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Juicing For Kids

By on May 13, 2015

Juicing for Kids

As parents, we all know how important it is for our kids to get the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables. The thing is, that is way easier said than done. When you consider that most parents don’t even get enough of these foods in their diet, and add the fact that so many children just don’t like those healthy greens, it’s easy to see why this is so challenging. There is a secret to making sure your kids are getting the best foods for their growing bodies and brains – juicing. We’re not talking the “buy the juice off the shelf” stuff either. Fresh, raw juices can make sure you and your kids are getting all the benefits from fruits and vegetables, and it won’t even require forcing your kids to drink them.

Age Matters

If you’ve spent any time reading up on the benefits of juicing, you may be ready to start pumping them into your child right away. However, you should not start substituting mother’s milk or formula with juices – the milk and formula are what your baby needs more than anything else. Hold off on the juices until they are accustomed to more solid foods.

Starting Off Right

Toddlers and younger children need nutrients, and they are often the pickiest eaters as well. You can start giving raw juice to kids at around age two, but it is recommended that you dilute the juices half juice/half water. If you don’t want to dilute the juices, try to limit their intake to no more than five ounces per day.

Just as adults find green juices a bit strong, kids will as well. You will need to slowly build up to all vegetable juices. You can add a small amount of broccoli or spinach to sweeter fruits to mask the taste at first. Then, slowly add a bit more over time to get your child used to the stronger flavors.

One absolutely “do not do” when juicing for kids – NEVER put your children on a juice fast. Their bodies need the nutrients from other foods, as well as the calories and energy to function properly – just don’t do it.

Choosing Your Juices

When first starting out, you will likely find that your child does well with fruit juices. Apple is a great place to start, as it is sweeter, and something that most young children are used to drinking. You can continue to try out different fruits with just a small amount of veggies thrown in for best results.

Keep the Real Thing

Once juicing is established for your kiddos, make sure that you still provide them with the whole vegetables at meals. This will make sure they don’t end up refusing to try them as they get older. Plus, since they are used to the taste in the juices, you may find they are more likely to eat them in their whole form as well, which is a win-win situation all around.

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About Lionel Correia

Lionel is a fitness enthusiast, juicing advocate, and serial entrepreneur. He loves real estate, but is even more passionate about health, wellness and a positive mindset. He’s a graduate of the University of Arizona and prides himself on establishing great habits because great habits lead to great results. His favorite workouts include, yoga, spin class, sprints on the track and resistance training. He believes that if you desire a strong healthy body, you must first build mental toughness because a healthy body requires a disciplined mind and great habits.

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