healthy juices

[moonsl]

So we hear all the time that water is best for our kids and that the occasional undiluted jucie or squash is ok so if I give my kids pure (home squeezed/juiced) fruit juices is that ok? I've also been trying out some fab vegetable juices which give me loads of energy and stave off the hunger (also helping me lose the post baby fat which wasnt budging!). As we give our toddlers mashed up vegetables for meals do you think its ok to give them the pure vegetable juices aswell? I'm really keen for them to get a taste for it at a young age then they won't want the unhealthy mixer drinks. Has anyone else tried this?

Depends on the serving size, age & timing.

It is better for teeth if any juice or sweet drink is given with food, rarely on it's own & never in a bedtime bottle. In terms of serving amount: for ages 1-6 no more than half a cup per day. You could top it up with water & a vege like carrot if you want them to have more volume.

Nutritionally it is definitely better that they have the whole fruit- so they can get all the fibre & other goodness (a lot of which is lost when juiced) But the occasional diluted freshly made juice is ok.

Far better to get them used to drinking water and eating fruit. Fruit juice isn't good for teeth, lots of sugar.

Fruit juice is no better than other sugar drinks. Fruit should be eaten as a fruit. the fibre in it is helps slow the sugar release. you wouldn't eat 4 oranges in one go yet it is easy tp glug down more than that in juice.

I've heard nutritionists refer to fruit juices as 'obesity in a bottle', and squeezing the juice at home makes no difference - it's still just sugar. Far better to just give them the fruit and vegetables.

thanks everyone, think I'll just stick with water for the kids and juice on those special occasions....oh and when they visit grandma! I'm going to stick with my green juice and going to check out this place when it opens www.rootsandbulbs.com/cold-pressed-juice-bar-london/ - starting to feel like a celebrity with all this green stuff, can't quite pass as Jennifer Anniston though, few more punds to lose yet!

Sometimes when my daughter asks for juice, I give her water with a squeeze of lemon or clementine...no sugar! Just a little squeeze to add some flavour. She is only 21 months, so doesn't really know the difference. But she knows it has flavour and likes that sometimes instead of just water.