Last Updated on April 18, 2022
Are you looking for some healthy juicing recipes for your kids?
Do you want to know how much juice can your children have?
In this article, you will read details about healthy choices of juices for kids. But before giving them fluids, let’s find out are juices healthy for children.
Are juices healthy for Children?
Stay hydrated is very important, and water is the best source to keep the body hydrated. Juices are also a healthy and lovely treat for kids if they are consumed in appropriate portions from time to time.
But in daily routine, it is better to give fresh fruits and vegetables to children.
You will find different juices in the store, such as 100% juice and diluted concentrated juices. Among all of these, appropriate consumption of 100% juice is better to add to the kids’ diet as it will provide essential nutrients to children without weight gain.
But many juices have added sugar which is not healthy, so it is necessary to check before buying.
Juice is helpful in the following ways:
- It encourages children to consume whole fruits and vegetables.
- An appropriate portion of fruit juices provides flavonoids that contain antioxidant properties. So it helps improve cardiovascular health.
- Juices contain nitrates, polyphenols, and oligosaccharides that are good for gut health.
- Homemade fresh and unsweetened juices are rich in fiber and prove a better snack than cold drinks and other high-sugar beverages.
How much is the consumption of juice better for kids?
Unsweetened 100% juices are good for health as these are part of the fruits and vegetable group. Children should take half or less than half of the total recommended fruits and vegetables intake daily.
Here are some of our favorite juicing recipes for kids. We recommend using a juice extractor and letting them enjoy their freshly-squeezed fruit or vegetable drink and helping out by pressing grapes to make raisins that can be used in oatmeal (yum!).
For children aged 4 to 6, 1/2 or 3/4 of a cup or 6 ounces is enough for daily intake. For kids 7 to 18, 1 cup or 8 ounces is an appropriate portion of juice for daily intake.
The consumption of juice is better for your child’s health. A fresh glass of orange or tomato juice at breakfast can give them the energy they need to get through their school day and provide essential nutrients like vitamin C. Also, they are good sources of fiber and potassium, which help regulate heartbeat rates during workouts in sports practice.
How to select healthy juices for kids?
Choosing healthy juices for kids is necessary to enjoy health benefits. So here are some essential points that you should keep in mind while buying fruit or vegetable juice for children.
- According to the (US FAD) US Food and Drug Administration, a product labeled as fruit juice or vegetable juice contains 100 % contents from fruits and vegetables. These juices do not have any additives or preservatives.
- If preservatives are added to the juice, it will be mentioned on the label, such as “100% fruit juice with preservatives.” Same as 100% fruits juice with added sugar will say “100% fruit juice with added sugar/sweetener.”
- Some manufacturers add water to make 100% fruit juice, so these juices are called “reconstituted 100% fruit juices.”
- Whenever you buy the juice, check its ingredients, nutritional value, and the number of nutrients per serving.
- Always prefer 100% fruit and vegetable juice that does not contain added sugar or preservatives. Added sugar such as corn syrup or fructose may cause tooth decay, high blood pressure, or weight gain. The long-term effects of added sugar juices include the risk of childhood obesity.
- Buy juice with low sodium content because high sodium intake may increase blood pressure.
- Vegetable juices have less natural sugar than fruit juice, so give both juices for optimum nutrition.
Best healthy juicing recipes for kids
1. OJ citrus cooler
The OJ Citrus Cooler recipe is full of nutrition and powerful health benefits.
Health benefits of OJ Citrus Cooler juice
Some people do not drink orange or pineapple juice because they think both juices are high in sugar. But they avoid the thing that what benefits these juices will provide to the body.
Oranges are sweet but low in glycemic index, which means they have a soft effect on insulin or blood sugar levels. So here are the health benefits of Citrus Cooler juice.
Strengthens immune system
This juice is loaded with minerals and vitamins that boost the immune system. Every ingredient in this recipe except ginger is rich in vitamin C. This juice also contains Vitamin A, magnesium, and potassium. They all support the immune system altogether.
Anti-inflammatory properties
All the ingredients used in this juice contain anti-inflammatory properties that help fight diseases associated with chronic inflammation such as dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Crohn’s disease.
