Wading through the glitzy kids' juice market

Twenty and counting is the number for the choice of 'juices' positioned for the children on the supermarket shelves. Parents are bombarded by fancy tetra-packed boxes and pouches, fancy plastic bottles and other containers, all brightly coloured with fruits and characters to win over the children. Parents have almost lost the battle in choosing what goes in the lunch kit.

Here are guidelines to assist parents navigate 'the juice maze':

Provide lots of water to quench thirst.

Preschool children up to six years old should have four to six ounces of 100 per cent juice each day; and for older children, eight-12 ounces each day.

Read labels and look for juices with the percentage of juice listed on the label.

If the ingredient listing has water first, sugar and or high fructose corn syrup second, followed by fruit concentrate, then it is a juice drink.

For juice drinks, read the amount of sugar per serving, or total calories per serving, to have an idea of the amount of sugar contained, as this is usually the major ingredient in fruit drinks.

Based on my quick survey, I found two 100 per cent juices, one 100 per cent nectar, one 50 per cent, one 25 per cent and one six per cent juice drinks. I also found two juice drinks with 'juice' appearing before sugar on the label and they were lower in calories per serving than most of the other juice drinks.

Although total calories is an important guideline, for children the addition of real juice is important instead of sugar and water, as one fizzy child-size drink had a caloric content similar to some juice drink, without the nutrient value of the fruit.

Although not considered a 'juice', low-fat, plain or flavoured milk is also a very nutritious option. Watch for sugar content in the flavoured options.

Another healthy option is flavoured soy milk.

Homemade fruit juice is a good choice. Parents must also be aware that homemade juice drinks can also be very high in sugar.

Caution older children about the use of energy drinks as they do not provide nutritional benefits for children, and are high in caffeine and other additives which may be unsafe for children.

Children should also avoid drinks used for rehydration for athletes as a regular thirst quencher, unless they are involved in such activities.

I am unable to give a list of popular children's drinks by name, but parents can use this guide to shop and make informed choices. You may be required to pay a little bit more for the drinks with more juice included and those which are 100 per cent juice. Encourage your child to also consume whole fruits daily.

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/ nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.