Juice Abuse by Haley Thomas, RD, LD

I know what you're thinking, “Oh great, another thing I thought was healthy for my child is now considered a bad food.” It's true, nutrition research and recommendations change almost on a daily basis, so trying to keep up and provide the healthiest of foods for you and your family often becomes a complicated task.

A lot of research translates into what people should not eat, so I hope to get your spirits up by saying up-front that juice is still considered a healthy item to give to your kids. A relief to many I'm sure as children tend to like the taste of juice compared to other healthy beverages. In addition, juice is a major source of Vitamin C and water for children, both necessary components for growth and development.

The problem comes into the picture when you consider just how much juice children may be drinking throughout the day. When children start consuming too much juice it becomes an extra source of calories and may start displacing other nutritious foods and nutrients, like iron that children also need. Another concern observed with excess fruit juice is the development of baby bottle tooth decay, a condition that is preventable.

To date, studies have shown conflicting results when looking at the amount of juice intake in children compared to weight parameters such as measures of overweight or stature development.

However, in a study conducted at Cornell University researchers found that children who drank over 12 ounces of sweetened drinks per day gained significantly more weight than the children who drank less than 6 ounces per day. The children who consumed the sweetened drinks took in ~244 more calories per day than on days when they did not drink the sweetened beverages.

So how much is too much you may be wondering. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

•  Fruit juice should not be given to infants before 6 months of age.

•  After 6 months, infants should not get juice from bottles or cups that allow them to consume juice easily.

•  Infants should not get fruit juice at bedtime.

•  Ages 1 – 6 years: 4-6 ounces/day.

•  Ages 7 – 8 years: 8-12 ounces/day.

•  All children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits.

If your children enjoy drinking fruit juice stick to the guidelines to ensure they get the right amount of nutrients without the extra calories. Remember, children are actively developing food behaviors and habits that will stick with them their entire lives. So, encourage children to choose more water and milk so they will continue that healthy habit into adulthood.

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