Fruit for Families

Have you ever wondered just what counts as a serve of fruit? And how many serves a day is the goal for different ages and stages? Let’s take a look at the official recommendations on fruit for the whole family:

What is a serve of fruit?

A sample serve of fruit according to 'The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating' is:

• 1 medium piece (150g) of fruit (apple, banana, orange, pear)
• 2 small pieces (150g) of fruit (apricots, kiwifruit, plums)
• 1 cup (150g) diced pieces or canned fruit
• 1½ tablespoons sultanas & 4 dried apricot halves
• ½ cup (125mL) fruit juice

Fruit serves throughout life

According to 'The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating' the recommended fruit serves to achieve a healthy diet are:

What about babies and toddlers?

Fruit is a nutritious food that provides essential nutrients for growth, development and energy and should be one of the first foods introduced to babies from 6 months of age. It’s also one of the best portable and healthy snack choices for young toddlers. Health professionals recommend that fruit juice is not appropriate in the diets of young children.

So are we eating enough fruit?

Nutrition surveys indicate that many Australians could benefit from eating more fruit as they fail to meet recommended daily serves. From the latest National Nutrition Survey average fruit and vegetable consumption among children and adolescents, measured by the 24-hour recall method, appears to be below the recommended number of serves for almost all age groups. Fruit from the SPC Ardmona range is a convenient and nutritious way to boost your family’s fruit intake as it is always ready to go in the pantry or fridge.

Smart snacking with fruit

Snacks are just as important as main meals to keep kids going. However, in today's climate of rising numbers of overweight children, snack foods are facing increased scrutiny from health professionals and the media. This has made it harder than ever for mums to make confident nutrition choices for their children and select suitable snacks for everyday lunchboxes, at home eating or for kids on the run.

Why do kids need nutritious snacks?

Children need to eat mini meals and snacks regularly through out the day. Most children will eat 5 to 6 times a day because of their small stomach capacity and appetite. Foods eaten at snack times are just as important as those eaten at meal times. Snacks can provide plenty of energy giving nutrients as well as helping to meet the child’s nutritional needs for healthy growth and development. Healthy snacking provides a third to a half of a child’s energy needs and is necessary to refuel a child after sport or strenuous activity.

What about smart snacking for adults?

Healthy snacks can assist weight management as they prevent ravenous hunger and overeating at meals. Research on the US Weight Control Registry has shown that successful long-term weight loss participants commonly ate 5-6 times per day. Low Glycemic Index snacks, like orchard fruits, provide a sustained energy release and have a higher satiety factor than high GI snacks. Snacking is also vital for active adults to fuel up prior to a workout and recharge again.

Search our product database to view fruit products in our range or click here to view recipe and usage ideas

References:
1.Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Commonwealth of Australia. 1998
2.National Nutrition Survey. AGPS. 1995