In early December the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was signed into law. It had been 10 years since the government reauthorized child nutrition programs — and with childhood obesity on the rise many were fighting for real change.

The new bill incorporates many positive changes with its $4.5 billion of additional funding for child nutrition programs over the next 10 years. But how does this bill translate into the daily lives of children? Here are the highlights…

• Better food choices all around: The USDA already sets nutrition standards for school lunches but now they’ll have the authority to set standards for “other food” sold at school including vending machines, a la carte items and school stores. This may take a while to put in place but the result will be more nutritious food available outside of school lunches.

• More money for lunches: For the first time in 30 years, there will be more money going to school lunches that meet new nutrition standards. There will also be more auditing to ensure school districts are complying with the standards.

• More local food: More funding will go to farm-to-school programs aiming to get more local food into schools.

• More children will qualify: More children will have access to school meal programs due to changes in eligibility and processing.

• New school wellness programs: New standards will be set for nutrition promotion and education and physical activity.

• Safer Food: New requirements will help improve the safety of food at schools.

I know many proponents of this bill wanted even more resources to go to school nutrition programs but this is definitely a step in the right direction.  This, combined with the creative ideas for Smarter Lunchrooms developed by Brian Wansink, means a healthier future for our kids.

What do you think? Does this address any concerns you have at your child’s school? Anyone working in school nutrition care to comment?

I’m excited to have Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD as our expert this month. She is an award-winning registered dietitian, with a nutrition counseling practice in Newport Beach, California. She has written several books including The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet and Intuitive Eating. She is a highly respected dietitian.

“Children require omega-3 fatty acids the same way they require vitamins,” Tribole says when asked the one thing she wants parents to know about omega-3 fatty acids. “But parents need to understand that it’s not just DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) their children need, it’s also EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).”

The problem with fortified products on the market, she explains, is they contain only DHA. And children need both. Even though DHA is the star player, DHA and EPA work together in a complex process.

In her book, The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet, Tribole argues that DHA is needed for brain development the same way calcium is required for bone growth. She says that each brain cell requires DHA for proper development. When DHA isn’t present in adequate quantities during rapid brain growth (early childhood), emotional and intellectual development can be affected.

“Kids need to eat fish at least twice a week to get the recommended amount of DHA.” Tribole says. “Parents can try fish tacos, tuna fish sandwiches or salmon patties with their kids.”

While her son was growing up, Tribole took him out for “Fishy Thursdays” and he’d try all kinds of different fish at restaurants. Now he loves fish.

“Every time the FDA comes out with a warning about fish, consumption goes down, which is too bad,” she adds. “If parents stick to low-mercury sources of seafood like salmon, trout, halibut, light canned tuna and cod, they will be fine.”

Should children who don’t eat fish regularly supplement with DHA/EPA? Tribole says yes and based on international guidelines she recommends children 2-3 years old get 433mg of DHA/EPA with a minimum of 145mg of DHA, 4-6 years old get 600mg of DHA/EPA with a minimum of 200mg of DHA and 7 years and older including adults get 650 combined with a minimum of 220 DHA. For pregnant women the DHA minimum is 300mg. Check the supplement facts label to see how much DHA/EPA is in each serving.

As for recommended supplements, Tribole put together this chart on her website listing quality products categorized by cost. Supplements especially for kids include Coromega and Nordic Naturals. For another kids’ supplement, check out my review of Carlsons for Kids fish oil.

What about vegetarian children? Tribole explains that plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as flaxseed and walnuts do not contain DHA/EPA and convert very small amounts of DHA in the body. Most lacto-ovo vegetarians (consumes milk and eggs) don’t have problems taking fish oil supplements but vegans may be against it. There are algae-based DHA supplements but they don’t contain EPA.

Tribole emphasizes the importance of lowering omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. “I like to compare omega-6 fatty acids to sodium in the diet,” she says. “Both are essential nutrients but too much can take a toll on health.”

Because omega-6 (see sources below) and omega-3 fatty acids compete for the same limited enzymes, too much omega-6 can crowd out omega-3s. And too much omega-6 fatty acids in the body can increase one’s risk of inflammation, increasing the risk of developing chronic diseases.

