Best Practices for Healthy Eating Guide - Nemours

Children 6 Years and Older:
Beverages
Recommended Limit Not Recommended
n Fat-free or 1% (low-fat) milk or
lactose-free milk or nutritionallyequivalent
nondairy beverages like
soy or rice milk
n Water with no added sweeteners
n 100% fruit and vegetable juices to
no more than one age-appropriate
serving per day. Juice may be
eliminated entirely if desired.
n Soft drinks
n Sports/energy drinks
n Sugary beverages including fruit-based
drinks with added sweeteners (i.e.
juice drinks or cocktails, punch, etc.)
n Artificially-sweetened beverages
including diet sodas, teas,
lemonade, etc.
n Caffeinated beverages
Rationale
Why fat-free or 1% (low-fat) milk for children aged 2
years and older
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
recommends serving fat-free or 1% (low-fat) milk to
children aged 2 years and older.
• Fat-free and 1% (low-fat) milk contain as much
calcium and Vitamin D as 2% and whole milk
without the extra calories and saturated fat.
Why limit juice
• The AAP recommends limiting juice to serving a day.
• Whole fruits and vegetables are preferred because they
provide nutrients and fiber that may be lost in the
processing of juice.
• Excessive juice consumption is associated with
overweight or obesity, tooth decay and diarrhea.
Why are sugary beverages not recommended
• Sports and soft drinks are generally high in calories
and sugar and low in nutrients.
• Consumption of sugary beverages is associated with
overweight or obesity, calcium deficiency (because
sugary beverages displace milk), and tooth decay.
Why no diet beverages or artificial sweeteners
• While diet and artificially-sweetened beverages have
few calories, they may displace the intake of more
nutritious drinks such as 1% or fat-free milk that
children need in order to grow.
Portion Size
Item Meals Snacks
Water
As much as desired, any time
Fat-free or 1% (low-fat) milk 1 cup (8 oz.) 1 cup (8 oz.)
100% juice No more than ¾ cup (6 oz.) per day
Best Practices for Healthy Eating 25