Fact: the average Australian parent is spending more time in paid work. Travel times between workplace and home are getting longer. And while the internet and the communications revolution seemingly keep us all in touch, the real question is are they also keeping us apart?

Fast paced lives may mean that a parent's one-on-one time with their children is actually diminishing. But it's not just about the parents. Out of home entertainment choices and activities for children are now big business, with peer pressure and the lure of advertising ensuring kids answer the call.

Busy lives. Fast foods. For most Australian parents the question isn't whether their kids are eating enough foods but whether it's the right food. In fact, with the best mealtime habits, creating a balanced diet for children is still a difficult proposition. Even when they're not eating on the run, many kids won't eat certain foods and go for those with too much sugar, salt and fat when away from home.

Trust Herron to have some healthy eating tips for growing families.

Because we would never suggest you'll find all the answers in Vita-Minis alone we thought you might like to know about other sources of essential nutrients for you and your children.

Vitamin B1
Wheat germ, whole wheat, peas, beans, enriched flour, fish, peanuts, meat.

Vitamin B2
Dairy products, eggs, meat, leafy greens, whole and enriched grains.

Vitamin B3
Peanuts, brewer's yeast, fish, meat, whole grains.

Vitamin B6
Potatoes, bananas, raisin bran cereal, lentils, liver, turkey, tuna.

Vitamin B12
Dairy, eggs, meat, poultry, fish.

Calcium
Dairy, sardines, canned salmon, leafy greens, tofu.

Iron
Oysters, meat, poultry, fish. Also leafy greens, dried fruit.

Magnesium
Beans, dark greens, fish, meat.

Manganese
Nuts, seeds, wheat germ, wheat bran, leafy greens, tea, pineapple.

Potassium
Fruits, beans, milk, vegetables.

Zinc
Oysters, meat, eggs, seafood, black eyed peas, tofu, wheat germ.

For many parents, part of the solution is in combining strong mealtime routines with vitamin and mineral supplements. The Australian brand Herron offers a specially formulated product called Vita-Minis^TM for kids that is actually available off the shelf.

Developed in Australia by leading nutritionists to meet full HERRON pharmaceutical standards, Vita-Minis^TM contain a broad spectrum of 18 essential nutrients required for growth and development including the entire B complex, anti-oxidants, vitamin C and E, calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium and manganese.

It's worth considering the reasons for such a formula. Let's look at the figures. Research has shown that around 3 out of 5 Australian children do not consume enough calcium. Not only is calcium essential to form healthy bones and teeth but it's also needed for blood clotting.

About half of Australia's children don't consume enough zinc - another essential mineral it plays an important role in growth, wound repair, immunity and many other functions.

Something like 1 in 10 children are short on iron which is part of the oxygen carrying component of the blood called haemoglobin. Without enough iron the body is starved for oxygen and tires easily.

Further deficiencies can also be seen in Magnesium (bone, protein, fatty acid formation and making new cells) and Manganese (skin, bone, cartilage formation and glucose tolerance).

A number of the B complex vitamins plus vitamin C and E are also proving elusive in today's diets. Vitamins B1, B2 and B3 for instance are needed to process carbohydrates and form the fuel growing bodies run on. Vitamin B6 is the master vitamin for processing amino acids, while B12 is needed for normal nerve cell activity and DNA replication.

These are just some of the vitamins and minerals needed for children to reach and maintain optimal health. The facts and the figures can at times seem overwhelming. Fortunately the help available from a supplement like Herron Vita-Minis for Kids puts the problem into perspective.

Just one tablet per day for children from 2 to 11 years can help bridge those dietary gaps that sometimes no amount of care from a parent can avoid. And because after 25 years Herron knows children, Vita-Minis come in a choice of delicious raspberry or pine-lime flavours to guarantee this is one supplement both kids and parents can trust.

If you have any questions for the people at Herron or just want to know more about the Herron Health range, visit the Herron website .