If you’re concerned that your kids aren’t getting enough protein, you’re not alone. Kids can be notoriously picky eaters. Maybe you're seeing the chicken left on a plate but all the pasta gone, or you’re reminding yourself that goldfish crackers have cheese in them, and hey, that's protein. We all find ourselves searching for ways to get kids what they need to grow, and fortunately, TOMI exists as a practical, everyday solution, created by a mom and nutrition expert who understands these challenges.
The other factor at work is trying to eliminate the general stress and anxiety around food in general. We don’t want to give our kids negative associations with food, health, or the eating process. Parenting is hard enough. How can we make the seemingly complex minefield of nutrition easier when it comes to taking care of our kids?
Eating More Protein Is Only a Partial Solution
As important as protein is, more protein doesn’t work for picky kids. The even more surprising part for many parents is that chances are your kids are already consuming enough protein. According to the National Library of Medicine, Toddlers need 13 grams of protein per day, 4-8-year-olds require 19 grams, and 9-13-year-olds need 34 grams.
One order of Chicken Nuggets from McDonald's is 11-14 grams, and a bowl of pasta already provides 10-12 grams. Some of that protein is harder for young digestive systems to break down efficiently, which means for your kids, those nutrients are not being absorbed completely.
It turns out the problem with healthy, sustainable protein-rich diets for kids isn’t about the amount at all. It’s about that absorption.
Protein absorption is determined by dieticians using metrics like PDCAAS and DIAAS, What they reveal is that while a cup of cooked pasta with cheese might be getting you some grams of protein, it’s not going to score super well, which means that protein isn’t getting absorbed.
All that to say that our instincts that our kids aren’t getting enough protein might be true on the absorption level, even if they’re eating plenty of it!
How to Actually Get Full Nutritional Value From Your Protein
Not all proteins are created equal. You’ve probably heard about the ideas of a ‘complete protein’, which refers to a protein source that has all nine essential amino acids, which basically means that it provides the building blocks your body needs to repair itself that it CANNOT produce on its own.
So step one… make sure your kids are getting all the macro and micronutrients they need to grow. But the work isn’t over just by hitting targets because not all food is absorbed the same way. Some healthy meals aren’t as easily absorbed by the intestines, which is further complicated by the fact that kids' and toddlers' systems are less mature and produce less stomach acid and enzymes that break down large protein structures. TOMI’s powder format, plus gut-friendly ingredients, provides a developing digestive tract-friendly solution.
Even when nutritious foods are served, many kids simply don’t eat enough of them consistently, which is where easy-to-use, well-tolerated options can help fill gaps. The form of the nutrition matters, how easily it is tolerated and digested, and not just if it is a healthy choice to begin with. It needs to check off all those boxes at once.
TOMI Mom-Dietician Developed Solution for Kids
The common and effective nutrition hack for kids and adults is the smoothie. They’re fun to make, and you can sneak protein and even leafy greens in there as well. For an adult you can just dump your protein powder of choice in there, nicely augmenting your other whole food sources throughout the day.
TOMI is made specifically for kids. It is easy to absorb, with ingredients not found in adult versions. Things like probiotics and prebiotics promote the existence of ‘good’ gut bacteria. Healthier gut bacteria can help the gut lining function better, so the amino acids from protein get absorbed more efficiently. This also results in easier digestion, less bloating, better tolerance, and happier mealtimes for kids and parents alike.
TOMI isn’t just a protein powder, but a complete nutritional support product. The value doesn’t have to end with just the probiotics, prebiotics, and protein. Kids require healthy fats to provide energy and support cell growth, particularly in the brain. Fiber is another element that contributes to a healthier gut to promote more efficient nutrient absorption.
Taking a look at TOMI, we can see the way the overall nutritional value includes many things that everyday meals often don’t. 
TOMI is safe, gentle on digestion, and full of healthy benefits for a kid's nutritional needs. Many of the most popular kids' meals also come with things we don’t want in their diets. Unhealthy fats, higher sugar content, and slower protein absorption. While TOMI isn’t a complete meal replacement, it augments daily eating habits in a tasty, healthful way that allows the rest of the day’s eating to be less stressful. This is a great benefit not just for parents (we have enough stress in our lives) but also for helping our kids develop positive feelings around food and mealtimes rather than anxiety.
More Than Just Smoothies
Having a protein powder that can be snuck into all sorts of foods they already love will make it easier for them to get the daily nutrition they need. You can sprinkle them in pancakes, oatmeal, yogurt, muffins, French toast, pudding, homemade popsicles, and more.
If you’re looking for an easier way to give your kids the protein they need, in a way that their body will actually absorb, you can try your first Tomi order at 15% off using the coupon code TRYTOMI15.