Fresh fruit is indeed the best choice. However, serving the fruit in the daily dietary pattern in the form of juice is also more practical. Some types of fruit juice can be part of a healthy diet for children. Because in addition to containing various vitamins, some fruits also contain antioxidants. The results of a new study have confirmed that drinking a sufficient amount of fruit juice does not affect a child’s weight. However, fruit juice does contain calories. Just like other foods or beverages that contain calories, if too much fruit juice can cause weight gain. If you choose to provide child fruit juice, then make juice without sugar or additional sweetener. Fruit juices and sugared fruit drinks may indeed have the same amount of calories, but children will get more vitamins and nutrients if the fruit juice consumed does not contain added sugar or sweeteners. For that, you can make your own juice for your child by using masticating juicer.
We recommend serving juice in a cup or glass instead of a pacifier. It is at once to teach children to stop drinking milk from a bottle. In addition, it should serve fruit juice as a snack, do not allow children to drink juice throughout the day. If the child becomes difficult to eat because it is given fruit juice. So you should not give fruit juice 30 minutes before eating. Every food component is ideally given in enough amounts. Too much or too small fruit juice, of course, each has its effects. To ensure that children do not drink too much juice, then it can be by following the recommended intake of fruit juice. Here is the recommended limit of fruit juice intake.
1. Newborns up to six months: Can’t drink juice, unless given in order to relieve constipation.
2. 6 months – 6 years: 4-6 ounces (118-177 milliliters) per day.
3. Over 7 years: 8-12 ounces (237-355 milliliters) per day.
About 4 ounces (118 milliliters) of pure fruit juice equals one serving of fruit. However, juice does not have fiber and other nutrients such as fresh fruit. Although a sensible amount of fruit juice every day is good for most children, be sure to offer fresh fruit for the child as well.