8 out of 10 parents (86%) in Spain are concerned that their children are not getting the vitamins and minerals they need in their daily diet. Almost 40% say they do not know what kind of food and drink their children eat at school, and 37% say that rising costs of living have made it too expensive to provide them with a diet that includes enough fruit and vegetables.
This is the result of a study carried out in four European countries, which in Spain included more than 2,000 people, almost half of them parents.
The study, carried out by the consultancy Savanta ComRes, also reveals a Lack of knowledge on the part of parents about the amount of fruit and vegetables their children should consume daily to achieve the levels of vitamins, minerals and trace elements recommended by health authorities.
They are unaware, for example, that drinking 100% fruit juice is an affordable and healthy way for their children to meet these requirements.
What’s in 150 ml of 100% orange juice?
And a 150 ml glass of 100% orange juice provides more than 90% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, and is an important source of other vital nutrients. This has been shown by a recent scientific study, published in the scientific journal Nutrition Research Reviews, which indicates that taking dTwo or three glasses of 100% orange juice a week will be enough to meet the nutritional requirements of this vitamin, both in children and adults.
Of all the vitamin C consumed in Europe, about 26% comes from 100% orange juice.
While most respondents acknowledge that orange and other fruit juices are sources of vitamins, the survey reveals that they are unaware of other health benefits of consuming 100% natural fruit juice.
For example, 9 out of 10 parents do not know that 100% orange juice provides a good part of the daily requirements of folate, which helps reduce tiredness and fatigue, and potassium, which contributes to the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal system, allowing children to feel strong and active.
Very few calories
Another key aspect revealed by the aforementioned scientific research is that the natural sugar from 100% orange juice, which comes entirely from the fruit, It only represents between 2 and 14% of the free sugar in people’s daily diet, compared to the estimated 48-92% that comes from “optional” products containing added sugar, such as soft drinks, biscuits, sweets, chocolate and cakes.
Unlike soft drinks, nectars or other beverages, 100% orange juice never contains added sugars and, according to European legislation, it cannot be diluted with water.
Children’s health and nutrition is a priority for their parents, but factors such as the rising cost of some foods, especially in recent years, or the hectic pace of everyday life, among others, mean that some parents feel that their children do not have a healthy enough diet,” explains the expert in Dietetics and Nutrition Ramón de Cangas.
Although ensuring that children maintain a varied and balanced diet may seem stressful, it is easier than it seems. For example, By drinking a glass of 100% orange juice every day we know that we have covered 90% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, “In addition to a wide range of nutrients and antioxidants that support their immune function and provide them with the energy they need for their active lifestyle.”