Chance to win a £150 Waitrose voucher! Join a Q&A on fruit juice with nutritionist Fiona Hunter ANSWERS NOW BACK!

[AnnMumsnet]

Over the next week, we're running a Q&A about fruit juice with Fiona Hunter, a qualified independent nutritionist and member of the British Dietetic Association. You may have read a number of stories in the papers about fruit juice and have some questions about its role in the diet for you and your family. For example, can 100% juice be one of your 5 a day, what goes into juice, when is it best to drink juice and how much to help ensure my children have a balanced diet?

Fiona has a BSc (Hons) Nutrition Degree and a postgraduate diploma in Dietetics from Kings College London. She worked as a Registered Dietitian in the NHS for seven years and for the last 15 years has worked as an independent nutrition consultant, writer and broadcaster.

Post your questions to Fiona before 9am on Friday 12th December and we'll send over a selection to which she will provide answers. There is a £150 Waitrose voucher up for grabs for one lucky Mumsnetter who posts a question. We will post Fiona's answers w/c 12 January.

This Q&A is sponsored by Tropicana.

Are smoothies a better choice for kids than juice, or is there no difference?

Would it be better to have say, a whole apple and a glass of water, rather than a glass of apple juice?

how much of the unsweetened dilutable juice is enough for a toddler

How exactly are juices "from concentrate" made? How is the concentrate made, and is anything added to them?

I have heard there is "no such thing as a healthy fruit juice". Is this true? My son's preschool has banned juice altogether.... even though we always drink it diluted with water. I think there is nothing wrong with fruit juice with breakfast, is this correct? One drink of fruit juice a day is surely not "unhealthy"?

I'd like to reduce the sugar in my juices, what's the best/tastiest way to do that?

Is cranberry juice really good for urine infections or is that a myth?

What fruit juice has least natural sugar in it?

What's the difference, in terms of micronutrients, between 'not from concentrate', 'reconstituted from concentrate', and 'long-life' juices? Is any form genuinely healthier than the others?

Is it true that you should avoid drinking fruit juice when you are trying to lose weight due to the amount of sugar in it?

How long do the vitamins in fruit juice last - from what I've read they start to deteriorate as soon as the fruit is processed - is there any nutritional value to shop bought fruit juice?

How do you recommend I counteract the sugar content in fruit when preparing a healthy option ?

I've heard that fruit juice is bad for teeth, should I be giving it to my child (in a cup, I believe a bottle is a big no no)

I read recently that some juices can contain more sugar than the equivalent amount of Coke. In light of this, would you say it's healthy for children to drink juice? If not, and they have a taste for it (because let's face it, fruit juice can taste fantastic), what do you suggest they drink instead?

Is it any ready made food or juice healthy for a toddler? If not why don't the stop them from lying ?

Is drinking fruit juice better / worse or equivalent to drinking squash? The DDs do drink a lot of water but they do also love juice and squash. Which of the two is the lesser of the two evils for a treat? Thank you.

My son has a cup of apple juice with breakfast, then a carton of juice in his packed lunch box. Is this too much?

Which fruits contain too much sugar ?

What is a healthy portion size for a small child, child, teen and adult? (I am assuming they are different)

My dentist says that fruit juice is bad for the teeth. I miss drinking it in the mornings. Is this right?

What is the difference between freshly squeezed fruit juice and the fruit juice made from concentrate?

Is it better to have shop bought freshly squeezed fruit juice or concentrated juice?

I have problems with my joints, and have been told cherry juice can help with this - is this true?

My dentist recommends limiting pure juice to my daughter because of the sugar content. She does like it a lot, so should i dilute it with water, limit her amounts or just get her to brush her teeth after drinking it?

What is your reaction and advice regarding knowledge that the frequency of sugars circulating in the mouth is adding to tooth decay and additionally the child obesity problems? Is it not better for children and adults to avoid this extra portion of sugar and drink water instead?