No juice??

[phoebesmom]

Hi, I am new to this board and, as I have been perusing, I have noticed several posts where people have said they never give juice, its not nutritious, etc. I mean, obviously I know that fresh fruit is better with the fiber and everything, and you don't want your kid knocking back Hi-C all day, but why are adults encouraged to drink some juices if it isn't good for you at all? For instance, this time of year I can't find organic blueberries or blackberries so I give my 16 month old a 1/2 cup of unsweetened organic blueberry juice (watered down) per day for the antioxident value. Also, she won't drink straight milk, so I give some calcium-enriched OJ daily, as well as yogurt and cheese. Again, I only buy unsweetened pure organic juice, always check for those with the highest vitamin content, always water down, and she eats a lot of fresh fruit. What's the deal here? Am I doing more harm than good?

[bubbaray]

I've never been told or encouraged (as an adult or a parent) to drink juice. I do on occasion, but even for myself, I view it as empty calories. My kids get it rarely (maybe once every 2 weeks or even less often) as a treat -- and even then, only watered down (1/3 juice, 2/3 water). Our dentist and dr discourage children from drinking juice.

Even if its unsweetened juice, it still has a lot of sugar (fructose) and virtually no fibre. If my girls (usually only DD#1) ask for juice, I tell them they can have milk or water.

Me, I'd rather :54:

[WatchingThemGrow]

We don't do juice either. Maybe I've seen/heard too many bad teeth stories.

You can't find any types of cups that make milk exciting to her?

[KrisM]

We do some juice, but not a lot. I do it because the first time DS1 was throwing up sick and I wanted him to drink Pedialyte he wouldn't touch it because he had never had anything similar to that. So, now, the 2 oldest have a bit once or twice a week.

I've also not seen or heard anything saying that I should be drinking juice. I almost never drink it myself as I don't need the empty calories :).

[hellokitty]

As an adult, I rarely ever drink juice. Ideally, water is best. My kids rarely get juice, maybe once or twice a wk at most. They eat a lot of fresh fruit. Even if it is not organic. I try to get organic when possible, but where we live, it's not always possible. All I know is that I see kids sucking down juice all day long where ever I go. I don't think it's good for them. My kids don't have problems drinking plain water or milk, b/c I also do not let them have chocolate milk. I know some parents who got their kids hooked on chocolate milk and now their kids won't drink plain milk. The only chocolate milk my kids have had is hot cocoa. I guess I'm just trying to get my kids into healthy eating habits now, so that it is something that will come naturally for them as they grow up.

[veronica]

my kids have about 4 ounces of juice everyday when they wake up from their nap. Other than that, it is either water or milk. I don't mind and think it is fine. they never complain other times about having mostly water all day. I don't want to forbid it or keep it out of the house as they are at the stage where they will see it at parties or special functions and I don't want them to have some emotional attraction to it later ine life "because we never had it"....

[SnuggleBuggles]

No juice regularly here. I make exceptions at parties, after soccer practice and things like that. Water is free, healthy and usually quite accessible. I don't want ds to get into the habit of drinking juice primarily. My 6yo still requests water when we are at restaurants because he prefers it. He didn't even taste juice till he was probably 2. Ds2 has tasted it but I won't be making it part of his diet.

Beth

[pb&j]

I am in the no juice camp. Esp b/c DS has some serious dental issues we're dealing with (not due to juice, but can be made worse by too much sugar).

However, he does get juice on occasion. First, he eats a very healthy, complete diet otherwise. I don't feel like 50 cal worth of watered down apple juice is going to undermine that. And second, he's like me and when he has low blood sugar (sometimes first thing in the morning, or after he's been playing vigorously outside in the heat), he becomes Mr. Meltdown. One juice box later, and he is back to normal. But juice is not a daily occurrence, and we purposely keep juice in our spare fridge in the basement so that it's a big PITA to go and get it. And finally, if it's been a couple of days since he's pooped, a little apple juice, and he is good to go, as it were.

FWIW, DS didn't have any juice until he was about 18 mos old.

[lorinick]

I'm on the other side I drink juice and so do my children and I'm in the dental field. My oldest will be nine and has no cavities. My youngest is 20 mts. and he loves juice. It's not the best thing for him that's for sure, but I'm overly concerned. We do practice great oral care all the time regardless of the food we eat or drinks we consume.

[love_a_latte]

When rarely had juice in the house until I was pg with DS. Then juice was just about the only thing that I could keep down in the morning, so we (DD and I) got in the habit of having juice with breakfast. Now it is totally part of the breakfast routine to have a cup of (watered down for the kids) juice in the morning, but that is it for the day. They know that it is only for breakfast, and don't bug me (very often) for it at other times. We brush after, their teeth seem to be doing fine, and they are both string beans so I am not to worried about the extra calories.

[salsah]

i'm fine with juice. but i control the type and quantity. i do not want it to be a regular part of their diet or become a habit. we don't even keep any in the house. all we drink is water is milk. my kids can go weeks w/o juice.

[phoebesmom]

Thanks for the food for thought. Overall, I think my daughter eats a very healthy diet, including lots of fresh fruit and whole wheat, so I think I will keep it up with the glass or two of watered-down juice. I am kind of a freak about the pesticide issue, so I would rather get the vitamins from organic juices if I can't find that particular fruit (like blueberries) in season.
To answer a previous poster, no, she will not drink milk in any shape or form. I attribute this to extended bfing and the fact that her mom HATES milk! I tried different cups, every flavor of milk available and no dice. My solution is to give her a "smoothie" of 1/2 Yogurt and 1/2 milk. She sucks that down once a day.
That said she does drink lots of water and I have never given her juice in a bottle or before bed. Now I know to look out for too much juice drinking that interferes with eating, though. Thanks!

[phoebesmom]

And to answer the question about adults not being encouraged to drink juice...Again, I know that whole fruit is always the better choice, but any google search on drinking fruit juice returns lots info on the benefits of juices, especially pomegranate, blueberry, and cranberry. Antioxidents and all that. In moderation, of course!!

[xcm83x]

I don't give my kids juicy juice anymore. All what they useually drink is Seneca Apple Juice, it's all natural and less sugar...I don't think any sodium or fats. Unlike Juicy Juice is 27 grams of sugar or something and frozen kinds only have 23 or so..roughly saying. So I would stay away from high sugary juices. It'll help get the child more energetic if he/she drinks way to much of it. The WIC nutritionist said a child after 2 should only gets one cup a day, I've always wondred why my son would get so hyper it's not like I feed him chocolate all day. But we've noticed he's had a few cups of milk and when I stoped to one when he wakes up in the morning it helps. So it's not that it's not healthy, it's just too sugary. You don't want a wound up child at naps or bedtime...and I think a 1 year old should have 2 a day, besides there's natural fruites he/she can have too. Good luck.

[Melaine]

I've never been told or encouraged (as an adult or a parent) to drink juice. I do on occasion, but even for myself, I view it as empty calories. My kids get it rarely (maybe once every 2 weeks or even less often) as a treat -- and even then, only watered down (1/3 juice, 2/3 water). Our dentist and dr discourage children from drinking juice.

Even if its unsweetened juice, it still has a lot of sugar (fructose) and virtually no fibre. If my girls (usually only DD#1) ask for juice, I tell them they can have milk or water.

Me, I'd rather :54:

:yeahthat:

We give watered down juice usually just if we are dealing with a cold (just so they drink more fluids) or, for instance, this weekend we had a lot because I was pushing fluids in efforts to potty train.

I really like to make smoothies for the girls because then they are getting the benefit of the fruit, and they love them.