What Do Your Kids Drink?

[dreamer]

What do you serve for drinks?
Do you ever give them juice?

[AmyKidsCo]

My dck get milk at breakfast and lunch, and water in-between and at snack. Sometimes for special celebrations we'll have 100% juice boxes, but otherwise I don't serve juice.

My own kids have milk in their breakfast cereal and at school lunch, then water at supper. The younger 2 have a milk sensitivity so the Dr recommended limiting their milk intake.

[Play Care]

Water.
Milk at meals.
No juice. Ever.

Once you serve it, they expect it. Once they expect it, they won't drink anything else. My kids drink plenty of water.

ETA: My own kids are older and not in the dc. They get their own drinks.

[Jupadia]

At daycare the kids get milk for lunch and water for snacks or in between times. Formula / BM for babys (but patents bring it). Once and awhile kids will get juice.

My own kids do get juice

[Blackcat31]

Milk (1%) and/or breast milk
Water

No juice. Ever.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Water and milk.

They only get juice for our Muffins with Mom event, Donuts with Dad event, and huge Christmas party. All are events the parents are in charge of them at and I don't have to worry about sugar highs or lows since they take them home right after.

My own children? Water (or almond milk in smoothies). That's it. My oldest used to buy himself sodas when he was out and about and I'm sure he has them in his fridge now that he lives on his own. But, in our house? You get water.

[dreamer]

What are the negatives of giving juice?

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by dreamer

What are the negatives of giving juice?

Fruit Juice Contains Vitamins, Minerals and Antioxidants, but it Lacks Fiber and is Loaded With Sugar. Fruit juice is missing a lot of the stuff that makes whole fruit healthy. Orange juice, for example, does contain Vitamin C and is a decent source of folate, potassium and Vitamin B1.

Kids will get more nutrients and fiber, and a lot less sugar, by eating fruit instead. So it's better for them to eat fruit and drink water. Juice can also contribute to obesity because kids fill up on it instead of other, healthier foods. And too much juice can cause diarrhea and tooth decay.

[Cat Herder]

1% milk, Breast milk or formula with iron for meals.

Water for everything else.

No juice, no canned fruits/veggies,only fresh or frozen fruits/veggies served.

[CityGarden]

I serve water each day

We do cooking class once a week and they may make smoothies or fresh squeezed juice in that class but that is an exception not the norm.

My own school age dd (who is not in my program) has water mostly. We do smoothies for breakfast sometimes (with almond milk) and she also gets honest kids juice pouches in her lunch some days.

[Kajada]

I serve only water. If a family asks that I offer their child milk, I will. So far, none have asked. In Canada, it's rare to have children under 12 months in care, so I don't have many requests for breastmilk/formula (parents tend to give that in the mornings and evenings if the kids are in care, though I don't mind a quick nursing session at pick-up, in the pick-up area) but I would have no problem preparing/serving it. I don't offer juice at all. Not an option.

ETA : We do have smoothies occasionally, especially during the summer, but I consider smoothies to be more food than drink. Maybe that's just me.

[Josiegirl]

Milk for breakfast and lunch as required by food program. Sometimes milk at snack, depends on what I'm serving and what I know kids will eat. They don't get a lot of milk though because I have a couple kids who would only drink milk and not eat anything. About half the time I serve water with snack.
I hardly ever serve juice, except a very occasional oj. My food program lady says juice has gotten a bad rap, to some extent. Some kids wouldn't get any fruits/vegs. in their diet if not for juice. Not sure if I agree with that or not though. I still feel juice is a more sugar-filled, less fiber way of giving needed vitamins to kids. And juice fills them up.

[CeriBear]

We serve milk for breakfast and lunch. We do provide substitutes of soy and lactose free milk for the kids with allergies upon parent requests.

For snacks we serve either water, milk, or juice depending upon what the snack is.

At other times the kids can drink water.

[MarinaVanessa]

Milk during meals ... water the rest of the day.
I prefer to serve fruit instead of juice but will occasionally make hoe made juices with our juicer and will serve that. On special occasions I will serve store bought juice (100% fruit juice, one part juice/2 parts water).

[Laurie]

My kids are served milk with breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack. If they drink all of their milk, I give them water so they don't fill up on milk. This of course is for the kids off of formula or breast milk.

Never serve juice because it's too high in sugar! My kids are served two types of fruit with each meal.

I have two grown kids of my own and I never gave them juice either. It's just not as healthy as milk and water!!

[sharlan]

1% milk for meals. Water the rest of the day. I do buy ok once every other month for a special treat.

[Pepperth]

Milk for breakfast and lunch. Water for snacks and whenever they are thirsty. For my own children even, I only tend to buy juice for Sunday morning breakfast.

[e.j.]

Milk with meals and water all other times. I don't serve juice.

Milk at breakfast and lunch.
I serve organic juice once or twice a month
Water other times

[bklsmum]

Milk at breakfast if they want it and water, water, water the rest of the day. If we have a party I MIGHT give them a 100% juice mini-juice box but it is VERY rare, usually just Halloween.

