6 Kid-Friendly Juices for Back to School

Kids may not love eating fruits and vegetables, but they do love drinking juice for its fun colors and tasty flavors. For that reason, if you're aiming to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your child's diet, consider offering them 100% natural juice.

Do keep in mind that children should not be consuming as much juice as adults do. When it comes to fruit juice, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends these daily amounts:

Remember, while juices can offer certain nutritional benefits, they should be consumed in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of foods.

1. 1-Ingredient Fruit Juice

2. Fruit Punch

3. ABC Juice

4. Energy Juice

5. Brain-Boosting Juice

6. Green Juice

These recipes yield quantities beyond the suggested servings. Therefore, it's important to modify the recipes as needed or appropriately store the excess juices for later consumption. For children with diabetes or any other minor or major health concerns, it's advisable to consult your child's pediatrician before making any dietary changes.

1. 1-Ingredient Fruit Juice

Children are accustomed to apple juice, orange juice, and grape juice, as these are often purchased for them by their parents from the grocery store. However, it might surprise you to learn that you can easily make these juices at home using a juicer, and in fact, homemade juices offer distinct advantages for your kids.

@juicefeaster outlines the superiority of making your own apple juice in comparison to purchasing it from a store, a viewpoint that extends to all types of juices.

To simplify the juicing process for parents and to gradually introduce children to homemade fresh juices, we recommend starting with single-ingredient juices that feature familiar favorites your kids already know and love.

Apple Juice Recipe

• 2 medium apples
  

2. Fruit Punch

Moving a step up from single-ingredient fruit juices, we have another familiar option of fruit punch.

This concoction, shared by @haroldleffall, diverges from the typical fruit punches that you and your children might be accustomed to, as it boasts an impressive array of 7 ingredients, 2 of which are vegetables. Naturally, if this recipe feels a bit daunting for you and your kids, there's always the flexibility to make ingredient adjustments.

Nevertheless, fruit punches offer a wonderful opportunity to cleverly incorporate a couple of vegetables like carrots and beets, since their flavors can be discreetly masked by the dominant fruit taste.

All Natural Fruit Punch Recipe

• 3 cups grapes

• 1 mango

• 4 carrots

• 1 golden beet

• 2 apples

• 3 pears (forelle)

• 1 pineapple

3. ABC Juice

ABC juice, a delightful blend of apple, beet, and carrot juice, stands out as an ideal choice for those new to juicing.

With its simple trio of low-prep ingredients, this beginner-friendly vegetable-based juice by @juicingtutorials doesn’t overwhelm your child with strong flavors.

ABC juice is an excellent way to incorporate more veggies into your child's diet, without venturing into the realm of "scarier" ingredients like leafy greens.

Also, this combination of apples, beets, and carrots is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support growth and development, as well as build a strong, healthy immune system. 

Kid-Friendly ABC Juice Recipe

• 2 red apples
• 1 small beet
• 5 carrots

4. Energy Juice

The concept of "masking" flavors holds true for this subsequent recipe featuring beets as well.

For parents with children who struggle to wake up in the morning or experience fatigue during the school day, consider introducing them to this natural, energy-boosting juice by @juicingwithja.

Despite containing beets as one of its two main ingredients, the bland flavor of this root vegetable is effectively masked by the presence of grapes. Your kids won't even detect the taste of the beets, yet they will reap the advantages of boosted stamina, enhanced blood circulation, and reduced blood pressure.

Natural Energy Booster Recipe

• 1 bowl of seeded grapes

• 1 bunch of beets

5. Brain-Boosting Juice

In addition to prioritizing our children's health, we also aspire for them to be sharp and attentive.

This specially formulated brain-boosting juice by @juicingtutorials serves to alleviate stress, enhance focus, and promote memory improvement.

Moreover, its preparation is simple, and it incorporates an herb into your children's diet. Consider offering your children a glass of this brain-boosting juice on the morning of an important test—potentially leading to excellent academic results!

Brain-Boosting Juice Recipe

• 1 cup white grapes

• 1 cup blueberries

• 2-3 basil leaves

6. Green Juice

Adults themselves can be hesitant to drink green juices due to the association between the color green and bitter-tasting vegetables. While adults can overcome the bitterness in pursuit of the health advantages these vegetables offer, children often encounter more difficulty in doing so. 

Fortunately, @getwell.withelle made this green juice recipe with children in mind by predominantly using green fruits and a single green vegetable. Its naturally sweet flavor is likely to persuade your children that embracing green in their diet isn't as daunting as it may seem!

Kid-Friendly Green Juice Recipe

• 1 bowl of grapes

• 1 green apple

• 1 red apple

• 1 cucumber

• 1 handful of spinach

• 1 lime

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REFERENCE:
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=experts-recommend-kids-drinks-less-fruit-juice-197-29411
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