Let's talk juice: why do -or don't- you give it to your child? - Page 2

[~Amy~]

I just don't see the need for juice. It's not something we drink and just don't keep it in the house. We never really have (well sometimes DH gets some OJ) so I didn't see any reason to start buying it once we had kids. I do buy carrot juice for thinning down smoothies but that's pretty much the only juice DS gets. Sometimes a bit of apple juice at AWANA but he doesn't even always drink it. He really doesn't care for juice too much. He drinks water and raw milk.

[Xavismom]

Yes, I give my DS juice! But only juice we make ourselves in our juicer, and its mostly vegatables. My DH and I both start our day out with fresh juice, so we let DS have as much as he likes. Example, this morning was a mix of : purple kale, spinach, celery, carrots, ginger, beets, strawberries and apple. He really digs any of the mixes with beets for some reason, but wont EAT a beet. Juice is our way of getting some fresh veggies into him, since he's still not a big solids eater at 20 mo.

[1love4ever]

That sounds like some awesome juice PP!!  I have actually thought that I need to start doing that myself but I live in a small town where organic fruits and veggies are hard to come by, so we eat a lot of the same ones that are available.  I wish we had Kale!!!

Here is a video that I think everyone will find interesting.  Juices like PP mentioned are exactly what this video is talking about!  BTW, do you cook your beets first before you make them into juice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvzDHGLEUyw&feature=watch-now-button&wide=1 

When I was saying negative things about juice I was referring to store bought just so everyone knows, I think that juices as mentioned in PP are very good.  if it is a juicer that gets rid of all the pulp I always run it through a second time though and have even heard of others putting it in a blender and then through the juicer again so as to get all the benefits from it.

[Xavismom]

Nope, I just throw the beets in raw, greens and all! SOOO yummy!

Getting a juicer was one of the smartest things we have done, seriously. On days I dont make my morning juice, I can tell the whole day my body is missing it. We use the pulp in either cooking, or compost for the garden. Veggie pulp from it is awesome to add to soups to thicken them. Sometimes I'll juice the apples first, and maybe some fruit or ginger, and clean the pulp out before doing the veggies, and the pulp is sort of like an applesaucy ginger berry thing, that DS will eat with a spoon.

Can you grow your own veggies?

[1love4ever]

Yeah I have a garden right now, but it only will produce for a month or 2 at the end of summer, then it is back to the store:(

I dont have a huge area to grow things in either so I have to choose which veggies I need the most.  Occassionally we go to the nearest town that has health food stores that sell organic produce and that is 150 miles, and we stock up. 

[Xavismom]

Thats too bad! We have some garden issues too. We have a good sized yard, but the soil is AWFUL. Last years garden was a complete loss, and this year is us mostly just trying to make the soil better!

[1love4ever]

Ours is horrible too, we tried to add a lot to it because we already knew it was bad.  It seems to be growing things fairly well so far!  but our peas are dying for some reason, a perfectly healthy plant just goes brown and is dead overnight!!  We still have some left though.  And other plants are in the shade too much throughout the day so a few are not growing well, they are a squash but we cant remember where we planted what:)    I have too many trees and so do my neighbors that is my main problem.

Anyway, if you get a chance to watch that video please do it is about a lot more than juice!! 

[Xavismom]

I have seen it already, on Netflix. I'm a documentary junkie! Its really really good!

[1love4ever]

Lol cool!  What are some of your favorite videos?  I like this one on Hulu too http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food 

[Xavismom]

Yes, I've seen that one too!

When I get some time, I'll go through my Netflix history, and my saved favorites on the computer and send them to you, if you'd like.
 

Originally Posted by 1love4ever 

Lol cool!  What are some of your favorite videos?  I like this one on Hulu too http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food 

[AnnaBees Mama]

We don't have juice or drink it out except for very special occasions. The vast majority of juice is pretty much straight fructose and does not have the fiber and dense nutrients of whole fruits and veggies, plus you are drinking the fructose of several pieces of fruit in just one glass. You might as well drink a sugary soda. Both wreak havoc on your blood sugar and your body.

