What is your kid REALLY drinking?

I have dedicated many posts on what's healthy and what's NOT healthy to eat. I have given numerous examples of what our family does and WHY.

I recently came across an article in a parenting magazine on beverages. It started out well, taking about the empty calories that are in fruit punch, soda and Gatorade. They then mention the various names of sugar that you might find on the label. BUT THEN....they go on to say that "milk does a body good", and to try these beverages with little or no calories: Crystal Light, Diet Pepsi, unsweetened tea and water! They finish the article with stating that "water is the best beverage you can consume", and lists 8 reasons why. Thank you. The article was written by a Dietitian in a very one-sided view on food: looking at ONLY calories, or ONLY sugar, or ONLY carbs (this is how they are trained) - but NOT looking at the big picture - the INGREDIENTS! Crystal Light or a Diet Soda might only have 5 calories, but it DOES have aspartame and artificial colors, both known to cause ADD/ADHD and cancer. And milk...well, as humans, we not only do not need it, we should NOT have it. Almond, rice and hemp milk can give you the same flavor without the inflammation. As Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Chiropractor, this is what me and my husband educate our patients on:  If you eat what is innate for your body, what God put on the Earth, then you do not need to worry about calories, fat and carbs. Your body will know what to do with that food perfectly - sending the good Essential Fatty Acids to your brain, Calcium to your Bones, Magnesium and Proteins to your Muscles.

In our family, water IS the best thing to drink, with coconut water as a very close second. And real, fresh, raw fruits and veggies as a homemade smoothie or juice is next. Water and coconut water can be "dressed up" with a few lemon/orange wedges or frozen strawberries and blueberries added in. I will also pour a smoothie/juice into an ice cube trey, and then pop the fruity ice cubes into a half filled bottle of water for Nolan. Smoothie and juice recipes are endless, and a glass will usually fill you up, so your not looking for another, like after drinking a soda. (Sometimes I feel bad when someone comes over and all I have to offer them to drink is water! I'll usually offer to make them a juice or hot tea.)

Many parents think that a bottle of fruit juice is fine to give their kids because after it, it IS fruit! But what is the quality of that fruit? How many glasses of apple juice is your kid drinking every day? How much juice is actually in an apple? And, more importantly, how much sugar is in that juice? I have "conducted" my own experiment to prove exactly that - "What is your kid REALLY drinking?"

I have recently been able to gather 3 different types of kid's juice boxes. Mind you, I did NOT pay for these - they were samples or give-aways that I happened to come across for my experiment. I refuse to "vote" (by paying for) commercial fruit juice!

When I juiced an organic medium Apple (approx. 3" dia), I got 1/2 cup of juice, or 4 oz. A medium Apple contains APPROX. 4 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar and 25 grams of carbs. (Remember these are GOOD carbs that give you energy, unlike breads! And REAL sugar in the perfect amount that an Apple should have!)

My samples



Mott's for Tots
Ingredients



This juice is from concentrate, contains apple and grape juices, "natural flavors" (whatever that really is!?), and Vitamin C added as a preservative (that is fairly standard). It was pasteurized, which means it was brought to such a high temp as to kill bacteria, as well as all the vital enzymes and nutrients. Amazingly, compared to the Organic Juice below, no additional preservatives were added.

 

Mott's for Tots
Nutrition Guide

The box says it is 6.75 fluid oz, but when I measured it, it was really 8oz!! That means that all the nutritional info is off. The sugar and carbs are probably closer to 16 grams.



Apple & Eve Organics
Nutritional Guide and Ingredients

This juice is a little over 4oz. Although it uses USDA Organic Apples, it is still concentrated. It clearly says on the box "not a sufficient source of fiber", where the real Apple contains about 4 grams of fiber. Fiber helps to flush sugar and toxins from the body. Oddly, Calcium Lactate and Calcium Gluconate are added, both of which treat calcium deficiencies and preserve foods. Even more strangely, Malic Acid is added, which is used in foods to create a "sour" taste that apples and grapes naturally have. Why would they add a flavor that naturally occurs with apple juice anyways? Oh, I know - because when the juice was pasteurized and diluted down it lost all its flavor along with all its nutrients!






Mott's Original Apple Juice
Nutritional Guide

  The bottle states that it is 8oz, but when I measured it, it was slightly over that. It also is concentrated, and states "not a sufficient source of fiber", so see my thoughts on that above.

Mott's Original Ingredients

Vitamin C was added, so they could claim "an excellent source of Vit C", and also for the preservative. I was actually surprised that nothing else was added.

Conclusion: The real apple might have more sugar in it ounce for ounce, however, it is organic (no GMO's), contain fiber, is filling and supplies the body with hundreds of thousands of phyto-nutrients, minerals and more then we can even count. I would go with the real apple (whole) or juiced apple with water.