Is Giving Your Toddler Juice a Good Idea

We all know that juice usually contains healthy things like Vitamin C and Vitamin A. However did you also know that whether it is natural or not, canned or fresh squeezed, frozen or eaten in a Popsicle that it contains a lot of sugar.

Sugar just isn’t good for babies, toddlers and kids in general. Toddlers tend to be quite hyperactive is, especially if they are about to reach that age known as “The Terrible Twos.” The sugar pumps the kid up and they can become far too energetic and excitable. This is then followed by a crash. You end up with a very cranky toddler who is going to pester you for more juice so they can feel that “sugar high” again.

To establish healthy eating patterns and avoid addicting your child to sugar you need to limit their intake of juice. Never give a toddler more than four ounces a day.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that parents need to know the difference between 100% fruit juice and beverages and cocktails that contain only a bit of juice a lot of sugar. These drinks can be just as bad as giving your baby a glass of cola.

You should also avoid giving babies and toddlers fruit juice before bedtime as it can rot their teeth. Drinking too much juice can also lead to poor nutrition, gas, tummy pain, bloating and diarrhea.

Once a baby becomes a toddler he or she may suddenly display symptoms of thirst. Most babies don’t feel thirsty until afar the age of one. Make sure your child is hydrated by giving him or her water throughout the day. According to the Institute of Medicine a kid between the ages of one and three needs about 1.3 liters of water a day. You can sweeten the water with a touch of juice to flavor it and also avoid the child from taking so much sugar that they experience a terrible “sugar crash.”

A fresh lemon or orange squeezed into a glass of water with a pinch of sugar or salt is good for quenching thirst. Coconut water is also a healthy option.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also does not advise parents to give kids juice before the age of six months old. A baby this young does not need a lot of water or fluids that are not breast milk. This is because breast milk contains everything that your baby needs to receive full nutrition.

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Low Fat Cooking Tips for a Healthy Family

One way to lose weight is to make your own food every day. This way you can reinvent the way the foods you love are prepared and cut the calories you ingest as well.

One tip is to roast your vegetables. This makes vegetables taste sweeter. You can serve them on their own or puree them and use them as a base for stock, dips and sauces. To roast them all you need to do is spray them with cooking ok, coat them lightly and roast in a pan.

One of the problems of eating low calorie foods is that they taste so bland. Use lots of spices to make them more attractive to your palate. Adding spices and herbs to water oil also helps fiber rich foods like cous cous and rice taste better.

You can also prevent adding fat when baking by substituting butters, fats and oils with pureed substitutes. This allows you to retain the moisture in baked goods without giving up any flavor.

Yet another trick is to cook with fresh juices and fruits. This can help you cut down on the consumption of fat and sugar in your recipes. You can even add these to savoury dishes to give them real flavour.

Yet another tip is to use a wire rack when you cook. Placing the wire rack above the roasting pan allows fatty juices to drip down into the pan. You can also grill fish and meats in milk or coconut milk to save money.

Yet another solution is to use cooking spray whenever you can. This can save you from eating thousands of calories. Most people fry foods using at least tablespoons of oil which is worth 2100 calories of fat. All you really need is a spray that contains seven calories.

You don’t have to buy commercially made vegetable oil spray either. You can buy a Misto which is a pressurized canister that you can put your own oils in.

If you need more moisture while cooking you can also add a little juice or low fat broth to help the vegetables cook faster.

The point is that you can cook with just about everything else but fat. That way you don’t have to add unnecessary calories to the food you are eating. In fact when it comes to being one of the most natural ways to lose weight this is one of the best ways.

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