The enzyme dose is not based on your child’s age or weight, it’s based on the size of the meal or snack being consumed. If your 4-year old can pack away a plate of spaghetti the same size as your husband can, give a larger dose of enzymes with it.
It is not an exact science, but here are some general dosing suggestions:
Size of Meal |
Capsules |
Powder |
Chewable |
Snacks |
1 |
1/8 teaspoon |
1 |
Child-size meals |
1 |
1/4 teaspoon |
2 |
Pre-teen meals |
2 |
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon |
4 |
Adult-size meals |
2 |
Heaping ¼ teaspoon |
4 |
Huge meals or multiple plates of food at one sitting |
3-4 |
Heaping ¼ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon |
6-8 |
Tip for Swallowing Capsules: (Because they float, capsules are easier to swallow than pills or tablets!)
- Take a drink of liquid and hold it in the mouth
- Place one capsule in the mouth
- Look down at your feet (the capsule floats to top of throat)
- Swallow the drink
Tips for using enzymes as a powder:
- Mix with a tart drink such as lemonade or Welch’s grape juice to mask the taste. Click here for a lot more ideas on how to mix with food and drinks.
- Use a straw and the enzyme drink will avoid most of the taste buds
- Liquids activate the enzymes and therefore must be consumed rather quickly. Oily nut and seed butters, like peanut butter, don’t activate the enzymes and can last 2 to 3 weeks. (Hint – great for getting them to school)