Boosts energy levels
Orange is one of the healthy fruits that boosts energy levels. It is because of vitamin C, B-folate, and antioxidant properties in orange. The carbohydrate and potassium in carrots are also excellent sources of energy.
Ingredients:
- Orange (peeled) – (1 1/2 medium oranges) or 7.33 oz
- Pineapple- 1 1/2 cup pineapple chunks or 9 oz
- Lime- 1/3 lime or 0.66oz
- Carrot- 3/4 medium carrot or 1.66 oz
- Ginger-1/2 inch piece of ginger root or 0.2 oz
How to prepare:
- Wash all the ingredients properly.
- Remove the green crown from the pineapple and peel the orange.
- Cut the carrot and pineapple into smaller chunks to grind in the grinder easily.
- Add lime water to it.
- Grind all the ingredients together.
- Serve and let your children enjoy the juice.
2. Apple Limeade
99% of limeade recipes online or in cookbooks are the same with the same ingredients such as lime juice, sugar, water, or sometimes a few mint leaves. But here, we have a different but delicious limeade recipe that you and your children can enjoy.
It is different because sugar is replaced by natural sugar from grapes and apples, and Coldwater is replaced by cucumber juice and fruit liquid.
Health benefits of apple limeade.
- This juice helps reduce inflammation because of its anti-inflammation properties.
- It is a great recipe to support the immune system and strengthen the immunity level.
- This juice is a healthy choice as it improves the digestion process.
- This juice helps in weight loss as it does not include added sugar.
- Minerals and vitamins in the juice are a great source of boosting energy levels.
- The juice helps protect against cardiovascular diseases, lower blood sugar levels, and cancer issues.
Ingredients:
- Lime- (3/4 lime) or 1.66 oz
- Red Apple- 2/3 medium apple or 4.2 oz
- Green Apple- 1 medium apple or 6.2 oz
- Cucumber- 1/5 cucumber or 1.4 oz
- Green Grapes-20 grapes or 3.4 oz
- Spinach- 1 cup spinach or 1.2 oz
How to prepare:
- Wash all the ingredients and weight carefully.
- Peel off the apples and cut them into small pieces.
- Cut the cucumber and spinach into small pieces to easily grind in the juicer.
- Remove the grapes from the stem and squeeze lime to get lime juice.
- Take a blender or juicer and add all the ingredients to the blender.
- Blend it well and serve over ice.
3. Cherry Limeade
This veggie fruit contains high calcium and antioxidants to help in weight loss. The recipe tastes better because it is made with 100% cold press juice.
The faint flavor of cherry and lime will crave anyone to have more and more. So here are the health benefits of cherry limeade.
Health benefits of Cherry Limeade
Cherry limeade is healthy for kids as well as adults. Here are the health benefits that you will be amazed to know.
Support immune system
This juice is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C that supports the immune system, and prevents the body from illness and infection.
Build stronger bones and good for heart health
The juice is rich in calcium found in apple, lime, and cherry. This is why it is suitable for stronger bones, heart, nerve, and muscle health.
Reduce Inflammation
Apple and Cherry in this juice contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties, so it helps reduce inflammation.
Yield: 12 ounces (one serving) Yield may vary.
Ingredients:
- Cherries- 1/2 cup cherries or 4.2 oz
- Lime- 1 small lime or 1.3 oz
- Green Apple- 1 1/6 medium apple or 7.8 oz
- Red Apple- 2/3 medium apple or 4.8 oz
- Cucumber- 1/10 cucumber or 1 oz
- Beetroot (red)- 1/3 beet or 0.3 oz
- Ice-Optional
How to prepare:
- Wash the ingredients thoroughly and peel off the beetroot.
- Weight out the ingredients.
- Cut the apples and cucumber into small pieces to grind well.
- Take out the lime juice.
- Add the ingredients to the blender and blend it well.
- Add ice if you want to chill; otherwise, serve the juice without ice.
