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About Maggie

I am a nurse and a mother of 2. I am also the founder of Nourish Interactive. I am very concerned about the health and well being of our children. I started the Nourishing Thoughts Blog so that I could help parents keep up on the latest trends in children's nutrition and exercise.

I know that much like reading and writing is the foundation for learning, nutrition is the foundation for healthy children. But with so many new studies, products and trends constantly being reported it is hard to keep up. I just want to make it a little easier for parents by doing some of the legwork and providing you with up to date information.

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Guidelines on how much fruit juice is okay for kids to drink.

We have heard alot of talking about minimizing sugary drinks. But, what about fruit juice for kids?

It is always best for kids to get their fruit by eating it. When they drink fruit juice, it will have a concentrated dose of natural fruit sugar (fructose). Fruit juice is okay but like other high sugary drinks, it should be in moderation. And let’s not forget about the effects of sugar on children’s developing teeth.

You might be surprised how little is recommended!

Here are some guidelines* to help you in how much juice is okay for kids:

  • start by making sure the label says 100% fruit juice
  • check to be sure that the label says  ”No Sugar Added”
  • for infants up to 6 months, it is not recommended to give them any juice
  • for babies 6-12 months old, 4 ounces of fruit juice a day.
  • for 1 to 6 year olds, 6 ounces of fruit juice a day
  • for kids 7 years old and older, no more than 12 ounces per day

Four ounces (118 milliliters) of 100 percent fruit juice equals one serving of fruit.

Children and fruit juice questions and answers (updated 01/20/10)
Question: Can your preschooler be unhealthy if they are in normal ranges for weight & height? My daughter drinks way too much sugary drinks!

Answer: Excellent question and it’s wonderful hear from a proactive parent!  Height and weight (Body Mass Index) is only one indicator of a healthy child. More importantly are the necessary nutrients that a child needs that comes from eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. One concern about high sugar fluid intake is that it is replacing necessary fluids like water and milk.

Consuming a diet with too many sugars can also make a child full and may impact total daily nutrition. If children fill up on sugar drinks they may not be eating other high nutrient foods needed for daily requirements such as; protein, and vitamins and minerals. 

Preschoolers are also developing eating habits that last a lifetime, by encouraging a balanced diet early one this may help to prevent weight issues and unhealthy habits later in life. Try gradually decreasing the amount of sugary drinks and replacing it with fresh fruit, milk and water. You can also try 1/4 of cup water to 100% fruit juice to lessen the sweetness gradually over time.

Thank you for the great question and remember it can be most effective to take ’small steps’ to family wellness and to try to keep changes positive and fun for kids.

Every positive change, no matter how small, is a step to creating a healthier child. Together we can give children the knowledge, facts and skills to develop healthy habits for a lifetime!”  Maggie LaBarbera RN founder of Nourish Interactive- the fun way to learn about nutrition!

For more information you can check out these resources on our website Nourish Interactive:
Drinking your calories ‘Nourish Healthy’ Kids article for parents
Healthy Family Nutrition Tips printable pdf of kid friendly tips to encourage healthy habits
‘Nourish Healthy Kids’ Nutrition News Learn about our monthly newsletter, written by RN’s and Registered Dietitians who share a commitment and passion for family health and children’s nutrition.
Library of Nutrition Articles Topics of interest articles and tips for raising healthy kids!
Other related resources:
Concerns about energy drinks
Sugary drinks linked to childhood obesity
Sugar In Kids’ Fruit Juices Article

*source: Mayo Clinic

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 6:06 am and is filed under Beverages, Changing your child's diet, Nutrition tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “Guidelines on how much fruit juice is okay for kids to drink.”

  1. Medical Call Center Says:
    October 15th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Thanks for the fruit guidance…specially for children we are always wondering what would be the ideal choice.

  2. Tweets that mention Kids Nutrition- High Sugar Drink Limits Daily Beverage Juice Recommendations | Nourishing Thoughts- Promoting Healthy Family Wellness- Nutrition for Kids -- Topsy.com Says:
    January 21st, 2010 at 6:21 pm

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nourish Interactive, Nourish Interactive. Nourish Interactive said: @thismomsguide Great Q!Ht & Wgt/BMI is 1 indicator,but child may miss key nutrients if too much juice/sugar-more info: http://bit.ly/7gem3C [...]

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