Drink Boxes

I was wondering how often you give your kids drink boxes...and what brand/kind/flavors, etc. I know they don't need juice...but it is something other than water. They have had them only a few times...but lately we have had them more and more because we are out and it is easy. Now they keep asking for "box"...so I was wondering how much is too much.

Thanks!

Lois

 

Lois, I give them a few times a week. I get them Juicy Juice or Minute Maid 100% juice, no sugar added. When it's hot and they are going to be outside, I like them to have some because they really drink it up and I like them a little extra hydrated for those times!! When I do it, I usually only do 1 per day. The most I remember to give it to them is about 4 times a week. They eat lots of fruit and we have smoothies at least once a week, so they are getting plenty!

 

100% juice as almost as many calories as a soft drink so I usually water down their juice. When they really want juice in a box, I get "Mott's for Tots" which contains 50% juice and 50% water. This is not the same as the regular Mott's juice boxes which is 100% juice.

ETA: Oh, and I'll give them one of these per day if they ask for it. I figure since it is watered down, it's not really a lot of juice in one serving.

 

We don't, mostly because we don't drink juice. But if we're out somewhere and someone offers the kids one, they'll happily take it. Unfortunately they nearly always 1) squeeze too hard and get juice all down their front, and/or 2) push the straw in too far and lose it.

Anyway, if they are really loving the boxes, you could also try giving them milk in boxes!

 

My girls only get them when we're out somewhere at a gathering or party and it's offered there. Down the road if they start asking for it, I personally don't want to do more than a couple per week.

 

I hate doing juice boxes b/c I can't water them down.....but when you're out camping or whatever, there's not too many choices! So I finally broke down & got them those Foogo cups. I've made apple tea this week & they don't know the difference.

We still get juice boxes, though.....you can't beat the convienence. I like the Juicy Juice ones but my cousin says Costco has their own brand that's just the same.

 

I would say maybe once a week, when we are out and about or at a picnic on the weekend. Mott's or McCains, always 100% juice


amanda

 

QUOTE(naomi02 @ Jun 2 2008, 06:53 PM) [snapback]806233[/snapback]
I hate doing juice boxes b/c I can't water them down.....

See my post above about Mott's For Totts boxes which contained watered down juice.

 

I let mine have them at bday parties and playdates when they are offered. When I have purchased them for parties I bought the little 4oz. Apple&Eve ones at Sam's with the Sesame Street characters on them.

 

I have older kids so about age 2 I would allow the younger ones to have a Juice box or Koolaid or Capri Sun at lunch or other meal times if my older kids were having one. But for snacktimes or other non meal drinks all my kids get water bottles. Each one has their own that we keep in the fridge and I just grab them all when leaving the house.

Cindy

 

Lois, I think mine have only ever had them one time. The bigger kids wanted some and b/c of all the sugar content in them, I rarely get them. However, this one time it was Capri Sun...the reduced sugar ones. It's been awhile ago. They loved them. Otherwise I get refillable water bottles and let them have those.

 

I don't usually buy drink boxes. H & N are still mostly milk and water. I give them watered down jiuce in a sippy when I run out of milk. Rachel always has OJ for breakfast - half water. I still take a sippy for her whe we are out, kust so she doesnt' spill all over the car. She gets to pick water or half water/half juice or a flavored water.

 

We take them on picnics and they get them on special occasions (parties, playdates, etc.).

 

[SIZE=12pt]I HATE drink boxes! My twins are always squeezing them and juice spurts out everywhere. Even when I take the first sip or 2 to get it lower so it doesn't squirt out. When we have juice boxes it is usually Juicy Juice ones. I have given Mikayla about 2 a day. I buy them maybe once every 3 months. Michael doesn't like juice so he rarely drinks them. Mostly I try to avoid the things!

Bridget[/SIZE]

 

I wish someone would make water boxes, lol! I'm serious. I hate juice boxes, and I hate it that they are everywhere and everyone else's kids get them. If they really, really, really want it, I poke the straw in, and pour a splash of it in their sippy cup, and then add water. I don't like it that many kid-friendly places don't sell just plain old water.

 

QUOTE(Snittens @ Jun 2 2008, 11:12 PM) [snapback]806737[/snapback]
I wish someone would make water boxes, lol! I'm serious. I hate juice boxes, and I hate it that they are everywhere and everyone else's kids get them. If they really, really, really want it, I poke the straw in, and pour a splash of it in their sippy cup, and then add water. I don't like it that many kid-friendly places don't sell just plain old water.

