Water and milk are the best drinks for children, but kids’ smoothies are an option and offer an opportunity for you to include foods that your child might otherwise not eat. They’re also useful for children who have a poor appetite, as well as teenagers who are always on-the-go. Unlike juices, smoothies retain the whole fruit, including the fibre, but don’t forget they are a source of ‘free’ sugars, which should make up no more than 5% of our energy (calorie) intake.
Water and milk are the best drinks for children, but kids ’ smoothies are an choice and offer an opportunity for you to include foods that your child might otherwise not eat. They ’ re besides useful for children who have a inadequate appetite, arsenic well as teenagers who are always on-the-go. Unlike juices, smoothies retain the hale fruit, including the fiber, but don ’ t forget they are a reference of ‘ free ’ sugars, which should make up no more than 5 % of our energy ( calorie ) inhalation. Another thing to consider is that because we drink smoothies preferably than eat them, we do tend to consume them rather quickly. This means the sugars they contain may flood the bloodstream and, because no chew is involved, the torso doesn ’ t get the lapp messages that help us regulate how much we eat.
Reading: Are smoothies good for you?
For these reasons, what you use to make your child ’ south smoothie is authoritative – ideally choose a jazz band of vegetables, dairy and some fruit. This will ensure your smoothie contributes vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber. As adults we frequently add protein powders and other supplements to our own smoothies ; these should never be added to a child ’ s smoothie .
It ’ second crucial to remember that unharmed fruit and vegetables should constantly be offered, as depart of a balance diet – this is specially important for young children who are learning to eat and are forming their own food preferences .
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Is there a difference between homemade and shop-bought?
Many shop-bought smoothies include cheaper, more processed ingredients such as fruit purées and juices. These purées concentrate sugars whilst removing many of the nutritional benefits of the natural whole fruit such as the fibre, phyto-nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Some shop-bought smoothies are also sold in sizes larger than the recommended 150ml portion size and have added nutrients such as B vitamins as well as vitamins C and E.
many shop-bought smoothies include cheaper, more work ingredients such as fruit purées and juices. These purées dressed ore sugars whilst removing many of the nutritional benefits of the natural wholly fruit such as the fiber, phyto-nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Some shop-bought smoothies are besides sold in sizes larger than the commend 150ml parcel size and have added nutrients such as B vitamins equally well as vitamins C and E. Homemade smoothies, on the early hand, contain all of the fiber and will be naturally vitamin-rich because they ’ re newly made and ideally consumed straight away .
Should you use fresh or frozen fruit?
Studies suggest that certain nutrients, including vitamin C, are comparable and occasionally higher in yield ( and vegetables ) that have been frozen at harvest, compared to their fresh equivalent. Although, beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, may reduce on freeze. That said, it will depend on the fruit or vegetable in interview .
overall, whether you choose fresh or frozen produce for your smoothie, it doesn ’ t truly count. Both count towards your five-a-day and, if by using freeze produce, you ’ ra increasing your child ’ s daily intake, then that has to be a good thing. Frozen grow may besides help keep hebdomadally food bills down, allows you to enjoy out of temper crops and are a useful stand-by when you can ’ triiodothyronine get to the shops.
What is a correct portion size?
The guidance for the majority of us is to limit our casual intake of smoothies and juices to one field glass of 150ml. This contributes a maximum of one of our five-a-day .
For a child, a smoothie dowry will depend on their age and bodily process levels. A utilitarian topple is to alone use the sum of food a child would eat if the food was offered to them whole, rather than blended .
Which fruit is best for smoothies?
Using a combination of fruit and veggies will help keep the sugar content of your homemade smoothie down. Lower sugar fruits include berries, fruits with stones such as peaches, apricots and plums, as well as citrus fruits, kiwi and avocado. These may be combined with vegetables including leafy greens like spinach and kale, as well as celery, cucumber and beetroot.
How often should you drink smoothies?
Using a combination of fruit and veggies will help keep the carbohydrate subject of your homemade smoothie down. Lower boodle fruits include berries, fruits with stones such as peaches, apricots and plums, angstrom well as citrus fruits, new zealander and avocado. These may be combined with vegetables including leafy greens like spinach and boodle, ampere well as celery, cucumber and beetroot. Smoothies may form separate of a balance diet, but be sure to focus on lower carbohydrate fruits, emphasising fresh or freeze grow. Include one or more sources of protein like yogurt, kefir or milk, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as healthy fats from nuts, seeds or avocado. Both adults and children should consume smoothies no more than one part per day .
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The best smoothies for kids
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How do fizzing drinks affect your health ?
This article was published on 23rd April 2020 by register dietician Kerry Torrens.
Kerry Torrens BSc. ( Hons ) PgCert MBANT is a register dietician with a graduate diploma in individualized nutriment & nutritional therapy. She is a penis of the british Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine ( BANT ) and a extremity of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing generator to a total of nutritional and cooking publications including BBC Good Food .
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