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Expert Q&A
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| By Melanie Wilson Vegetarian Cooking and Lifestyle Expert | ||
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I've read that I should limit the amount of fruit juice I give my children. Are smoothies made with fresh fruit better for them?
Since juice is essentially just excess calories and provides no fiber, most experts recommend no more than 4-8 ounces of juice per day for children. It tends to take up space in the diet that could otherwise be filled with more nutritious options, like whole fruit. One exception might be calcium-fortified juices, which are an especially good choice for the lactose intolerant. This doesn't mean that juice is off limits entirely, only that you should be careful not to overdo it. Also, keep in mind that not all juices are created equal. Serve only 100 percent juices and choose those that are high in vitamin C, like orange or pineapple. Smoothies made with fresh fruit do provide more fiber and are a good way to get reluctant fruit eaters to consume their daily servings. If your kids don't like to drink them because they are too thick, you can thin them using milk or soymilk.
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