I don't know the brand, but our local natural food store was selling water boxes next to the toddler foods so I know they exist.

 

We only do them when we are out and I'll bring a few of them along, otherwise we don't do them at home. We do have them at home because my oldest DD takes one in her lunch to school each day, but no one drinks those at home. We've just never drank juice boxes at home.

Now Emilie and Trevor do get watered down juice throughout the day in their sippy cup.

 

Unless they are offered one somewhere, we don't do drink boxes. I do give them watered down juice in a sippy once a day. I try not to buy individual sized things where I can avoid it, so I just buy the bigger jugs of juice at Costco.

 

We don't buy them for home, although I do put a tiny splash of juice (maybe an oz. or two) in Nadia's water throughout the day, because she won't drink it plain. (My own doing, I know.)

But for parties and playdates, I will let her have a juice box....I prefer the Motts for Tots as well, because they're watered down. (You pay the same for less juice, so it's brilliant marketing!) This is once a week at most.

I just saw something interesting in Parenting magazine:

www.firstjuice.com

www.waddajuice.com

They're sippy-like bottles instead of boxes, and the juices are organic -- the one in the magazine picture was banana and carrot juice. (Dunno if my kiddo would drink that!)

 

QUOTE(Snittens @ Jun 2 2008, 10:12 PM) [snapback]806737[/snapback]
I wish someone would make water boxes, lol! I'm serious. I hate juice boxes, and I hate it that they are everywhere and everyone else's kids get them. If they really, really, really want it, I poke the straw in, and pour a splash of it in their sippy cup, and then add water. I don't like it that many kid-friendly places don't sell just plain old water.



I found this on the net.
http://www.wateroos.com/products/wtr_products_main.htm

According to they're site there is a grocery store near us where they are sold. I might just have to check them out.

I rarely give the girls juice boxes. It seems like such a waste, and I don't like them drinking stright juice either. I usually give them watered down juice. We do have them in the house, but only because when they were in pre-k we had to provide snack for the class about once a month, and that was one of the things that was allowed and convenient.

 

I give them the juice boxes with 100% juice and not that offten, it is really a treat.

 

We use the klean kanteen reusable bottles. Fill them with whatever we want!

http://www.kleankanteen.com/

 

thanks for all your input!!! i do want to only give them the drink boxes as a treat, or if we are out at an event or something. i think i will check out the wateroos and the waddajuice. something different. mine drink water, no problem...i only sometimes give them juice watered down. they really don't ask for it...so i guess i should be thankful they drink their water...i just figured they are bored of milk and water!! i guess i think i would be! ha ha!

Lois

 

I rarely give juice boxes; however, when I do I give them the Motts for Tots. Juice boxes tend to make a big mess. Mine usually get milk or water and sometimes I spice of the water with a little juice.

 

I just take their sippies with me and pour the juice boxes into their cups...they just hose down the world with a juice box...

 

We use them on trips and then the kids have whatever is left over from the case in the weeks following the trip. That's the only time they're in our house. The sometimes get them at my aunt's or grandma's house though.

 

We always buy the little jugs of 100% juice at Costco and bring a couple of those and some bottled water with their sippies. It is actually easier than boxes (IMO) because my kids will pull the straws out or squeeze the boxes almost immediately. I find that the little bottles are easier to stuff in the corner of the diaper bag and one bottle will fill up both cups a couple of times since we water it down.

Cheaper, less waste and more convenient!

 

I give them the Juicy Juice little ones probably 4 times a week. They don't get them everyday. This probably started when they were around 2 years and 9 months. We tried to keep juice out of house, but once you go somewhere else and they are offered... they start asking for them. I believe that moderation is key.

 

Mine drink Capri Sun Roarin Waters.

 

I still often bring sippy cups with watered down juice for them but now and then I will give them box juices. In fact, we are going to the beach tomorrow and I have a bunch of juice boxes left over from my playdate the other day so I will bring them for tomorrows outting.

On another note, a little trick I learned from another mom, if you don't already know, when you give them the juice, pull up the side flaps and pop the box so there is space up top (more air inside). Helps to prevent some of the spillage from them squeezing the box (also helps if you hold it for them for their first sip to get the amount down a little bit). I have been doing that and having less spill accidents with them.

 

QUOTE(twoin2005 @ Jun 2 2008, 09:52 PM) [snapback]806697[/snapback]
We take them on picnics and they get them on special occasions (parties, playdates, etc.).

That is what we do here too! Only DS gets one. Sometimes he might get one with his lunch as a treat, but not very often. The drink boxes are reserved for special occasions.