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 there any juice products really available that are sufficiently watered down enough to be healthy for toddlers? Eg Ribena, fruit shoot.

We try to buy fresh juice when we are out, and water it down for our children but it's a faff and it would be much easier to buy a dilute version.

Is there anything being lost in the juicing process rather than giving them a piece of fruit to eat?

What is the best juice to drink, I've been trying smoothies which contain some vegetables with some nice pineapple to disguise the flavours

How long can you store carton apple juice for and does it lose its nutritional value as time progresses?

My children like clear apple juice or no bits orange. I'd like to get them to drink veg juices too - Can you recommend a child-friendly flavour combination?

are these new-fangled juicers that juice everything (including peel and seeds!) producing more nutritious juice than older juicers?

how much sugar is in fruit juice for a typical serving

I drink orange juice several times a week, then I heard that apparently "we aren't supposed to do that". Is it healthy to drink 2-3 times a week?

My 18month old currently only drinks water and milk. Is there any sufficient nutritional benefit to introduce fruit juice into his diet such as with a meal?

Is there any fruit juice that is bad for you?

Isn't better to just eat fruit instead of having smoothies

Hi,

My son doesn't like the texture of fruits, he is now 3- he doesn't eat any raw fruit/veggies, despite all of us eating with him, and he has been exposed to fruit since day one of weaning. He will have well cooked pureed vegetables or mashed veggies (as long as they are not green but I serve them up anyway!). I just worry that he doesn't get enough vitamins provided by raw fruit/veggies i.e vitamin C, antioxidants etc.

So I give him a glass of juice/smoothie at the end of his meal, especially if it's iron rich, so usually at breakfast time. However, I read that many of the juices are pasteurised so does this mean that some of the benefits I thought he was getting from juice aren't there i.e vitamin C would be lost during pasteurisation?

AmIi doing the right thing by continuing to give juice (he isn't overweight)? I keep trying with the raw whole fruit and he is offered it at preschool and we all eat it but it seems to be texture issue.

Thank you in advance.

At what age can you start introducing the juice?

Are there any advantages to drinking fruit juice rather than just eating fruit? (bearing in mind I have no trouble getting through far more than 5 a day!)

We all love berries in our family - is it better to enjoy a mixed fruit juice or just have a single berry fruit drink ?

Could the preservatives in long life fruit juice have any negative effect ?

I expect others have already asked, but AIBU to be a bit sceptical about whether a Q & A about fruit juice sponsored by a fruit juice company is likely to give an unbiased view?

My children have never really drank fizzy drinks but the dentist warned us off fruit juice , what do you think is an acceptable amount to drink without causing problems with your teeth

Is drinking juice bad for your teeth?

What is your opinion on fruit smoothies? I think they're a great way of packing in those 5 a day, but realise they're not great on teeth. Just wondered what your feelings are?

is diluting juice a good idea? How about juices made with artificial sweetner??

Which fruit juices are the least acidic?

Is there any fruit juices that are especially high in fibre and as 'good' as fresh fruit?

I've always avoiding giving my toddler juice- am I being precious?

My dd always drinks everything (except water and milk) through a straw and only has fresh juice one a week or so.
Should she be having it more often or is this a suitable amount along with the rest of her fruit and veg?

Thank you :)