With all the so-called “healthy” messages on juice boxes, it’s tough to decipher which is really the best choice for your little ones. We’ve tasted and anylized popular juices so you’ll be better informed on your next trip to the market.
Juicy Guidelines
Even if you’re giving your kids 100% juice, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following:
- 1 to 6 years: Limit juice to 4 to 6 fluid ounces per day
- 7 to 18 years: Limit juice to 8 to 12 ounces per day
Remember, fruit juice shouldn’t be used as a substitute for whole fruit. There are no nutritional benefits of drinking juice over whole fruit. It’s important to stick to the AAP guidelines as too much juice in your kiddos’ diet can lead to obesity, poor nutrition and tooth decay.
When shopping for juice, not all boxes are created equal and not all markets are stocked with the same brands. You want to look for those that are made from 100% juice as opposed to mostly sugar + water. Size also matters—for kids 6 and under, opt for the smallest (4.23 fluid-ounce) box whenever possible.
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- Even healthy foods need portion control; an ideal serving of protein is 3 ounces, or about the size of a deck of cards.
A new study found that a only a measly 9 percent of Americans can accurately track daily calories. That’s a shame, since statistics show people who track calories lose twice as much weight as those who don’t.
That’s because if you don’t track calories, you’re likely eating more than you think. My clients are always saying, “I don’t eat very much, so why am I gaining weight?” After some digging and investigating, they often find the calories are actually stacking up. Here are some reasons why, and how to kick these nasty habits.
5 ways to cut calories »
- Find out which snacks to skip.
Feeding your kids can get confusing. Between pushy food marketing and bewildering labels, it’s no wonder that most folks are misled as to which kids snacks are really healthy. Here’s the real deal on what you’ve been buying.
6 snacks to avoid, and healthy alternatives »
It’s tough to gauge how much food your kids really need. Many parents are worried that they’re not giving enough, so they’ll overcompensate by serving up too much. Here are 5 signs that you’re overfeeding your child, and easy solutions to cut back portion sizes.
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During holidays or big family gatherings, the adults sip on wine or cocktails and the kids drink juice, but my 7-year-old son complained that he wanted something more (and I refuse to buy soda). That’s how this cranberry spritzer was born.
Get the recipe »
My two year old is as feisty as toddlers get, but one thing is for sure — food is her friend. It wasn’t so easy with my two older kids, who were both pickier eaters. With some trial and error (and a lot of frustration), I found ways to get them on track. Hopefully, these hints for feeding your finicky toddler will help you, too.
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In this week’s nutrition headlines: A new (rather graphic) ad wants to keep you from pouring on the pounds, coffee and alcohol are linked to irregular heartbeats and there’s a new “veggie-filled” Goldfish snack on the market.
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From this week’s nutrition headlines: Millions of kids seriously lack vitamin D, specialty drinks are the newest fast-food trend and Japanese women are guzzling collagen in hopes of staying young. Weird, right?
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My clients are always telling me about these new juice drinks they find at the supermarket. You know the ones that say they pack in multiple servings of fruits and veggies or they’ll make you smarter, lower cholesterol or even boost your immunity. Many times folks fall for the hype and start drinking 2 or 3 bottles a day (they think more is better!). But before you take a sip, find out what these bottled beverages are really made of.
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Juice bars have popped up everywhere, but it’s fairly simple — and often less expensive — to try juicing at home. Knowing which fruit and veggie combination’s make life easier, but a little experimentation never hurts.
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