Many parents hear “fruit juice” and immediately assume it’s a
good bet for a healthy snack for their kids. And they’re right.
To a point.

Experts say 100-percent fruit juice is full of vitamins and
minerals, and a single serving is fine. However, large amounts
of
fruit juice, they say, can cause some unwanted effects.

A recent policy
statement from the American
Academy of Pediatrics focuses on the harmful effects of the
overuse of juice for infants and children.

The statement notes the big difference between fruit drinks and
100-percent fruit juice. Fruit drinks look and taste like juice
but actually contain more water and sugar than juice.

A Little Is Enough

One serving of 100-percent juice along with a serving of whole
fruit can meet the dietary guideline for a child under age 7.

Still, even 100-percent juice contains high amounts of natural
sugar and can cause problems if it starts to replace milk or
other foods in a child’s diet.

The study shows some of the ill effects of juice misuse in
children, including diarrhea, gas, bloating, cavities, weight
gain, certain nutritional deficiencies and even stunted
growth.

“Ideally, milk and water should be served regularly, especially
at meal times,” said Gail Hanula, an Extension Service nutrition
specialist with the University of Georgia College of Family and
Consumer Sciences. “Drinking tea and soft drinks gives too few
nutrients for the calories they contain.”

‘It’ll Spoil Your Dinner’

Sometimes children will fill up on juice before a meal and then
won’t eat as much food or drink as much milk. This can lead to
problems, because children need to eat a balanced diet from all
five food groups, not just juice.

Hanula warns parents, however, to be careful when they cut back
their child’s juice intake. “It’s so important in the hot
summer,” she said, “that children be well hydrated. Juice is a
much better choice (nutritionally) than soft drinks.”

The best drink for children, Hanula said, is water. “It quenches
the thirst and is really the best fluid replacement,” she
said.

AAP Recommendations

While keeping kids well-hydrated this summer, you can also
consider the AAP recommendations on fruit juice:

• Don’t give juice to infants less than 6 months old.
  

• Don’t give juice to infants in bottles or sippy cups that
  allow them to drink juice all day.




• Children 1 to 6 years old should have no more than 4 to 6
  ounces, or one serving, of juice per day.




• Children 7 to 8 years old should have no more than 8 to 12
  ounces, or two servings a day.




• Children should eat whole fruit to meet their recommended
  dietary fruit intake.




• Juice isn’t appropriate to treat dehydration and thirst or
  to
  manage diarrhea.




• Children should never drink unpasteurized juice.




• Health professionals should discuss the use of juice and
  teach parents the differences between 100-percent fruit juice
  and
  fruit drinks.

As the summer heats up, the UGA experts advise giving kids
plenty
of water and whole fruit and using fruit juice sparingly. And
remember that unlimited fruit juice can cause problems.