My pre-teen daughter wants to take vitamins to be sure she's meeting nutritional guidelines. Are there any vitamins she should not take at her age?

While there is nothing wrong with pre-teens taking a daily multi-vitamin, it's important for your daughter to understand that taking a vitamin pill is not a substitute for a healthy diet, say CNRC nutrition experts.

The USDA offers a great interactive tool that can help your daughter assess, and track, the quality of her diet. The Interactive Healthy Eating Index (IHEI) tool can be accessed through USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/) or directly from http://147.208.9.133/

Your daughter might also want to check out nutrition courses that are routinely offered in many communities. Once she sees what foods provide, she will begin to feel comfortable that she can get all the nutrients she needs by simply making smart food choices.

If your daughter's main concern is not getting adequate nutrition while keeping her calories down, this article on Food Guide Pyramid portion sizes could also be of help: http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/Pubs/Brochures/HowMuchAreYouEating.pdf

Finally, if your daughter still wants to take vitamins, be sure to read the labels carefully before making your purchase.  Choose a multivitamin and mineral supplement that provides NO MORE than 100% of the daily recommended intake for any single nutrient.