Good 2 Grow is a popular brand of children’s beverage that produces and markets fruit juices for kids.
Their kid-friendly juice boxes feature over 200 iconic cartoon characters, from Spiderman to Micky Mouse.
Plus, they come in fruit flavors like raspberry lemonade, apple, grape, and more, with the promise that they’re “made with only the good stuff.”
However, are Good 2 Grow juices really a healthy choice for kids?
Short answer: Good 2 Grow juices are healthy as they are made with organic ingredients, contain no added sugar, are good source of various vitamins and minerals and free from artificial additives.
Read on to find out more about Good 2 Grow juices, including their ingredients, sugar, sodium content, and more.
Read also: The Truth About Izze Drinks: Are They Healthy?
What are the ingredients in Good 2 Grow juice?
Good 2 Grow juice comes in multiple varieties such as 100% juice, 75% less sugar, Fruit & veggie blend, and Bigger.
Under these varieties, there are various flavors available, such as apple, fruit punch, fruit fusion, grape, strawberry kiwi, raspberry lemonade, and more.
Therefore, the exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor you choose.
However, the common ingredients found in multiple flavors are:
- Water – Found in all 8 flavors
- Apple Juice Concentrate – Found in 6 flavors
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) – Found in 5 flavors
- Citric Acid – Found in 5 flavors
- Natural Flavors – Found in 4 flavors
Good 2 Grow juices are made with 18 to 100% juice, depending on the flavor.
What’s good? There’s no use of added sugar or any other unhealthy additives such as artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
In fact, some of the flavors are even packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin E, calcium, and zinc.
So yes, Good 2 Grow juices are really made up of good stuff.
How much sugar is in Good 2 Grow juices?
When it comes to juice, most parents want to avoid extra sugar for their kids. That’s why the “no sugar added” badge on Good2Grow juice boxes attracts attention.
However, they packed a significant amount of natural sugar.
A single serving contains anywhere between 13 to 19g of natural sugar, depending on the flavor.
However, if you are looking to cut back? Good 2 Grow juice also comes in low-sugar options called 75% less sugar.
The 75% less sugar varieties contain just 3g of natural sugar per serving. These varieties use Stevia extract (a natural sweetener) for the sweetness.
However, note that in 75% less sugar varieties, the fruit juice content has been reduced to 18% to keep the sugar content lower. Something to keep in mind.
If you are looking for refined sugar-free juices for your kids, Good 2 Grow is a solid choice.
However, it’s still a good idea to limit intake to one serving, as too much sugar, even if it’s natural, can lead to weight gain or other issues.
Here’s the table showing the sugar content of all flavors.
| Flavors | Sugar(g) |
|---|---|
| Apple (100% juice) | 19 |
| Fruit punch (100% juice) | 18 |
| Grape (75% less sugar) | 3 |
| Fruit fusion (75% less sugar) | 3 |
| Strawberry kiwi (Fruit & veggie blend) | 13 |
| Tropical fruit medley (Fruit & veggie blend) | 13 |
| Orange mango (Bigger) | 17 |
| Raspberry lemonade (Bigger) | 17 |
Are Good 2 Grow juices high in vitamin C?
Good 2 Grow juices are a good source of vitamin C, containing 10 to 60% of the daily recommended limit, depending on the flavor.
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in supporting the immune system by helping the body ward off illnesses and infections.
It also acts as an antioxidant and helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Almost every flavor in the Good 2 Grow lineup is on the vitamin C team, except for the 75% less sugar varieties. These varieties don’t contain any vitamin C.
But there’s more!
Some flavors like strawberry kiwi and tropical fruit also bring vitamins A and E to the table, while flavors like orange mango and raspberry lemonade offer a boost of vitamin D, calcium, and zinc.
So, you’re not just enjoying tasty flavors but also getting a variety of vitamins.
Are Good 2 Grow juices better than real fruit juices?
Good 2 Grow juices are made with real fruit. So, it’s normal to think that they might be as healthy as a freshly squeezed juice blend.
However, that’s not the case,
Good 2 Grow juices do contain fruit juices, but they are not as healthy as drinking real fresh fruit juices.
That’s because Good 2 Grow juices are made with fruit juice concentrate, which is a thick syrup made by removing water from the fruit pulp.
The process of removing water from the pulp is often done by heating the fruit, which results in the loss of many nutrients, including heat-sensitive vitamin C.
When ready to reconstitute, water is added back into this thick syrup, but unfortunately, not the nutrients that were removed during removing water.
However, the good thing with Good 2 Grow juices is that they have been fortified with various vitamins and minerals in order to make them as healthy as real fruit juices.
But, they still lack the protein and fiber found in fresh real fruit juices.
Good 2 Grow juices are definitely good, but not as much as fresh real fruit juices.
Are Good 2 Grow juices good for weight loss?
Good 2 Grow juice can be considered good for weight loss as they do not contain added sugar. They are also low in calories, with anywhere between 15 to 100 per serving.
However, note that Good 2 Grow packs a significant amount of natural sugar. If consumed in excess, it can result in weight gain.
Note that weight loss depends not only on one food but overall diet and lifestyle.
Are Good 2 Grow juices vegan?
Most of the Good 2 Grow juice flavors are vegan since they don’t have any milk or animal-based ingredients.
However, the Bigger variety, containing flavors like orange mango and raspberry lemonade, might not be vegan due to the presence of Cholecalciferol.
Cholecalciferol is a type of vitamin D often derived from animal sources like sheep’s wool.
While it can also come from vegan-friendly sources, the lack of information makes it unclear.
However, it’s worth noting that Good 2 Grow does not market their juice as vegan-free.
Are Good 2 Grow juices gluten-free?
Good 2 Grow juices are gluten-free as they do not contain any gluten-based ingredients.
They are also non-GMO, USDA organic, and the bottles and Character tops are BPA-free.
Final words
After looking at the ingredients and nutritional value, it can be concluded that Good 2 Grow juices are a healthy choice.
Here’s why:
- They are made with good ingredients.
- They do not contain added sugar.
- They are a good source of several vitamins and minerals.
- They are free from artificial additives.
- They are non-GMO, USDA organic, Gluten-free, and most flavors are vegan.
Just keep in mind that moderation is the key to any food.
That’s it.
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