Now that the kids are back to school and you are back to packing school lunches, have you thought about what you are putting in them? Skip the sugary soft drinks and pack something the kids will enjoy AND you can feel good about too… like real fruit juice drinks. There are a number of companies and flavors that offer, real fruit juice with no added junk!

I got to try a variety of real fruit juices from companies like Welch’s, Very Fine, Tree Top, Motts, and Juicy Juice provided from the Juice Products Association (JPA). The JPA suggests 4 to 6 ounces of 100% fruit juice per day for children ages 1-6 years-old, and up to 12 ounces per day for children ages 7-18 years-old.

But according to the US Department of Agriculture, Americans consume less than 50% of the recommended daily serving of fruit, which is 2 cups of fruit daily for adults and 1.5 cups daily for children. But drinking 100% fruit juice is an easy way to meet the daily recommendation – just 1/2 cup serving (4 ounces) of 100% fruit juice provides the equivalent of 1/2 cup of fruit!

Here is a fun and easy way to get your kids excited about juice and introduce more fruit into their diet:

Gone Fishin’ Kids Recipe

Clear gelatin fruit juice squares are fun for little ones to eat with their hands and grab the fish in the middle. Older kids can participate by stirring the gelatin and adding the fish.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups 100% apple juice (clear variety, not unfiltered) or 100% white grape juice
• 4 packets unflavored gelatin
• 6 Swedish Fish or Gummy Fish

Directions:

Pour 1 cup of the 100% juice into a medium mixing bowl. Sprinkle on gelatin and set aside to soften. Bring the remaining 3 cups juice to a boil. Pour the hot juice slowly into the softened gelatin, stirring until it is completely dissolved.

Refrigerate the gelatin (approx. 45 minutes) until a thin film clings to the sides of the bowl when stirred.

Rinse a glass baking dish (8x6x2 inch) with cold water and pour the thickened gelatin into it. If the gelatin has begun to set, spread it out as evenly as possible. One at a time, holding the fish upside down, push them into the gelatin so they look like they are swimming. Place them far enough apart to cut six blocks, each containing a fish. Refrigerate the gelatin until very firm, 3 to 4 hours.

To unmold, hold the dish in a pan of hot water for 1 minute, or until the gelatin releases when you bounce the pan. Invert the pan over a plate so the gelatin drops onto it. With a knife, cut the gelatin into 6 blocks, including one fish in each. The blocks are best served the same day as the fish start to get gooey after 12 hours.

One hundred percent juice contains no added sugars and  is a nutritional and beneficial part of a healthy diet. And if your kids like variety, 100% fruit juice comes in a selection of juice flavors; grape, apple, organic apple, punch, berry and more. So, instead of serving soda, sugary substitutes or un-natural beverage choices, try to substitute these drinks with 100% Juice!

For more recipes, healthy facts and more about 100% Juice, please visit http://www.fruitjuicefacts.org/.

Wanna Win? One reader will win a 100% Real Fruit Juice gift package from the Juice Products Association! (ARV $60)

This prize pack includes the following:

• Large Black.White Striped Beach Bag
• 100% Juice 100% Fun Summer Apron
• Simply Orange Soft Cooler
• Filled with juices from Mott’s, Very Fine, Welch’s, Juicy Juice and Treetop

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Disclosure: No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive a sample product from the sponsor for the purpose of this honest review. This did not affect the outcome of this review. All opinions are 100% my own. For full disclosure click here.