Due to changes in the food supply, she explains in her book, we eat 10-20 times the omega-6 fatty acids our ancestors ate.

“To cut back I tell families to start with three items – margarine, salad dressing and spreads like mayonnaise.” she says. “These products are made with omega-6 vegetable oils such as soybean, cottonseed and corn oil.”

Vegetable oils low in omega-6 fats include canola and olive oil. She advises families to choose canola-based margarines like Canoleo or Canola Harvest, make their own salad dressing with canola or olive oil and buy a canola-based mayonnaise.

When asked other ways families can increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids she says they can buy dairy products that come from “pasture-fed” or “grass fed” animals – and being organic is no guarantee. When animals are fed their natural diet of grass instead of a corn-grain diet, she explains, they naturally have higher levels of omega-3s and lower levels of omega-6. One example Tribole provides is Straus Family Creamery which sells pasture-fed dairy products.

She says the Mediterranean diet is a good example of a diet balanced with the right kinds of fat. For more on this fascinating topic check out Tribole’s book, The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet.

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For more on what to feed your kids see our Nutrition for Children section.

It takes time and brain power to plan and prepare a weeks’ worth of family meals. But even after all that work, how can you be sure that everyone at the table is meeting their nutrition needs?

While it’s not your responsibility to make sure every family member eats, it is your job to provide balanced meals. Studies show children will get the nutrition they need when offered a wide variety of foods. But in a world where nutrition advice can be very confusing, what exactly should that variety be?

While there are no strict rules to family meal planning there are “nutrition essentials” that every mom should know about.

1. Have dinner together most nights: Research continues to support the multitude of benefits to family dinners. In fact, a recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health revealed that the 6th, 7th and 8th graders who ate dinner with their family consumed fewer soft drinks, ate breakfast, were less concerned about their weight and were more confident about eating healthy at home and with friends.

Remember to include your smallest family members in this family ritual. Once babies transition to finger foods, for example, they can eat most of what everyone else is eating. Of course, you’ll have to take into account their ability to chew and swallow certain foods. Cutting items into small pieces will often work.

Why is this important? Any parent of a toddler knows that when pickiness sets in family dinners can be rough. If toddlers are brought to the family table too late, they’ll already be used to eating their “special food.” But if all they know is the family dinner, they’ll be more likely to go with the flow and try new foods.

2. Provide a nutritious variety of fruits and vegetables: To ensure an array of nutrients choose at least one vitamin C-rich fruit and one vitamin A-rich vegetable. Vitamin C fruits (orange, strawberries, cantaloupe – click through to see list) are perfect at breakfast when eaten with iron-rich cereals (C increases iron’s absorption). This is especially important for children under 2 years of age when they are at the highest risk of iron-deficiency.

Vitamin A-rich vegetables (spinach, carrots, kale – click through to see list) are a vital part of a balance diet. If your child rejects green vegetables, try vitamin-A rich carrots, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe until their palates come around.

3. Make half your grains “whole:” Check out my guest blog “7 Ways to Boost Your Family’s Intake of Whole Grains” on the popular www.5dollardinners.com. Basically, make sure that at least half the grains you serve are whole grains. Include whole wheat bread, whole grain cereals and brown rice with meals. Health experts recommend Americans eat 3 servings of whole grains per day.

4. Feast on fish twice a week: The American Heart Association recommends that Americans consume fish at least twice a week. While most people associate fish with heart health, it is also extremely beneficial for brain health. That’s because fish contains the essential omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) not found in plant sources. If your family doesn’t eat fish then they aren’t getting enough of these powerful nutrients. And kids, whose brains are still developing, especially need DHA and EPA.

If you never serve fish start out preparing it once a week by trying salmon, halibut, shrimp or trout. You can also make tuna sandwiches at lunchtime. Most experts believe the benefits of fish outweigh any risk associated with methyl mercury. Just in case, follow the FDA guidelines to avoid swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel and consume no more than 12 ounces of low mercury fish and canned light tuna (no more than 6 ounces of canned albacore tuna) per week.

