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August 11, 2005
Prairie Fare: How Much Fruit Juice Should Kids Drink?
“The kids want juice boxes for their snack at child care. Could you get some while you’re at the store?” I asked my husband. “Sure. What kind?” he responded. “Orange juice is the most nutritious, but they want another flavor this time. Just look for 100 percent juice on the label,” I said. When he returned from the store, he set the bag on the counter and pulled out the package. “Is this what you wanted? It took a long time to sort through all the fruit drinks,” he noted. He had an amazed look on his face. Yes, he had found the “real juice” among all the fruit-flavored imposters. There are dozens of fruit-flavored drinks on the market. Some are called “cocktails” or “punch” or “fruit drinks.” It’s important for all of us to be “label savvy” when shopping for juice, so we get a little nutrition for our money. Most fruit-flavored drinks contain less than 10 percent juice. Fruit-flavored drinks usually are sweetened with corn syrup or sugar and are artificially flavored. Many loudly proclaim on their packages that they are a “good source of vitamin C.” While vitamin C is needed daily, a glass of citrus juice or an orange would be a more “nutrient dense” choice. Some fruit-flavored drinks or fruit juices are fortified with calcium or with calcium plus vitamin D. While this fortification helps people meet their calcium recommendations, milk is the better calcium source. Milk contains many nutrients that help the body use the calcium it contains. Overall, sweetened fruit-flavored drinks add calories, but few nutrients to the diet. Getting too many calories is a worrisome topic to nutrition educators everywhere. Too many calories from any source, including fruit juice or fruit-flavored drinks, can lead to weight gain. Obesity among children and adults has risen dramatically. While fruit juice is a more nutritious option than fruit drinks, there are limits. Juice is a concentrated source of calories and it usually lacks fiber. Nutrition experts recommend whole fruit over fruit juice as a way to meet fruit recommendations. Too much juice among children can lead to stomach upset or diarrhea because of the natural sugar it contains. Juice sipped throughout the day is linked to cavities because of the juice’s sugar content and acidity. Kids make up about 18 percent of the population, but consume 28 percent of the juice in the U.S. With this in mind, in 2001 the American Academy of Pediatrics released juice consumption guidelines for children. Only pasteurized juice is recommended. For infants:
For children
and adolescents: Here’s a nutrient-rich “juicy” recipe to start your day.
Source:
Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
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North Dakota State University |
