Children are growing constantly – usually at a phenomenal rate. From their bones to their brains, a child’s developmental cycle is in a constant state of overdrive. Making sure that they get the nutrients that they need to encourage healthy growth is a crucial part of being a parent – but it can be tough. After all, for kids to be healthy, they need these nutrients every day:
- Calcium for healthy teeth and strong bones
- Protein to stimulate development and growth
- Iron for muscle and brain function
- Fiber for healthy digestion
- Antioxidants for defense against harmful substances
Rather than resorting to drastic measures in an attempt to get your children to eat the right foods, you could always try disguising the most important foods in your child’s diet as something they love – juice. Fresh vegetables and fruits can easily be transformed into energy-rich drinks that give your children a dose of much-needed vitamins, without the fuss.
Why Consider Juicing for Kids?
If you look at the fact that child obesity numbers are skyrocketing each year in the U.S., thanks to frequent consumption of processed and junk foods, you’ll see just how important it is to give your children fresh, nutritious meals. Many adults use juicing to lose fat, but it’s just as effective at helping to keep children at the right weight too. It’s essential that we find ways to implement clean eating habits into the lifestyles of our children, and juicing can be a great way to cram a large dose of nutrients into a tiny serving.
Juicing is quick, and effective (most children love juice), and you can even get them involved in the process by asking them to help you prepare the ingredients for their favorite drink! To get you started, here are just some of the best recipes for boosting the health of tiny bodies.
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Hydration Station
If your kids aren’t a big fan of water, then this delicious blend could keep them hydrated, while offering an additional boost of vitamins and minerals. Cucumbers and watermelons are made up of over 90% water, making this juice great for hot days in summer – particularly after sports games or activities. You’ll need:
- 1 watermelon quarter
- 1 cucumber
And that’s it! Just blend and serve over ice.
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Melon Splash
With all the delicious flavors of store-bought juice, and none of the added sugar, this fantastic blend is a great way to refresh and treat your youngsters. Either use a juicer to make the drink as smooth as possible, or stick to a blender to ensure your youngsters are getting the fiber-rich and vitamin-friendly pulp.
You’ll need:
- 4 cups of watermelon
- 1 lemon
- 10 frozen strawberries
That list should make three servings of thick, delicious melon splash.
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Sips of Sunshine
If your kids love bright colors, then this juice should be an easy sell thanks to its bright orange hue. Carrots are filled with beta-carotene, and are fantastic at promoting good eye health, while strawberries offer plenty of potassium and antioxidants – perfect for a growing body. If you combine all of those advantages with the iron in lemons and the vitamin C in oranges, you get a delicious superhero for your child’s health. You’ll need:
- 2 carrots
- 1 orange
- 4 strawberries
- Half a lemon
Simply throw all the ingredients together into a juicer and serve ice-cold.
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Juicing ABCs
Known by many parents as the “ABC”s of juicing, this delicious blend combines all the fundamentals of a delicious beverage. The beets in this mix not only add color to this drink, but also provide a hefty package filled with antioxidants, fiber, iron, and protein too!
The apples offer a range of extra vitamins while the carrots give the drink a boost of calcium, meaning that you have everything you need to promote healthy development in the bodies of your youngsters. You’ll need:
- 1 Apple
- Half a beetroot
- 3 carrots
Blend your “ABCs” together, and you’ll be ready to go with a quick and delicious mid-day juice!
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It’s not Easy Being Green
There’s nothing simple about getting a dose of green vegetables into your children’s diets, but this delicious juice can make the process a lot easier. Green leafy vegetables like kale are great for promoting good health. Kale enhances cardiovascular performance, and is high in calcium, antioxidants, and fiber – but you might have trouble feeding it to your kids!
Fortunately, when mixed with the nutritional goodness of lemons, pineapples, and apples, you’ll be sure to have a winning juice on your hands! For a glass of green goodness, you’ll need:
- 1 handful of Kale
- 2 granny smith apples
- 1 pineapple spear
- 1 quarter of a lemon
Top Tips Before You Start
Before you start juicing, remember that it might take some time to find recipes that work for your kids – but keep trying. Juicing is a great way to give them the nutrition that they need fast. Other tips to keep in mind are:
- Foods like ginger can be overpowering – so use only small amounts.
- Combinations of ingredients are essential – particularly when maximizing nutritional value! However, with kids, you should keep the recipes plain and simple.
- You can increase fiber content by blending the pulp and adding it to your juice!