Juice Supplements To Help Toddlers Gain Weight

Fruit and vegetable juices offer a tasty way for kids to get their daily recommended intake of calories. While it may seem tempting to use fruit juices to help your toddler’s gain weight, some juices are high in sugar and may have a detrimental impact on your child’s health. For best results, select juices made from whole fruit and fresh vegetables, which contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals per calorie. Talk to your pediatrician if your child remains underweight despite your attempts to help them gain pounds.

Definition

Unlike sweetened juice or fruit-juice cocktails, 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices are rich in both calories and nutrients. According to MayoClinic.com, toddlers over the age of 6 months can safely consume between 4 to 6 ounces of fruit juice a day without any changes in body weight. By adding more juice to your toddler’s diet, you can help her consume the additional calories needed to gain weight. However, since many juices receive most of their calories from sugar, you may also be adding excess sugar to your child’s diet.

Types

Juice supplements come in two basic varieties: vegetable and fruit. According to the University of Michigan Health System website, drinking too much juice can lead to poor nutrition, bloating, diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain and tooth decay in toddlers. Since fresh fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients than juices, they are generally considered preferable by comparison. For a healthier alternative to juices, the UC Davis Children’s Hospital recommends opting for calorie-rich smoothies made with tofu, milk, peanut butter, bananas and honey.

How it Works

Poor weight gain in early childhood may have an effect on some aspects of child development, according to the Baby Center website. The best way to boost your child’s daily caloric intake is to adopt a balanced diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, dairy and meats. Instead of giving your child juice that’s high in sugar, opt for natural peanut butter spread on sandwiches, bagels or biscuits. Add milk or half-and-half to soups and cereals instead of water to boost their caloric value, and encourage healthy snacks such as fresh fruit. If you prefer to use juice to supplement your child’s caloric intake, make your own juices by blending different combinations of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Safety Concerns

According to FamilyDoctor.org, most people are advised to limit their sugar intake to 6 teaspoons a day. Since it only takes 4 grams of sugar to equal a teaspoon, parents should be overly cautious at making sure their toddler consumes much less than the recommended 24 grams a day. If your child remains underweight while consuming the recommended 1,000 to 1,400 calories a day, she may have either an extremely high metabolism or a temporary illness, such as diarrhea.