Why don't you give your kids juice?

And you can fill in juice with any sweet you could possibly think of and I have been asked it. The biggest one is juice though because juice is "healthy" right? Family, friends, and acquaintances alike all ask me this question and so I just wanted to take some time to explain why I don't let my children have juice.

1) TEETH- Juice is just not very good for your teeth. It can cause tooth decay and cavities. Even aside from what is called bottle rot, juice is responsible for numerous tooth problems. The internets is full of information on this and it is also information I have received from dentists, dental hygienists, and moms of kiddos who have had cavities from juice. Furthermore, 3 yr olds stink at brushing their teeth and though I go over his teeth after he has made a noble effort, I would just rather not chance it.

2) OBESITY- sugary drinks are unnecessary calories in our kids diets. They can very easily trick us into overfeeding our kids or our children can decide that they are so yummy that it is the only drink they want. Apple juice has about 120 calories a serving and grape juices can pack in anywhere between 160-200 calories. We can compare both of those with one serving of soda which contains about 100 calories (soda has NO redeeming qualities though whereas juice contains some nutrients and vitamins) and see how easy it is to fill our kids up on drink instead of nutritional food. Water has no calories and leaves children to draw their nutrition and calories from food and it also helps the body filter more efficiently. Although slightly outdated, this article, explains in detail why doctors actually think that juice is contributing to obesity. Check out the AAPs recommendation on fruit juice. For children 1-6 yr old, no more than 6 oz of juice is suggested in a day.

3) DIGESTION- this particularly pertains to us because Super Muscles does not digest sugar well. I give him treats in moderation but any sugary drink gives him the runs (TMI, I know). But it is a common thing for many children who drink juice.

4) FRUIT packs the same punch (actually MORE) and teaches better habits. Children can get the even greater benefits (more nutrients come from the fruit itself and is not lost in processing) and no potential hazards from just eating fruit. Whole fruit is also much easier to digest than juice (which is good news for Super Muscles). Here is an article that explains it pretty well.

I realize that fruit juice is heavily marketed as a nutritious and healthy drink for children but I would urge you to do some research and come to your own conclusions. These are the conclusions that work for our family (and SMs tummy). If you decide that juice is a good supplemental fruit product in your childs diet, please review the AAPs recommendations for yourself. I also want to add that you can make fruit juice or smoothies out of whole fruit at home that are delicious and retain a vast majority of the nutrients in fruit without the sugar or extra calories. I like to make fruit smoothies using fruit, plain yogurt and a bit of honey (if I use tart fruits).