You can't beat the convenience you get from fruit juice boxes -- those handy cardboard containers of fruity drinks that fit neatly inside your child's brown bag (or even your briefcase). But if you think you're packing a sensible sipper, you might be surprised to learn that the nutritional statistics for these portable thirst quenchers aren't exactly winning.
For instance, one Mott's fruit punch juice box (about 6 ounces) is packed with 120 calories (26 grams of sugar), while a Capri Sun Strawberry Banana Fruit Juice Pouch has 110 calories (28 grams of sugar). Toss a Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Drink box in that pail and give them 130 calories, 1 gram of fat and 20 grams of sugar. Considering Coca-Cola has 27 grams of sugar and 100 calories per cup, you might as well send them off to school with a soda. Probably not what you intended.
How can you and your little tykes come to an agreement? Instead of stocking up on fruit juice boxes, which can run you around $3.49 or more for a three-pack, pick up a Rubbermaid Litterless Juice Box at your supermarket (also available at amazon.com).These plastic containers cost around $3.49 each for the 8.5-ounce version (there's a 16-ouncer, too) and they're infinitely reusable, so you'll save money week after week and reduce waste, to boot. Plus, you can fill it with something a little more nourishing than water, corn syrup and flavoring, like half pure fruit juice and half water, Crystal Light, unsweetened iced tea or zero-calorie water. Stowe it with an ice pack to keep things frosty. You'll be so impressed with this luggage for liquids, which is more convenient than your heavy, old-fashioned Thermos, you'll want to pick up one for yourself (just fill the 16-ounce version with water four times during the day to reach your daily requirement!).
Continue to these related posts:
-- Eat on the Cheap: Guide to Supermarket Savings
-- Discount Shopping: Back to School
-- How to Organize and Get Healthy
Comment: Friday, August 29, 2008 10:10:00 AM - 
said...
Not only is it a healthier alternative for your child; but also a better alternative for the environment. You save alot of waste going into the landfill and I don't know about your kids but my daughter never finishes hers so i waste alot of money as well.
Comment: Friday, August 29, 2008 10:43:00 AM - said...
I think that the plastic container should not be used. Instead, use a stainless steel bottle. They sell them with multiple colors and keep your beverage cold, unlike the plastic. You can purchase them at www.enviroproductsinc.com. Happy drinking!!!
Comment: Friday, August 29, 2008 12:12:00 PM - said...
Also you can get one of those metal lunch boxes that usually comes with a thermos and fill it with a healthy drink, that way if you child does not finish the drink it can be reclosed and finished later.
Comment: Friday, August 29, 2008 10:50:00 PM - said...
I finally figured this out this year and I found these awesome recloseable stainless steel thermoses with straw at Target. They were 14.99 but worth every penny when I think of how much I spent on juice boxes in the past. Mine had spider man on them (I have 3 boys) but they sell them with all kinds of different pictures on them. Unfortunately I didn't see any without pictures but anyway I've been putting Crystal Light in them and whatever they don't drink at school they drink when they get home or with dinner. I didn't even consider the envirnmental part but is a HUGE bonus. Anyway point is they are at Target and they are 14.99
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