5. Provide a variety of protein sources: When planning protein for meals remember 2-2-2 – fish, lean meats and poultry and beans twice a week. Growing children benefit from the easily absorbed iron and zinc in animal proteins. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that Americans consume at least 3 cups of beans every week. That includes black, kidney, pinto and garbanzo beans. Beans are packed with B vitamins, iron and fiber and can be included as the main meal or a side dish.

6. Choose your vegetable oils wisely: Emerging science suggests that Americans consume too much omega-6 fatty acids. You see, we evolved from a diet with equal amounts (1:1) of omega 6 and omega 3 yet the ratio we eat today is somewhere between 10:1 and 30:1. Changes in the food supply over the last 100 years have allowed for mass production of vegetable oils like soybean, cottonseed and corn oil all high in omega 6. A diet out of balance can increase the risk of inflammation and chronic health conditions like heart disease.

Whenever possible, cook with olive and canola oil, both relatively low in omega-6 fatty acids. Consider making your own salad dressings or find a prepared one made with olive or canola oil. For more on this subject see 3 Things Most Parents Don’t Know About Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

7. Let them have low fat dairy: Did you know 9 out of 10 children don’t get enough calcium? Low fat dairy products are rich in calcium and other nutrients. 2- to 8-year olds need 2 servings of milk products a day, 9- to 18-year olds need 3 servings a day and 19-50+ year olds need 3 servings a day. A serving equals 1 cup of milk/yogurt or 1.5 ounces of cheese. If you and your family won’t (or can’t) eat dairy consider calcium-fortified juice, soy or rice beverages.

Do I always serve my family perfect nutritious meals? No! But it’s good to have a goal each week when I sit down and plan for the week ahead.

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References/Resources

Woodruff SJ, Hanning RM. Associations between family dinner frequency and specific food behaviors among grade six, seven, and eight students from Ontario and Nova Scotia. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2009 May;44(5):431-6.

My Pyramid

2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

The Ultimate Omega-3 Diet: Maximize the Power of Omega-3s to Supercharge Your Health, Battle Inflammation, and Keep Your Mind Sharp by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD

Last week I wrote about how omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, can play a role in preventing ADHD. I have been searching for a DHA/EPA supplement for my almost 3 year-old daughter for some time now. I tried a gummy/candy DHA supplement from Trader Joe’s and she didn’t like it. I’ve tried supplemented food but she never seems to get enough from those products. So I bought Carlson for Kids Very Finest Fish Oil Lemon Flavor to see if I could sneak it in her food. I tried putting it in lemon yogurt and she could tell immediately. I tried a smoothie – and once again, she turned it away. Then one night I just put it in a spoon and gave it to her and she took it down. Not only did she take it down, she wanted more! Was it really that easy? After a week of her accepting her bedtime lemon “treat” I realized that she likes it. Yeah!

What I like about giving her fish oil is it contains both DHA and EPA. Even though DHA is the star, it works synergistically with EPA. I mean, if she were eating fish she’d get both. I still offer her salmon once a week hoping that eventually she’ll eat more fish. But for now, I feel good knowing she’s getting the essential omega-3 fatty acids she needs.

So this product gets a big “thumbs up” from me!

To find it in a store near you check Carlson Laboratories website.

Jenny thought her rowdy preschooler was engaging in normal “boy” behavior. But when her son entered the first grade, she started noticing that he couldn’t sit still or focus like the other kids. He was also impulsive, often endangering himself by running off at the worst times. She finally took him to a doctor and found out he had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

One in ten children lives with ADHD. Children diagnosed with the condition are more likely to experience depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. No one knows exactly what causes this leading disorder but experts believe that it has both genetic and environmental influences.

Two recent research reviews examined whether or not diet can help treat ADHD. While both reviews cite compelling research, each acknowledges that more studies are needed to draw conclusions. As I read both of these papers, one word kept popping up in my mind: prevention.

You see, children with ADHD often have low levels of iron, zinc, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids – the same nutrients needed for proper growth and development. Research also suggests that some children react to artificial colorings and additives in food.

