The Health Benefits of Juicing For Kids

But while it’s fine to include a few portions of fruit to improve the flavour, your juice should be made up of 80% green vegetables and 20% fruit if you really want your kids to reap the benefits. The amount of fructose in fruit means that can lead to weight gain in some instances, whereas leafy greens and other vegetables are nutritionally dense, offering all kinds of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are proven to fight cancer, heart disease and other serious health problems.

Kids will love ingredients like apples, pears, pineapple and oranges, which will mask the taste of those important vegetables like kale, spinach, celery and carrots. Plus, you could even make delicious smoothies using a blender, mixing it up with coconut or almond milk for a smooth, creamy texture and delicious taste. During the summer months, why not add frozen bananas or ice and blend-up, freeze fresh juice into popsicles?

It can be tricky to ensure that kids are getting all the nutrients that that their developing bodies need. Fussiness and a common dislike of vegetables – and other healthful snacks - can lead to a diet that is packed with harmful sugars and starches. With obesity levels on the rise and a sedentary lifestyle of computer games and internet-based activity more popular than ever, it’s therefore important to find a way to pack plenty of those essential nutrients into their diet. Sugar has been proven to have an adverse effect on children's behaviour, with many parents reporting increased levels of hyperactivity and a decreased appetite for ‘proper’ meals.

Juicing can be a great way to get the right nutrients into kids, simultaneously keeping those sugary, starchy snacks at bay. The process itself can be made into a fun and interactive activity; allowing kids to get involved in the creation of their juice is more likely to give them reason to enjoy it. Just one glass of juice can provide on average four servings of fruit and vegetables and a greater dose of phytonutrients including antioxidants. Immune-boosting and brain-boosting nutrients in one simple cup; it’s easy to see the benefits!

Generally, kids will choose healthful alternatives when they are tasty, visually appealing and presented in a creative way. Serving up a glass of bright green liquid that they've had no role in creating will probably result in fussy Freddie making a scene at the kitchen table. Instead, allow them to take part in the juicing itself; you could even challenge them to come up with creative names for their juice. Serving the juice up in an attractive or novelty glass could also make the whole experience more fun and interactive.