We went on vacation with DH's family recently; and, not being big produce-people, his sister bought several individually packaged juices (I think that V8 juice w/ the fruit and veggies together?). She was convinced that the stuff was just as good as a piece of fruit, because after all it says "provides 2 servings of fruits and veggies" on the package.  When she asked me why DD couldn't have any, I explained to her that it was void of fiber, and without it, we are drinking straight sugar. She insisted that there was fiber, looked at the nutrition facts, and was stunned. (I HATE misleading packaging, BTW) But then this is the woman who didn't allow her preschooler to have milk before bed because of milk-rot, but juice was ok. 

[Taqah]

In the country I am living in right now, its almost impossible to avoid juice, BUT juice as they make it here is fruit and water blended together so that at least you get all the fiber and nutrients.  At home we make it without sugar but if we are out there tends to be sugar added, but you can usually ask them to leave it out as it is almost always freshly made. 

But I still worry that it's a lot of sugar, even with the fiber from the whole fruit you probably drink more fruit than you would if you eat the fruit--I think the chewing slows you down or something.  So I try to limit it to one juice a day two in hot weather.  My in laws think I'm crazy since people drink juice here with every meal and often for a midmorning and afternoon snack!

[Koalamom]

I give my kids juice as they would just not drink water and dehydrate. I would love to know how to get them to change.

[oldcrunchymom]

My kids are teenagers and I didn't give them juice when they were little.  As a result, they now reach for water when they're thirsty, and consider juice a "snack."  Sometimes my son (15) goes on an OJ binge and drinks half the carton, and my daughter likes tea and Sierra Mist (LOL), but I'd say about 95% of the time they drink water, as do I.

[serenbat]

I would love to know how to get them to change.

have you tried to add to water? juice cubes (start with a 50-50 mix), cubes of fruit into mineral / carbonated water (you can do your own) - edible flowers, leaves (mints), lemons-limes-oranges

maybe do "teas" - many things are good for you - raspberry leaf, green ---- just a few thoughts

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

have you tried to add to water? juice cubes (start with a 50-50 mix), cubes of fruit into mineral / carbonated water (you can do your own) - edible flowers, leaves (mints), lemons-limes-oranges

maybe do "teas" - many things are good for you - raspberry leaf, green ---- just a few thoughts

I do give my kids nettles infusions so that is good atleast.

I used to dilute the juice but my dd tried non diluted juice one day and now knows when it is and only will drink it straight. When I used to give my dd water before the juice days, she would get super dehydrated to the point to dry skin and cracked bleeding lips. Then I tried juice... and the rest is history.

Oh and can I give my kids green tea? I have been making green tea iced with peppermint and a tiny bit of maple syrup. I love it on these super hot summer days but I wasn't sure if there was a limit of how much kids could drink.

[serenbat]

I give tea but that is me

I would sooner give tea over store bought juice any day!

[McGucks]

Koalamom:  What would happen if you just didn't have juice in the house?  For me, that's what I have to do with sweets (for myself), because otherwise I demolish them.  If you worry that your kids are drinking too much juice, maybe have a rule that they have to drink a small amount of water before they get juice?  I used to work at a summer camp that had pitchers of both juice and water at the table at lunch.  The deal was all kids at the table had to drink a glass of water before anybody got a glass of juice.  It worked pretty well.  It is hard to break anyone of a habit, though...I know!  Some folks say if you get your kids involved in making whatever they will eat or drink it helps, too, but I imagine you knew that!

I had insulin-dependent GD when pregnant with DS2 and learned quickly how juice hits your bloodstream and how many carbs are in it.  That said, juice is not the worst thing in the world...moderation is important...let's keep it in perspective.

It drives my MIL kind of nuts that we won't let DS2 (16 months) have juice.  Or popsicles.  Or suckers.  I try to remember that we are just raising our son way differently than she did hers.  Information changes with generations.  I wonder what we are all doing now that our future daughters-in-law will think is insane!

[Aubergine68]

We also tend to do fruit smoothies a lot as snacks.  For thirst quenching, we go to water.  Occasionally as a treat at home, we drink herbal tea with honey or homemade lemonade that does have some sugar added.  My kids do often drink undiluted juice when we are at social gatherings/out for dinner. When the grownups are having beer or wine and the other kids are having pop, juice seems like an acceptable treat.  They aren't used to the sweetness of  it and don't drink much.  I've never noticed any behavior changes or digestive issues when they do indulge.

[Koalamom]

I am going to try "forgetting to buy juice, oops!"
And then makes lots of iced green tea and nettles so there will be options.