Superfoods for kids

For Megan Dixon, making healthy shakes for her daughter was the solution to balancing a busy lifestyle with getting a variety of nutritious food into a fussy eater. Now she’s taken her company Complete Kids Nutrition – and her campaign to get kids off jun

THREE YEARS ago Megan Dixon and her partner Todd Mantle found themselves with a problem on their hands. They were passionate about good nutrition, but their daughter, Tyla, wasn’t having a bar of much of what they put in front of her.

The good thing was that she loved smoothies and milkshakes.

“It became a way to sneak in wholefoods and she was none the wiser,” says Megan.

Trouble was, as their lives got busier it wasn’t always convenient to make smoothies every day, so the couple tried to find a ready-made solution.

They couldn’t find one. There didn’t seem to be a nutritious shake on the market that wasn’t full of refined sugars, e numbers and preservatives.

So the couple put their heads together and created Complete Kids Nutrition – a range of instant superfood milkshakes with kids’ taste buds in mind.

Complete Kids Nutrition has two ranges; Anytime Kids, which can be used as a complete nutritional drink during the day or night, and Active Kids, which is a pre or post sports meal that keeps kids fuelled with quality nutrition during physical activity and helps with their recovery.

“Our superfood shakes deliver your children a great source of carbohydrates, protein, recommended fats, 18 essential vitamins and minerals (including calcium, iron, vitamin C, prebiotic fibre), and New Zealand dairy goodness. They are also low in natural sugar and salt, low fat, low lactose and gluten free. We use only natural colours and flavours. ”

Since launching in October 2013, the couple have spent over $500,000 of their own money developing the business, and the product is now stocked in nine Foodstuffs supermarkets, 12 other retailers, and their online shop.

But now they have launched a PledgeMe page, where the team hope to raise $50,000+ to cover in-store tastings and events, store visits, and increased retail presence in New Zealand, and further marketing and branding.

“With a bit of encouragement we are hoping like-minded businesses and parents, who may have had similar issues, are willing to help us take things to the next level,” Megan says.

"At the end of the day, it's about keeping our kids healthy." The PledgeMe campaign closes on August 28. For Megan, belief in the product is what has driven her forward.

“Complete Kids Nutrition is all about offering a quick and easy meal on the run and an alternative to junk food.

“We want to change the way kids perceive healthy foods and snacks, and give parents the peace of mind that they are feeding them something genuinely healthy.”

“Our shakes are a healthy meal on the run that even the kids can make – simply mix the powder with water. They also taste great warm and can be frozen into ice blocks!

“They make the perfect option for morning tea, afternoon tea or before bed.

“With fussy eaters it is hard to ensure they are receiving the right nutrients and calories their growing bodies need and we think we have developed a great option to assist busy families.”

We are hoping likeminded businesses and parents, who may have had similar issues, are willing to help us take things to

level.” the next

Megan Dixon - Complete Kids Nutrition