So should I let my kids drink juice? See what five experts have to say….

Alexandra Hansen, The Conversation

Most parents will tell you their kids love juice. It tastes good, often comes in convenient and child-friendly packaging, and seems much healthier than soft drinks, sports drinks or other sweet beverages. It comes from fruit, after all. But we also know it’s high in sugar, and so can contribute to obesity and dental problems.

The Conversation asked five experts in nutrition, dietetics, medicine and dentistry whether or not we should let our kids drink juice:

Four out of five experts said no

Here are their detailed responses:

If you have a question you’d like posed to Five Experts, email your suggestion to: alexandra.hansen@theconversation.edu.au

Disclosures:

Rebecca Charlotte Reynolds owns The Real Bok Choy, a nutrition and lifestyle consultancy.

Clare Collins is affiliated with the Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, the University of Newcastle, NSW. She is an NHMRC Senior Research and Gladys M Brawn Research Fellow. She has received research grants from NHMRC, ARC, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Meat and Livestock Australia, Diabetes Australia, Heart Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, nib foundation. She has consulted to SHINE Australia, Novo Nordisk, Quality Bakers and the Sax Institute. She was a team member conducting systematic reviews to inform the Australian Dietary Guidelines update and 2017 evidence review on dietary patterns for the Heart Foundation.

Dr Alessandro Demaio works for the World Health Organisation in Geneva. The views, opinions and positions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of any third party.

Alexandra Hansen, Section Editor: Health + Medicine, The Conversation

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Do you allow your children to drink juice?

Share your comments below

12 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 12 Jun 2022
    8:03 am
We had/have a water machine and the kids would help themselves. My kids are now adults and they are all good water drinkers. I was a water drinker as a kid and never had cordial as I didnt like it at all. I had juice on the odd occassion. So as an adult I didnt buy cordial simply because its something I never thought about. Juice was something my kids would have in their lunch packs for school but they didnt drink it at home.

- - mom7108 said
  - 28 Nov 2018
    10:09 pm
My 3 year old prefers water thankfully, her older sister loves an apple juice or milkshake. All in moderation

- - nadine_hill said
  - 30 Apr 2018
    10:43 am
No juice here!

- - ella12 said
  - 24 Apr 2018
    4:50 pm
Only once in a while but generally no.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 20 Mar 2018
    9:42 am
Juice for my kids is a rare treat. They get to have it maybe once a month. My son doesn’t even like juice so it’s only my daughter. I also didn’t allow them to have anything other than water or milk until they were around the 2yr old mark. Anyone who has ever made their own juice would be able to tell you how many oranges it would take to just get one glass. Think about it- would you eat as many oranges as it would take to create a tall glass of juice in one sitting? Answer is no. Most people couldn’t really tolerate eating more than 2 in one sitting.

- - rovermum said
  - 17 Mar 2018
    12:30 pm
I believe children are provided with juice at too young an age. My niece used to go to bed with a pop top and as a result, her teeth were rotten at a very young age. I think parents misunderstand the benefits and/or sugar in juice and are giving their children juice way too young. It is really concerning. I have many friends with young children with dental issues. It’s quite shocking really.

- - musicmum said
  - 16 Mar 2018
    2:07 am
Smoothies are healthy they still contain the fibre. Kids can enjoy juicy fruits which are much better for nutrition. All packaged juice is cooked and pretty much has no nutrition left in it.

- - Ellen said
  - 14 Mar 2018
    7:59 am
No juice here, only on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas.
- Ellen replied
  
  18 Mar 2018 , 7:23 am
  Personally I don’t think juice is a healthy choice and I much prefer to give my kids water. But when you would compare lollies, cookies, cakes and chocolate with homemade juice, then my choice would be juice, smoothies or ice blocks from blended fruits.
- - mom206279 said
  - 13 Mar 2018
    2:47 pm
Nope. The only time we even tried it was when he was sick and needed him to drink something and he just turned his nose up. No need for juice. Give them an actual piece of fruit instead. Water is the best!

- - mom90758 said
  - 13 Mar 2018
    2:16 pm
We never drank much juice. And still now my daughter (15 years old) prefers to drink water.
I always thought the best way to offer juice to kids (if we really want to) is to dilute with water.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 13 Mar 2018
    11:16 am
My son is only one, and never had it and won’t be for a long time. He’s happy drinking water ????