I Avoid Every Juice Brand Except These 5 Options My Kids Love

Juice is one of the products that's constantly marketed as a healthy drink, even though it's often loaded with sugar. What's worse is that many juice brands market their products to children, and it's difficult for parents to say no. After all, isn't it made from fruit?

Even though juice is made from fruit, most juice you buy in the store is lacking some of the beneficial nutrients you find in whole fruit, like fiber. On top of that, to make one or two glasses of juice requires way more fruit than you would normally consume in one sitting, and many juice brands have additional added sugar.

When it comes to the juice brands that I'm willing to buy for my family, the list is short. Generally, I look for juice brands that have:

• 100% juice
• No added sugar
• No artificial colors
• Low amounts of sugar in a serving

For the most part, I try to encourage my kids to drink water or milk instead of juice, but there are some juice brands we enjoy. As a mom of three, I avoid all juice brands except these 5 options.

It's hard to say no to Capri Sun pouches, considering they remind me of my own childhood. But this is actually one of the brands I would choose over most other juices because of the relatively minimal amount of sugar in each pouch.

Although most of the Capri Sun pouches are made from concentrate, one pouch only has 11 total grams of sugar. Capri Sun does offer a 100% juice option, but we prefer to avoid buying that one since it has nearly twice as much sugar in one pouch.

Apple & Eve is another popular juice brand that we love buying for our family. This brand has an organic option, 100% juice option, and even a Sesame Street line of juices (which my toddler loves).

Apple & Eve juice is made without added sugar and without artificial colors or sweeteners. The only ingredients for the Apple & Eve apple juice are filtered water, apple juice concentrate, ascorbic acid, and L-malic acid. If we do purchase this juice, we stick to the smaller serving sizes since the 4-oz juice box only has 13 grams of sugar.

Good2Grow is one of the more popular juice brands out there for kids, and it's no wonder why. The top of each juice bottle has a different character, and they have plenty of options to choose from. This brand sells juices, milks, and snacks with reusable character tops that kids love.

Good2Grow isn't always the first juice I purchase, mainly because of the cost. However, I love the options they offer with a 100% juice variety, an organic 75% less sugar variety, and an antioxidant blend. The 100% juice option only has concentrated apple juice, ascorbic acid, and natural flavors with 18 grams of sugar.

Juicy Juice is another brand that comes with a wave of nostalgia for me. I can still hear the "100% juice for 100% kids" slogan in my head every time the brand is mentioned. Even to this day, it's one of my favorite juice brands.

Juicy Juice comes in three varieties: 100% Juice, Organics, and Immune System Support. The juice boxes are made with 100% juice and without any added sugar. One juice box has 14 grams of sugar and comes in Fruit Punch and Apple. The Immune System Support comes with an extra dose of vitamin C and zinc, with flavors such as Orange Mango, Strawberry Apple, and Berry Punch. These have a higher amount of sugar, with 22 grams in a 6.75-oz box, but also have 130% of your daily value of vitamin C.

Out of all the juice options, Honest Organic Juice is our favorite. The Honest beverages come in a variety of flavors, and they're usually sold in a variety pack at Costco, which makes it affordable and easy to stock up on.

Honest Juice has one of the lowest sugar contents out of any juice brands that are marketed towards kids. The ingredients include filtered water, which keeps the sugar content down. One juice box only contains 8 grams of sugar, but there's still enough flavor that my kids love these little juice boxes.

Juice is definitely a delicious and refreshing drink that the whole family can enjoy — and when it's made fresh at home, it's even better. But if you're looking for juice brands that are healthier for the family or made without artificial ingredients, any of the juice brands on this list are a great option.