Young Americans get enough fruit, but the share of fruit juices is far too high.
Whether red, green or yellow, apples are the favorite fruit of American children. On their own, they account for nearly 19% of their fruit consumption, according to a study published this Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
This work, carried out with more than 3,000 children, adolescents and young adults aged 2 to 19, shows that they consume a little more than a cup of fruit, or the equivalent of 100 grams. Results which therefore confirm that children follow the American recommendations – one to two cups of fruit per day.
However, the authors are concerned about the place of fruit juices in the diet. Indeed, a third of the fruit intake is consumed in this form across the Atlantic. The authors also observed differences between children aged 2 to 5 and those aged 6 to 11. The attraction for fruit juices is more marked among the former, while the older ones readily bite into an apple.
As sweet as sodas
Fruit juices contain as much sugar as sodas. And no matter how squeezed or 100% pure juice, they don’t provide the same amount of fiber as a whole fruit.
In France, the national health nutrition program (PNNS) advises eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Experts thus indicate that we can consume 3 portions of fruit and 2 of vegetables, and the next day, cook 4 portions of vegetables and eat one fruit… Recommendations followed by only 1 in 5 children.
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