So doesn’t it make sense that diets rich in these nutrients could help prevent ADHD? While the research isn’t able to answer that question, I think it’s worth considering. Let’s take a look…

Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA & EPA)
It’s hard to believe but sixty percent of the brain is composed of fat! Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential fatty acid found mostly in fish and fish oils, is required in high quantities in the brain and retina. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) also plays a role in the brain working synergistically with DHA.

According to a recent study published in Nutrition Reviews, omega-3 fatty acids hold the most promise for nutritionally treating ADHD and/or learning disabilities. In a recent UK study, children with developmental coordination disorder (5-12 years old) were supplemented with 552 mg of EPA and 168 mg of DHA for 3 months which resulted in improved behavior, increased reading age by 9 months (3 months in the control) and spelling age by almost 7 months (1 month in the control). Before the study these children were a year behind in both reading and spelling.

DHA and EPA are essential in little ones’ diets because their brains are still developing. Unless your child eats fish on a weekly basis, they are falling short on DHA and EPA. Unfortunately, there are no recommendations for DHA in the United States. International health groups, however, do provide recommendations for adults. According to the Omega-3 Institute, if you take these international recommendations and adjust them to the calorie intakes of young children, 2-3 year olds need 145 mg per day of DHA and 4-6 year olds need 200 mg.

So what’s a mom to do? Include fish meals 2-3 times a week including salmon, tuna, halibut, shrimp and trout. And if your little one won’t eat fish consider supplementing with fish oil (I’ll be reviewing some supplements soon). If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, aim for 300mg of DHA per day.

Minerals
Children with ADHD tend to have lower levels of iron, zinc and magnesium than kids without the disorder. In children under 3 years of age, one-third are anemic and 1 in 10 are iron-deficient. If left untreated, iron deficiency can result in poor cognitive development and can adversely affect behavior. Studies show that children with the lowest iron levels experience more severe ADHD symptoms.

To ensure adequate intake of iron, offer children meat and poultry often as well as iron fortified cereals combined with a vitamin C-rich fruit (to increase the absorption by four times!). Check this list for iron sources and add vitamin C-rich foods to plant-based sources of iron.

Zinc, the next mineral on the list, not only helps protect the immune system, it also plays a role in the developing brain. As zinc levels plummet, the symptoms of ADHD increase. One theory is that certain food additives accelerate the excretion of zinc from the body in susceptible individuals. Zinc can be found in meat, poultry, beans, fortified breakfast cereals, yogurt, almonds and cashews.

Magnesium, the last mineral associated with ADHD, is needed for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Low magnesium levels impact brain health in a variety of ways such as decreasing blood flow to the brain and lowering energy metabolism. Research suggests that up to 85% of children with ADHD may be deficient in magnesium. Check this list for magnesium sources including nuts, spinach, soy beans and black beans.

Food additives and artificial colorings
Although we’re mostly focusing on nutrition, the effect of artificial colorings and additives deserves attention. According to a 2009 review in the Harvard Medical Health Letter, a small segment of children are susceptible to artificial additives in processed foods.

In fact, the findings of a recent study in Britain resulted in the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency request for food manufactures to remove six coloring agents from children’s products.

To keep intake of such food additives low, go easy on candy, colored cereals, soda and fruit drinks.

The final word
Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc and magnesium are essential nutrients for growing kids. And if they happen to prevent ADHD, then that’s a big bonus.

Subscribe to Raise Healthy Eaters for more health prevention tips.

References
June, 2009 Harvard Medical Health Letter

Sinn N. Nutritional and dietary influences on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Nutrition Reviews. 2008; 66(10):558-568.

Richardson AJ, Montgomery P. The Oxford-Durham study: a randomized, controlled trial of dietary supplementation with fatty acids in children with developmental coordination disorder. Pediatrics. 2005;115(5):1360-1366.

You’re in the grocery store selecting food for your family and you see a product claiming to have a certain nutrition benefit. Are you confused by it? Skeptical? Not sure exactly what the claim means?

Join the club.

Having worked in the food industry, I know what’s behind popular food claims. And while I don’t necessarily fault food companies, who basically follow the FDA’s lead, I do think that consumers aren’t always getting what they think they are getting.

