Peach Juice vs. Apple Juice

[Anonymous]

My children can have juice with breakfast, they have milk with dinner, water any other time of the day. Pre school gives them orange juice so I don't serve it at breakfast.

I've been buying Peach Dixie from Trader Joes, no added sugar, all juice. Just noticed there is 32 grams of sugar vs. the 22 grams in apple juice. Should I bother worrying myself about this? The reason I buy the peach juice is for the 20% allowance of vitamin A. My kids don't eat any veggies other than what I can sneak them and I like the idea of them getting a shot of vitamin A in the morning from the peach juice.

Would you go back to the apple juice that has less sugar but zero nutritional value or stick with the peach juice? I believe there is some iron and vit C in the peach juice as well.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'd skip the juice, especially if they're getting orange juice at school. If you want the vitamins, give them regular fruit.

[Anonymous]

I should add, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for American recommend no more than 8 teaspoons per day (32 grams) based on a 2000 calorie per day diet, and that's for adults!

Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics’s Guidelines for Fruit Juice says intake of fruit juice should be limited to 4 to 6 oz/day for children 1 to 6 years old.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the advice regarding sugar. My children only eat apples, bananas, strawberries, and pears so I don't mind the peach juice since they're only getting it once a day. The rest of the day is milk or water. I guess I'll stick with the peach since the vitamins outweigh the sugar and none of the fruits they are eating are loaded with vitamin A.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you compromise by switching them up to add variety? Or, if you are really concerned about the sugar, try diluting the peach juice, little by little.

[Anonymous]

I don't get this... why don't you just blend fruit with water and let them drink it?

That's how we grew up back home and that's how we roll. We don't buy the bottle juice. It's just gross!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get this... why don't you just blend fruit with water and let them drink it?

That's how we grew up back home and that's how we roll. We don't buy the bottle juice. It's just gross!

The bottled juice from Trader Joes is peach puree and water, how is that gross?

[Anonymous]

My kids' dentist said we shouldn't be giving ANY juice - even in no sugar added brands it still has tons of sugar. She actually said Crystal Light is less damaging for their teeth! She added that any time your child drinks juice you should brush teeth right away and milk and water are really the only recommended beverages for kids.

[Anonymous]

My kid's ped and dentist are also anti-juice. She has it at bday parties basically but other than that drinks milk and water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get this... why don't you just blend fruit with water and let them drink it?

That's how we grew up back home and that's how we roll. We don't buy the bottle juice. It's just gross!

The bottled juice from Trader Joes is peach puree and water, how is that gross?

They add stuff to increase shelf time. READ THE LABELS!

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that if it is whole fruit, then you should be agnostic between a serving of juice and a serving of the actual fruit.

If it's not, then it is not worth serving to them. A multivitamin would accomplish your goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids' dentist said we shouldn't be giving ANY juice - even in no sugar added brands it still has tons of sugar. She actually said Crystal Light is less damaging for their teeth! She added that any time your child drinks juice you should brush teeth right away and milk and water are really the only recommended beverages for kids.

OP here, just had my kids to the dentist, last week actually. No cavities, great teeth. Dentist was no worried about the one glass of juice I give my kids in the am or the milk they drink. I'm 35 and have never had a cavity. My kids brush twice a day.

I very much appreciate the dental advice and the finger wagging about giving my kids juice. Thank you, I get it. You don't give *your* kids juice. That wasn't my question. My question was Apple or Peach? I'm absolutely not worried about my children's dental health one bit and neither should you.

And regarding the vitamin - I'd prefer to give the juice than the vitamin being the vitamin is from the peach, the vitamin will mostly pass undigested (per my ped).

[Anonymous]

i'd rather give my children the fruit.

[Anonymous]

And regarding the vitamin - I'd prefer to give the juice than the vitamin being the vitamin is from the peach, the vitamin will mostly pass undigested (per my ped).

The nutrients in the juice have degraded significantly since the time that peach was picked and processed into liquid. The nutrients are lost to oxidation with each passing day.

Idea for food sources of vitamin A that are better bets, also sold at Trader Joes -- flash frozen mango slices; flash frozen sweet potato fries; a fresh mango. Frozen broccoli florets.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you tried the Carrot Orange juice from Trader Joe's? My kids love it. 21 grams of sugar and 130% of the RDA of vitamin A. I water it down to cut down the sugar, but still get a good amount of vitamin A.