Juicy Goodness

We all know that most juices contain vitamin C, but did you know many are also naturally good sources of potassium, folate and beta carotene, an important antioxidant? Some juices and juice drinks are also fortified with bone-building calcium and vitamin D, giving them an extra nutritional punch that children need.

A convenient way to get a serving of fruits and vegetables

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines advises that children need 5 to 9 servings (4.5 cups) of fruit and vegetables a day. Juices can help meet this goal, as long as most servings of fruits and vegetables come from whole foods to ensure adequate fiber intake.

Try adding a little fun by using juices in non-traditional ways. Mix fruit juices with yogurt, ice and fresh fruit for a quick, on-the-go smoothie. Or add vegetable juices to soups or casseroles.

How much juice for kids?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) acknowledges that the vitamin C and flavonoids in juice may have beneficial long-term health effects.¹ To help parents manage their kids' juice intake, the AAP has issued the following recommendations:

• Avoid giving fruit juice to infants younger than 6 months of age.
• Avoid serving juice to older infants and toddlers in bottles or cups that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day.
• Avoid giving fruit juice at bedtime.
• For children ages 1 to 6, limit fruit juice to 4-6 ounces per day.
• For children ages 7 to 18, limited fruit juice to 8-12 ounces daily.
• Encourage children to eat whole fruits.
• Do not allow children to drink unpasteurized juice.

Sources

1. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. The use and misuse of fruit juice in pediatrics. Pediatrics, 2001;107:1210-1213.