Juice Boxes

With most parents facing the prospect of needing a double income, more and more children are spending their lunch hours in either daycare or school. Packed lunches are the norm for many children of all ages.

One common staple that can be found in bagged lunches is juice boxes. Juice boxes are small, convenient packages of juice that come ready to use with a small straw. They are available in many different flavors and can provide the children with added nutrients.

One of the considerations when it comes to choosing juice boxes for your child’s lunch is the ingredients. Some juice boxes are made from fruit juice with no added sugar. These are clearly the best choice when it comes to the health of your child. 

Many children prefer the taste of sugar sweetened juice boxes. Although the flavor of these may be more appealing to a child, they can have serious side effects when consumed on a daily basis.

In addition to giving your child empty calories, sugary juice boxes also encourage tooth decay. When a child drinks juice boxes that contain sugar at school they normally don’t have an opportunity to brush their teeth. This means that the sugar coats their teeth for hours and can cause cavities. The added sugar also is a stimulant that the child doesn’t need. 

Most children prefer drinking juice boxes that are chilled. Keeping juice boxes cold is actually relatively easy and can be done one of several ways. Your child will appreciate opening their lunch to find a cold beverage.

Many parents purchase lunch containers that allow for the use of a freezer pack. These packs are frozen each night and when placed in an insulated lunch box or bag will keep the contents cold for hours. Juice boxes placed into one of these lunch containers stay chilled.

Another solution to keeping juice boxes cold is to freeze the juice boxes. Each morning one can be placed into the child’s lunch and when it’s time to eat they enjoy the frosty drink. 

Juice boxes don’t have to be just for children. Adults can also enjoy the convenience of them as well. They make a great snack and a healthy alternative to beverages like coffee or cola that contain high levels of caffeine. With all of the available flavors, adults can enjoy juice boxes just as much as their children do. Keeping a few in the car or in your office desk drawer allows you to enjoy them whenever you choose.