Can Your Toddler Drink Too Much Juice or Milk?

Your child gets important nutrients from drinking milk and 100% fruit juices. Milk has calcium and vitamin D, while 100% fruit juice may have added vitamin C and calcium. However, children can get too much of a good thing! Toddlers who fill up on milk or juice are too full to eat other nutritious foods. And drinking too much fruit juice can lead to diarrhea. Try to limit your toddler to 2 or 3 cups of milk a day and b cup of 100% fruit juice a day. Offer water to satisfy your child’s thirst during the day and save the milk and juice for mealtimes. Remember. your habits help kids make smart food choices. Kids will do what you do. If they see you drinking milk and eating vegetables, they will too. Have healthier foods in the house. Let kids choose snacks from two healthy choices, such as apples or graham crackers. Eat meals with your kids as often as you can. Meals are a nice way to be with each other and to break up busy days. Use meals to talk about new foods. Keep trying new foods, it may take a few tries before the family likes a new food. Let your kids help pick foods, plan meals and snacks, and fix meals.