300842 Fri Sep 16 08:38:57 -0700 2005 11 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1674447 I don't want to start a big debate about how much sugar is the food we eat. This question is for those that may have an insight into chemistry and nutrition. My wife and I have a soon to be 5 year old. He eats well (what we cook not just nuggets and fries) and is a very adventurous eater. But we now have a household edict that there is to be no more juice around. I am not talking about fresh orange juice. We also make killer lemon and limeade where we can control the sugar. But my son now has a taste for Gatorade. Are the sugars in it as bad as the others we are trying to avoid? Fri Sep 16 08:38:57 -0700 2005 0 Tugboat 1 1674475 All of the sugars have the same downside. The positives from things like orange juice are the vitamins and minerals it provides, but gatorade, fruit juices, table sugar all have the same negative sugar effects. Fri Sep 16 11:29:55 -0700 2005 1674447 0 Two Forks 2 1674512 The upsides to fruit are the vitamins and minerals, and downsides the sugars, as you say. You're better off eating the orange whole than having juice. A good rule is water or milk to drink and eat the fruit. Gatorade is okay if he's playing sports and needs the electrolyte replacement, and if he's not overweight, I wouldn't stress too much about the sugars, and avoid giving him any sort of complexes at an early age. What I find to be true is parents that set strict limits on what is okay and what is not tend more towards having children that seek out the forbidden fruit (no pun intended) when the parents aren't around. Overall, I'd say the most important sugar limitations would from soda and drinks/foods with high fructose corn syrup, which is just the devil IMO. I'd also try and steer clear of chemical substitutes, but then again all of the above is just my take. Fri Sep 16 14:13:49 -0700 2005 1674475 0 Emme 3 1674519 I agree with Emme. Juices are preferred over Gatorade. If you want to limit it, just don't buy it. But having your child enjoy Gatorade can be a good thing in case your child ever gets food poisoning or diarahea. In those cases Gatorade makes a good rehydration drink, especially if your child does not like Pedialyte. Plus Gatorade is alot cheaper than Pedialyte. Fri Sep 16 14:57:19 -0700 2005 1674512 0 KSS 1 1674545 The food industry has a dozen ways to sell you the same sugar and pretend it's "nutritious." How many "all juice" products are there with 90% white grape juice and 10% what you really wanted? How many water/sugar/10%-good-stuff "juice drinks" or "[good stuff] cocktail" products? Give the growing child water, milk, your "family specials" that you named, OJ ... keep a pitcher of ice water in the refrigerator for that "cold fix" - but dial down the caloric drinks used as "throughout the day" refreshers (that function should be a nice cold glass of water). Consider not only the "sugar's not good for you" factor, but the CALORIE INTAKE when drinking stuff all day. And be sure a decent multivitamin gets taken once a day. Fri Sep 16 21:23:50 -0700 2005 1674447 0 Wayne Keyser 1 1674562 We are a no juice family including no OJ. It take something like 12 apples to make an serving of apple of juice. I wouldn't want him eating 12 apples at one time either. With all juices you are better to have them eat the fruit and then you at least get the fiber. My son has no idea we don't allow juice since we never discuss it that way. We don't consider any food off limits but we never stock foods I don't want him eating so there is no issues. That alone takes away the "forbidden fruit" effect. Any food we bring into the house has to be something we can all eat (health wise)so no food in our home is "forbidden". However, if we are at someone else's house and he is offered juice (or junk food) I never intervene. When we are at someone else house he/we eat what is offered. He has yet to come home whining "why can bobby have juice/junk but I can't". Regarding Gatorade I believe all things in moderation. Would I serve it as a regular drink in my house or even have it stocked? No. Same as juice, soda and the like. We just don't have it on hand. But the few times he has the stomach bug and needed to be re-hydrated we bought Gatorade, he drank it and it was gone. Also we bought the powdered kind so we could make it diluted. I have never checked the sugar content of 100% juice, soda or power drinks but my gut tells me they are all probably pretty close. I wouldn't choose to have my son drink any of them on a regular basis. My advice would be to just rid the house of all them. Sat Sep 17 16:46:09 -0700 2005 1674447 0 foodiex2 1 1674579 Truly...I don't understand this "no juice" edict...of course, you are a parent, you set the rules, I respect that, etc. But, is this what pediatricians are recommending these days? I don't see anything wrong with a child having juice during the day...not all day long but how can 1 or 2 servings do any harm? What is the child supposed to drink with his or her lunch at school if not milk? What's wrong with a juice pak? (Real juice, not Hi-C) My sons are 26, 24 and 22 now so I'm not in tune with the latest trends on child-raising but I don't understand this...thanks! Sun Sep 18 21:56:49 -0700 2005 1674447 0 Val 2 1674592 The deal is that fruit in juice form is just empty calories with very little nutritional value but very high in sugar calories. Because it is high in calories children will eat less nutritious food because the juice fills them up. My son drinks water pretty much all day. He has milk or water with most meals. FWIW- my ped. does not say no juice. He recommends that juice be an occasional food like any other high sugar food. Mon Sep 19 08:34:23 -0700 2005 1674579 0 foodiex2 1 1674587 Gatorade is extremely dangerous for young children. It is meant to be used as an electrolite solution for athletes like Marathon runners. The sodium, mineral, and electrolyte content make it a very poor choice for children. Fresh squeezed juice in small quantities is fine. Juice diluted with water is better. Mon Sep 19 02:39:04 -0700 2005 1674447 0 FLEUR 2 1674635 I agree with your last comment...I find all those bottled juice and Gatorade-types way too sweet and I dilute them 1/3 juice to 2/3 water. You might want to try diluting it so your kid's intake of water to juice is more balanced. Mon Sep 19 20:19:56 -0700 2005 1674587 0 Aimee 3 1674763 you say "Gatorade-types". Are you actually trying Gatorade, or some other sport drink? Because it has about half the sugar as typical juice drinks...maybe less. Check the labels. Thu Sep 22 10:18:45 -0700 2005 1674635 0 danna 1 1674646 In my house we dilute juice. 50% juice/50% water. I also only allow my kids 4-8 ounces a day, depending on their age. I am fairly strict on this. We do not keep soda in the house. The few times we eat out, 1-2 times monthly, they are allowed to have soda. My sister allows her daughter all she can drink apple juice. She is probably underweight and eats pretty well. She is a very active child. I still cringe at the amount of juice she drinks. I guess its a personal desision. I figure since we rarely drink soda we are ahead of the game. -Becca Mon Sep 19 22:29:50 -0700 2005 1674447 0 Becca Porter