Fruit is an important part of your child's diet, as it provides a lot of vitamins and minerals without a lot of calories or fat. The sugar in fruit is a good source of energy, and fruit is also often loaded with antioxidants, which are important for good health.

Lots of parents turn to fruit juice instead of real fruit because it saves them time peeling and slicing fresh fruit. Fruit juice has some benefits but also its share of problems. The benefit of juice is that it is comparable to fresh fruit in terms of the nutrients it provides. Also, it is sometimes easier for a child to drink juice than it is to eat fruit. Unfortunately, many of the juices that are packaged specifically for children have a high amount of added sugar, which a real fruit juice does not need to be flavorful. Also, fruit juice blends are sometimes composed mostly of apple or white grape juice, both of which are less nutrient-rich than cranberry, purple grape, or citrus fruit drinks (such as orange, mango, or papaya). Juice also lacks the fiber found in fresh fruit, and thus does not leave your child feeling full or as satisfied.

You should always read the labels of the juice drinks you buy. If the label lists any added sugars, or if the first ingredients are white grape juice or apple juice, look for another brand.