Many parents think that fruit juice is an important part of a child's meal plan. 100% fruit juice is one way for children to get their fruit servings.
Not all fruit juice is alike. Many do provide 100% juice but many fruit juice can contain as little as 23% fruit juice and the rest is water and lots of sugar! Always look for "100% Fruit Juice" when selecting fruit juice for your family. If it just says "Fruit Juice" then it is a sugary drink that will not count as a serving of fruit.
Drinking a lot of juice makes younger children feel full so they will not have the appetitie to eat other foods that are important for a healthy meal. it will also give them extra sugar and calories that they do not eat.
Older children who drink a lot of juice will be adding more calories to their diet and probably will not get the amount of water and milk they need.
It's much healthier to eat the fruit rather than drink the juice.
The USDA My Plate and the American Dieitic Association recommends that 100% fruit juice should be limited to just 1 six ounce serving a day. The rest of your child's fruit intake should come from eating their fruit.
a 12-ounce glass of orange juice, is made from about two to three oranges, has about 180 calories
One orange contains only 80 to 90 calories
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