4. Grape Lemon Pear juice
Grape juice is one of kids’ favorite juice, but processed juices are not healthier due to added sugar, preservatives, and corn syrup. But here, we have brought the alternative of processed grape juice, and our homemade juice is made with 100% whole foods.
Health benefits of Grape Lemon Pear juice
Grapes are everyone’s favorite because they are sweet, refreshing, juicy, and perfect as afternoon snacks. That is why we all like grape juice, and it has amazing health benefits.
- Rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin A
- Full of antioxidant properties
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduces cholesterol level
- Good for eye health
- Reduces blood sugar levels and prevents diabetes
- Reduces inflammation
Ingredients:
- Red Grapes- 55 grapes or 9.5 oz
- Pear- 1 1/2 medium pears or 9.5 oz
- Lemon-1/4 medium lemon or 0.49 oz
- Lavender- about six buds or 0.1 oz
How to prepare:
- Wash all the ingredients thoroughly and weigh them.
- Put all the ingredients in the blender and blend it well.
- Serve with Lavender stalk or lemon.
5. Mountain Doo Green Juice
This green juice recipe has more vegetables than other recipes described above. But you cannot call it vegetable juice because it has a strong flavor of pineapple and apple.
Some people call it a healthy version of Mountain Dew soda, which is why this is a perfect juicing recipe for kids.
Health benefits of Mountain Doo Green Juice
- Helps in weight loss
- Reduces inflammation because of anti-inflammatory properties
- Improves digestive system
- Prevent diseases like cancer
- Rich in antioxidant properties
- better for cardiovascular health
Ingredients:
- Green Apple- 1 1/4 medium apple or 8 oz
- Kale (green)- 2 cups kale or 4 oz
- Celery- 2 1/2 medium stalks or 4 oz
- Pineapple- 1/2 cup pineapple chunks or 3 oz
- Lemon- 1/4 medium lemon or 0.9 oz
- Ginger- 1 1/2 – 2 inch piece of ginger root or 0.8 oz
How to prepare:
- Cut the pineapple into chunks.
- Cut the base off of the celery.
- Put the ingredients into the blender and mix them well.
- Serve with lime garnishing or ice.
Are vegetable juicing recipes good for kids?
A study was done on the effects of vegetables and fruits on kids. The outcome confirmed their goodness, but they also found some bad aspects too! There’s no need to worry when it comes down to juicing for your children as long as you know what can happen from these findings:
1) A lot more than just sugar content will be metabolized by young bodies
2) Too much fiber could lead them into discomforting episodes like vomiting or constipation
3) Juicy fruits may encourage hunting behavior (which isn’t always good)
4) Carrots don’t play well with apples
5) And let’s not forget about all those leaves at gummy
Like most things in life (and with kids), Juicing is not without its pros and cons. For example, vegetable juice can be beneficial if your child has had a stomach upset or other digestive issues because the high-water content of these beverages will help flush out any leftover flora from their gut while also providing vitamins A&C that may have been lacking due to insufficient dietary intake before juicing.
However, this would only work better under supervision by a doctor since there’s no telling what might happen when you give them something new.
Conclusion
If you’re a parent, juicing might sound like a chore. But it doesn’t have to be! Juicing can make breakfast time or after-school snack time more nutritious and fun for the whole family.
We’ve put together some of our favorite juicing recipes for kids below that are delicious and healthy. Try one out today with your kids – we think they’ll love them as much as we do!
We hope you’ve been inspired to start juicing with your children. With a little bit of creativity and experimentation, there are plenty of delicious recipes for kids to keep them energized and healthy!
So, these were the best juicing recipes for kids as they provide many health benefits. Juices are also a part of a well-balanced diet as they are rich in nutrition.
Let your children taste these healthy homemade juices and enjoy the health benefits. Involve children in the juice preparation process and teach them the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Juicing is an excellent way to add nutrients and flavor to your child’s diet. There are many juicing recipes for kids that can be made with fruits, vegetables, or herbs, such as gingerbread men cookies!
In the end, it doesn’t matter what you make your child drink. The most important thing is getting enough to stay healthy and grow strong. Put fruits and vegetables of your choice in a juicer to create tasty smoothies for kids.
