a child's oatmeal (do not cook the algae) and adding blended fruits or unsweetened fruit juices. Some children love to eat their green oatmeal!

3. Fruit juice and algae
   Try adding Go Green to unsweetened fruit juice.

4. Vegetable juice and algae
   If your child does not like vegetables, try a vegetable juice or a vegetable juice blend. Mixing juices together provides a tasty drink to which you can add the algae or one of our powdered drink mixes.

5. Raw vegetables and algae
   For an appealing salad, sprinkle the algae on dark green lettuce or spinach leaves to which you also add vegetables that have been blended in a food processor, such as carrots, celery, red cabbage, and cucumber. The salad becomes a lot more moist and palatable as well as less chewy. Children often do not like to take time to chew, but that doesn't mean they can't still get their nutrition from a healthy salad.

6. Sweet treat
   When the weather is hot and you're looking for an alternative to sugar-sweetened drinks, try blending together bananas, strawberries, apple slices, ice cubes, and algae (or Super Sun Smoothie or Go Green) for a drink with the consistency of ice cream. Delicious!

We hope these ideas will inspire you to come up with some of your own. Finding ways to help children eat algae and enjoy it is easy and fun!

"My son Jonathan has been eating algae since the womb. He eats two each of Acidophilus, Bifidus, and Super Sprouts & Algae every day. Jonathan rarely gets ill and has so much healthy energy to do all the things children love to do. He plays soccer and basketball, and is an excellent student. Do I ever wish I had known about algae when I was a kid in school!"
Cindy Bertrand - British Columbia, Canada

"For the last 30-plus years, I've spent my professional life helping children and teens through counseling, and now I'm helping children and teens with concentration, focus, and behavior problems by introducing them and their parents to a program of whole, natural nutrition. For many years now, I have been watching how Super Blue Green Algae can help children and teens be the best they can be. Over and over again, I have recommended our whole, wild, natural source of nutrition for these children. Over and over again, I have seen learning, focus, and concentration improve."
Pete Buntman - Temecula, California