Fruit Group

Focus on Fruits

Help your preschooler learn to eat and enjoy a variety of fruits. Eating fruit provides a variety of health benefits.  Fruits contain many vitamins and minerals that help your child grow and stay healthy. People who eat more fruits in an overall healthy diet have lower risks of some chronic diseases.

Include fruits in meals and snacks every day. Fruits may be fresh, frozen, canned, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed. Choose canned fruits packed in water or 100% juice instead of syrup, because light or heavy syrup adds sugar and calories.

Fruit juice does not contain the fiber that is in whole and cut-up fruits. Serve your preschooler no more than ½cup to ¾ cup (4 to 6 ounces) of juice a day. Choose 100% fruit juice when serving juices -- check the Nutrition Facts label to be sure.

More information on the Fruit Group:

• Tips to help everyone eat more fruits.
• What counts as a cup in the Fruit Group?
• What foods are in the Fruit Group?
• Learn how to prepare fruits to avoid a choking hazard.