Meaningful Mornings Accompanied by Florida Orange Juice

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We have a pretty interesting schedule around our home.  My husband works weekends Friday through Monday and gets Tuesdays through Thursdays off.  Plus he gets to work from home on Saturdays and Sundays.  Since we homeschool as well, this means unlike most families we get to eat a lot of breakfasts all together.

Wednesday mornings are extra special – because I don’t have to cook!  My husband takes care of breakfasts on Wednesdays and the menu always consists of eggs of some sort and…orange juice!

Generally I’m a fan of keeping the TV off when we’re around the table eating, but Wednesday mornings we actually turn it on.  It gets turned to the news channel where we take the time to watch current affairs and then use them as a teaching tool with our daughter to start out her school day.

We think it’s a great way to start off the day all together with a focus on learning and having good eats.  It’s something I’m going to miss when she goes off to college in a few years.

The Florida Department of Citrus recently partnered with parenting expert and author, Dr. Michele Borba and nutritionist and author, Elizabeth Ward, to offer simple and healthy morning solutions.  One of them is to turn off the media (oops!, but in our defense we do TALK about what’s on the news LOL!). 

Additionally, a nutritious breakfast has been associated with weight loss and weight maintenance, as well as improved nutrient intake,[1] so whether you sit down with your family around the breakfast table or if you have to grab something on the go – you’ll help each person get a good start to the day.

Looking for additional tips to make over your morning?  You can find tips like these on Florida Orange Juice’s Facebook Page

•  Lessons on Labels

Look for juices that specifically say “100% Juice” on the information panel instead of beverages with names such as “cocktail,” “beverage,” “drink” or “-ade.” Such juice concoctions often have added sugars and may not provide the natural variety and amount of nutrients found in 100 percent fruit juices such as orange juice.

•  Steer Clear of Added Sugar

Nearly half of the “added sugar” calories kids consume come from soda, energy beverages, sports drinks and sugar-sweetened fruit drinks, which may leave kids with fewer key nutrients for the calories consumed. Unlike these “added sugar” beverages, 100 percent orange juice is naturally tasty and packed with important vitamins and minerals for both kids and adults. An 8-ounce serving is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of potassium, folate, and thiamin.

•  Get the Biggest Nutritional Bang for Your Buck

When it comes to nutrition, 100 percent juices can be head and shoulders above alternatives like fruit drinks or soda. One serving of 100 percent orange juice is more nutrient dense, or nutrient rich, than many commonly consumed 100 percent fruit juices, and it is readily available in fortified versions that provide vitamin D and calcium—nutrients often missing from American diets. [2]

You’ll also want to visit FloridaJuice.com and check out their Recipe of the Week.

Do you have a special morning routine?  Tell me how your family begins the morning.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Florida Department of Citrus and received an OJ Gift Pack and a promotional item as a thank you for my participation.

[1] U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010.

[2] U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010.

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