They’ll never even know it’s good for them

Every food on the planet has come under some criticism with the notable exception of fruit and vegetables. These foods nourish every cell in the body, help prevent disease, flush the system of waste and contain almost every vitamin and mineral needed to maintain a healthy wellbeing. No one could argue against these magnificent foods!

No doubt about it, juicing for children is a great way to get nutrition into their growing, developing bodies. Juicing is great for your child's body. Most kids LOVE IT. Recipes can be made to their liking and they won't even know it's good for them. Juices can be just as good for children as adults, but in lesser quantities. Many people worry that fresh juice contains a lot of sugar, and is a bad thing for their children, but do not question the hidden sugars found in many processed foods.

Fresh juice, in moderation is one of the purest things you can give your child! Both fruit and vegetable juices can be a winner with your kids. Try to include a juicing program into their daily diet.

Strong Strongjuices like spinach, watercress, kale, parsley and beets are good for children but in smaller doses. In fact, these are strong juices for adults – so just like new adult juicers- you need to build your way up to a full glass. Add a few leaves of spinach or broccoli stalks and hide it with apple or another sweet fruit. While these juices have a strong effect on the body's cleansing systems they provide great nourishment.

Giving fresh juiced apple or grape juice when recovering and/or during a cold or flu is a great idea to get nourishment into their bodies. Solid food can hinder their recovery process. Red raspberry tea is also a good idea, paired with juice, for its vitamin and mineral content that aid in recovery.

Start off by giving your child a few servings of filtered water diluted juice a week. Build up to one or two servings a day if they like it. Try single juices first (plain apple is a good option), diluted with water. Then, as they become accustomed to the taste you can combine juices.

Generally, babies under two years old don’t need to drink juices, especially if they’re being breastfed. They are born so perfectly nourished that they don’t need the nutrition from fresh juices until they begin to get exposed to the more unhealthy / processed foods. At least at home, you know that you can give them nutritious foods and drinks to “make up” for what they may be lacking, when they are eating the ’naughty’ things that kids like to eat!

Childhood is an important time as all the mental and physical developments begin during this age. Parents must take utmost care to feed their child to provide them with all the necessary elements responsible for a healthy mind and body. However, children are fussy eaters and generally do not like to consume vegetables and fruits which are a source of vitamin and minerals. It can become a difficult task for parents to provide their child with the nutrients required for their healthy growth. It is advised by some doctors and nutritionists that children should be fed vegetables and fruits in the form of a juice. Juice can serve as an alternative and is a favorite among kids.

The juice of carrots provides Vitamin A, the juice of orange provides Vitamin c, the juice of green and leafy vegetables provide Vitamin B complex and roughage, thereby making juices an ideal drink for growing kids. It is advisable for parents to make their child accustomed to the habit of having juices along with their meals.

The pulp contains roughage and fiber, which is extremely important for the digestive system; hence, the pulp of a fruit should not be sieved out of the juice. Freshly squeezed juice is best. It is not advisable to consume stored juice, as many of the nurtients may get lost. Cleanliness is necessary. Always wash your juicer before and after using it, also the fruits or vegetables should be thoroughly washed and properly peeled.

It is a good idea to dilute the juice for kids. Pre-packaged juices in tetrapacks are not advisable, as these can contain a lot of sugar and additives. 1 or 2 glasses of juice a day is a healthy dosage. Always be sure to include solid foods such as grains and solid vegetables into your child’s diet, as well as your own for a balanced body and mind.