[PalmaHall]

I only give them milk for breakfast and water all day long.

[hwichlaz]

milk with breakfast and lunch, and unlimited access to water the rest of the time.

Juice is a party drink, so they get a little bit (no more than one serving per day as per the California Healthy Beverages Act of 2012) if we're having a party.

[Josiegirl]

Originally Posted by nightingale

My youngest is a very picky eater. He doesn't want any juice and only drinks water and milk. I hope someone can recommend me how he will love to drink juice.

To be honest, very seldom is juice a better choice. Maybe occasionally orange juice but I'd rather they eat the fruits. I haven't bought juice in years. To me, it's a lot of extra calories most kids are happy to fill themselves up with, in turn not wanting to eat the healthy foods. Nothing wrong with serving milk at breakfast and lunch, then water the rest of the day.

[flossie]

Juice with breakfast.
Snacks are both water.
Lunch is milk.

[LK5kids]

I just finished working at a center (the last 8 mo.) and re-opened a FCC.

The center served orange or apple juice every day for breakfast-ACK!!! Some of the kids didn't drink the juice tho, yep that picky of eaters!

Right before I left the kitchen sent out a survey. I made quite a few suggestions for more fresh fruit and veggies and of course less juice at BF!

I have about three months worth of menus typed up and have juice once or twice a month scheduled. It will be organic when it's served.

[flossie]

I'd like to see the menus that you created. I'd never have time to get fresh fruits prepped for breakfast, lunch and supper/snack. Juice at breakfast is one quick way to get a fruit serving in. The serving size is 1/2c, which really isn't that much anyway. (Though I do agree that a fresh fruit would be better than juice... if time allowed.)

Originally Posted by flossie

I'd like to see the menus that you created. I'd never have time to get fresh fruits prepped for breakfast, lunch and supper/snack. Juice at breakfast is one quick way to get a fruit serving in. The serving size is 1/2c, which really isn't that much anyway. (Though I do agree that a fresh fruit would be better than juice... if time allowed.)

You"re right it does take a lot of extra tim to prepare fresh fruit, more than you'd think. I did FCC for a year in 2013. I realized quickly that there's also the issue of the fruit you planned not being ripe yet-like the peaches 🍑.

Not that big of deal but something you need to realize.

Oh, this is LK5kids. I'm on my phone and don't have my password.

[skipper]

I serve water, tea and sometimes sparkling water.

No juice, no milk, etc.

[BumbleBee]

Water and milk. Juice is an occasional treat here. Birthday's, holidays, making jello, etc.

[Cat Herder]

Originally Posted by flossie

I'd like to see the menus that you created.

Many people posted their menus here: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33259

It was a sticky post but seems to no longer be.

[ColorfulSunburst]

I serve organic apple juice daily for breakfast for kids 2yo and up, but the amount of juice is very small (1/ 1.5 oz). I do not dilute the juice with water. The kids know the second portion of juice never will be provided. Immediately after breakfast, we have a circle time. There are no any discipline issues.

[hwichlaz]

****nothing to see here****

[springv]

We serve water during morning snack, milk with breakfast and lunch and juice for afternoon snack on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday

Fun Fridays: 100% fruit juice for PM snack.

If you ask any dietitian they will tell you that most juice has no nutritional benefit at all. It is just sugar water; our kids don't need more sugar: It's bad for dental health, it's bad for their metabolism, and has been associated with developing type 2 diabetes in children. They need to learn how to drink water and have milk with their meals.

The only time I have given my kids juice is if we are going on a field trip in the summer. I will pack Capri Suns because it is almost a guarantee that they will drink them and this will keep them hydrated.

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If you ask any dietitian they will tell you that most juice has no nutritional benefit at all. It is just sugar water; our kids don't need more sugar: It's bad for dental health, it's bad for their metabolism, and has been associated with developing type 2 diabetes in children. They need to learn how to drink water and have milk with their meals.

The only time I have given my kids juice is if we are going on a field trip in the summer. I will pack Capri Suns because it is almost a guarantee that they will drink them and this will keep them hydrated.

I serve milk and water only but as far as juice goes, it's allowable under Food Program rules so its totally acceptable to be served. Like all things the key is moderation.

[Pandaluver21]

Like most, I do milk at meals and water any other time.
VERY VERY rarely do I do juice, and if I do, I make it myself. I bought a juicer many years ago and will make juice with the kids, and they love MAKING it more than actually drinking it :P

Normally I do milk or water for breakfast. As for lunch and dinner mostly water. But on weekends I like to give them some fresh juice, just for change so to say.

I'd serve apple and orange juice with breakfast sometimes. Rarely grape juice. It just depends on what it is for breakfast. Can't have juice with syrup, way to sweet so milk then. Water for lunch and milk for anything else.

[Anne Ross]

Milk and water seem the most popular. I personally loved getting chocolate milk as a kid.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Anne Ross

Milk and water seem the most popular. I personally loved getting chocolate milk as a kid.

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