Here are 5 nutrition claims that I believe lead consumers to believe something that just isn’t so.

1) All Natural: According to a recent survey of over 1000 consumers, products labeled “natural” were considered more eco-friendly than those labeled “organic.” Basically, people trust the “natural” label more than the “organic” one.

The truth is that there are FDA regulations for the use of the word “organic” in product labeling and advertising and none for “natural” (see organic posts for more details on buying organic). The FDA has not officially defined the term “natural.” In fact, they stick to their 1993 policy: “FDA has not established a formal definition for the term ‘natural’, however the agency has not objected to the use of the term on food labels provided it is used in a manner that is truthful and not misleading and the product does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.”

So just because a product says it’s “all natural” doesn’t mean it’s more nutritious than any other item. For example, cookies and baked goods contain “natural” sugar and white flour. Your best bet is to check the ingredient line to see what’s actually in the product. “Natural” really doesn’t tell you much.

2) Trans-fat Free: If trans-fat were a celebrity, it would never work in Hollywood again. Its negative publicity and health recommendations coupled with newer mandatory labeling on packages (starting in 2006) has consumers concerned. So when consumers see a “trans-fat free” food label, they feel good about buying it.

What consumers may not know is that most food companies have worked trans-fats out of their products so virtually all packaged goods are trans-fat free. Most often trans-fat is being replaced with saturated fat making the product only marginally better. It’s also important to remember that the FDA allows a trans-fat free claim if a product contains less than 0.5g of trans-fat. So check the ingredient line for key words like “hydrogenated vegetable oil” if you want to stay 100% clear of trans-fats.

3. Made with/good source of: I touched on what a “good source” means in my post about Juicy Juice claims. Basically, when you see that a product claims that it is a “good source” of a specific nutrient you know it contains at least 10% of the Daily Value. If it’s a type of ingredient like whole grains, (the claim is “made with whole grains”) it usually contains at least 10% of the Daily Recommended Value per serving. For example, the packaging on Nutri Grain waffles says that they are made with 5 grams of whole grains. If a consumer doesn’t know this, they might think the waffle is a whole grain product when it’s not. Instead it contains about 1/3rd of a whole grain serving.

Look for the Whole Grains Council’s whole grain stamp which means the product has at least 1/2 a serving of whole grains. The stamp has the grams listed on it (see right).

4. Contains omega-3 fatty acids: If you’ve been reading my posts you already know there are two very different kinds of omega-3 fatty acids. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) that comes from plant products like flax, walnuts and canola oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) that come mainly from marine sources like salmon and tuna. While ALA is beneficial for heart health, DHA and EPA provide a multitude of benefits including optimal brain development for children. If someone buys a product claiming to contain omega-3 fatty acids, they might think they are getting all of the beneficial fat that they need when the product really only contains ALA.

So check the label to see if there is DHA in the product. You can also check the ingredient line to see what type of omega-3 fatty acid it is. For more on this topic see What Most Parents Don’t Know About Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

5. No added sugars: Someone buying a product with the claim “no added sugars” might think they are getting a product that doesn’t contain sugar. What the claim really means is that no sugar or sugar-like ingredients are added during processing. If someone desires a product without sugar they should keep their eyes peeled for the “sugar-free” claim which means the product has less than 0.5g of sugar per serving.

Once you understand what nutrition claims really mean, they can actually help you choose food that you want for your family.

Confused about a specific food claim? Leave a comment or submit it through contact us.

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Q: A friend told me not to give my daughter fish because of the risk of mercury poisoning. Is it okay for young children to eat fish?

A: It’s too bad that methyl mercury has made families wary of serving fish. Fish is not only an excellent source of protein and low in fat, it’s the best source of omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) essential for brain development.

The FDA recommends high risk groups including young children, pregnant women, women capable of becoming pregnant and nursing moms limit low-mercury sources of fish to no more than 12 ounces per week. This amount is still much more fish than most Americans eat. The advice for children is the same except to provide smaller-than-adult portion sizes. Pregnant women and young children should also avoid raw fish (sushi).

