Tips For Offering Juice

What to offer and why


 

100% juice provides vitamin C. This can help your body absorb iron. But drinking too much juice can be unhealthy.

Juice recommendations for children from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Birth to 11 months: No juice 

Ages 1 to 3 years: 4 ounces or less per day

Ages 3 to 5 years: 4 to 6 ounces or less per day

Decrease the amount of juice your child drinks and start with their regular cup of juice on week 1. Week 2 dilute so 1/4 is water and 3/4 is juice. Week 3 dilute so 1/2 is water and 1/2 is juice. Week 4 dilute so 3/4 is water and 1/4 is juice.

To decrease the amount of juice your child drinks...

  • Dilute 100% juice with water. Slowly increase the amount of water until the drink offers the recommended amount of juice.
  • Dilute juice every time you offer it.

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Offer water and milk instead of juice:

  • Encourage your child to drink water during the day.
  • Offer milk at mealtime. 
  • Put water within your child’s reach.
  • Let your child fill their own cup. This will help your child build independence too. 

Why limit juice?

Juice has very little fiber.
Veggies and whole fruits have fiber. Fiber helps meals feel more filling and helps with regular bowel movements.

Juice can cause tooth decay.
Offering juice in a sippy cup or bottle lets the juice sit on the teeth. The teeth can then develop cavities. Choose an open cup instead.

Juice can cause upset stomachs.
Too much juice can cause stomach pains, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Milk and water help your body.
Drinking water is important for staying healthy. It helps your body digest food and keeps you hydrated. Water also helps your body stay at the right temperature and prevents constipation. Milk gives you protein, calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. Drinking milk helps your bones and teeth grow strong.

 Read labels to know what you are buying.

Choose 100% fruit juice.
Look for labels that say "100% fruit juice.”

Choose WIC-approved juices.
WIC-approved juices are 100% juice. This means they do not have added sugar. They are often higher in vitamin C compared to other types of juice drinks. 

Choose orange juice.
It is naturally higher in antioxidants, folate, and potassium compared to other juices. 

Avoid drinks that offer little juice.
Juices labeled as "fruit or juice drink" and "juice beverage" or "juice cocktail" are mostly water, sugar, and only 5% to 10% juice.

Avoid Fruit-flavored sodas.
Soft drinks contain no juice.