Low mercury sources of fish include salmon, trout, shrimp, tilapia, pollock and light canned tuna. Limit canned albacore tuna to no more than 6 ounces per week. Avoid big fish that is higher in mercury including shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Kidsafeseafood.com is a great resource when it comes to fish choices and recipes for children.

When eating fish caught by family or friends always check local advisories for safety. If you can’t find any information, limit intake to 6 ounces and make that the only fish you eat all week.

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Got a nutrition question? Let us know!

Resources:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advice/

Center for Research

This information on this site is for educational purposes only and does not take the place of medical advice. Please verify with your healthcare provider.

For more on what to feed your kids see our Nutrition for Children section

If you watch TV you’ve probably seen the commercials for Nestle’s Juicy Juice. Juicy Juice has a line of 100% juice and two other functional juice beverages: Immunity and Brain Development. How do their product claims stack up? Let’s take a close look…

Juicy Juice Fruit Juice: This is your standard 100% Fruit Juice product with added vitamin C in a variety of flavors. Check out 5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know about Fruit Juice for more tips on choosing juice. In general, you want juice products that are 100% fruit juice. So with this product, what you see is what you get.

Juicy Juice Brain Development: This product contains DHA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid. Take notice of the claims used for this product. The Juicy Juice website says “enhanced with DHA, an essential building block for brain development.” This is an example of what the FDA calls a “structure function” claim. As long as the product is a good source of a nutrient/ingredient, which the FDA generally defines as providing a minimum of 10% of the recommended daily value (DV), marketers can talk about its structure and function in the body. Don’t mistake this for meaning that the product has been proven to enhance brain development (a company would need to do a clinical study to make such a claim).

DHA is indeed an essential building block for brain development that is especially important for young children. But the two questions that stand out to me the most are:

1. How much DHA do children need; and
2. How much DHA is in the product?

One 4-ounce serving of Juicy Juice Brain Development contains 16mg of DHA. The AAP recommends no more than 4-6 ounces of fruit juice per day for children up to 6 years old and 8-12 ounces for older children. There currently are no recommendations for DHA in the United States. International health groups, however, do have recommendations for adults. According to the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute,if you take international recommendations and adjust them to the calorie intakes of young children, 2-3 year olds need roughly 145 mg per day DHA and 4-6 year olds need 200 mg.

So if your child drinks 4-6 ounces of juice that’s 16-24 mg/day, that’s not a significant amount. But if it’s used in addition to other products that contain DHA, it can help. For example, if a 3-year old drinks 2 cups of milk with DHA (64mg), 6 ounces of Juicy Juice Brain Development (24 mg) and an omega-3 enriched egg (75mg) then that’s 163 mg DHA per day. Now we’re talking.

So if you are making an effort to have your child consume a variety of DHA-rich food sources this product may be worth buying. For more on the benefits of DHA see 3 Things Most Parents Don’t Know About Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Juicy Juice Immunity:This product makes structure function claims based on its fortification with vitamin C and Zinc. Both of these micronutrients play important roles in immune function. So the claims are “to help support immunity” and “contains C and zinc for immunity.” The product contains 100% DV of vitamin C, like a lot of juices do, but it only contains 10% DV for Zinc. Like I said earlier, this is enough to make a claim but may not be the levels parents would expect.

The third ingredient is prebiotic fiber (gum acacia). Prebiotic fibers help to promote the growth of “good” bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. One 8-ounce serving contains 3 grams of fiber. A healthy GI tract also plays a role in immunity. My guess is that because the role of prebiotics on the immune system is not clearly defined, they are using the claim “prebiotic fiber for healthy digestion” for this ingredient.

Because there’s not a specific amount of prebiotics recommended for kids and adults, it’s difficult to tell if this added ingredient makes a difference health wise. Prebiotic fibers can also be found in other foods including bananas, whole wheat, garlic, onions, tomatoes and asparagus.

Overall, I wouldn’t pay up for this product but I might choose to buy it if the price is right.

Got a product you’d like me to review? Send it through. Have you tried Juicy Juice? Let us know what you think!

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