Kid Friendly Drinks

ANCHOR LEAD IN:
JUNK FOOD, SWEETS, FAST FOOD… ALL ARE GUILTY OF ADDING INCHES TO OUR CHILDRENS' WAISTLINE… AND RECENTLY…JUICES AND SODAS MADE THAT LIST TOO…LEAVING PARENTS WITH FEW DRINK OPTIONS FOR THEIR KIDS. BUT AS ______ EXPLAINS, THANKS TO A HOST OF NEW KID-FRIENDLY BEVERAGES….HELP IS ON THE WAY.

TRACK ONE Length: 06
LAURIE HECKMAN HAS ALWAYS TAUGHT HER SEVEN YEAR OLD SON JIMMY TO EAT HEALTHY … ONE STAPLE OF HIS DIET… FRUIT JUICE.

SOT
KEY @ : 09 ( SHORT) Laurie Heckman, Mother
"He was drinking a lot of juice, maybe four glasses a day."

TRACK TWO Length: 04
BUT NOW, JIMMY'S FRUIT JUICE DAYS ARE OVER EVER SINCE HIS MOM STARTED WATCHING HIS WEIGHT.

SOT
NO KEY
"I didn't realize how much sugar and carbs were in there at all."

TRACK THREE Length: 17
Source: CDC (CLIENTS: please see source info)
PEDIATRIC DIETICIAN LAURA JEFFERS SAYS MOST PARENTS DON'T REALIZE MANY DRINKS THAT SAY 100% JUICE DO HAVE HIGH AMOUNTS OF SUGAR, CALORIES AND CARBS. WITH AN ESTIMATED TWELVE AND A HALF MILLION OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN AMERICA… JEFFERS SAYS KIDS ARE SIPPING ON THE POUNDS.

SOT
KEY @ : 37 Laura Jeffers, RD, LD, Pediatric Nutritionist
"Parents think oh we'll just throw in a juice box or get the 100% fruit juice and that'll be the same as having a piece of fruit when ultimately, there's a lot of sugar in it and extra things added to the juice. Juice definitely can lead to obesity."

TRACK FOUR Length: 08
SO WHAT'S A KID TO DRINK?MANY AREN'T FANS OF MILK AND PLAIN WATER. NOW, A
SLEW OF NEW KID FRIENDLY DRINKS HAVE HIT THE MARKET.

SOT
KEY @ : 58 Laura Jeffers, RD, LD., Pediatric Nutritionist
"There are a lot of newer drink choices out that have no extra sugars
added that children can try and hopefully tend to like."

TRACK FIVE Length: 06
FOR INSTANCE NEWCOMERS WADDAJUICE AND WILD WATERS BOTH HAVE ABOUT HALF THE SUGAR OF SOME 100% JUICES.

SOT
KEY @ : 1:11 Laura Jeffers, RD, LD., Pediatric Nutritionist
"A lot of the lower calorie drinks are going to have you know say 5 or 10 calories per 8 ounces which is great. It's ultimately calorie free when you're comparing it to something like a little juice box that maybe up to 60 calories per 4 ounces."

TRACK SIX Length: 14
ANOTHER OPTION…AROMA WATER… IT'S JUST PURIFIED WATER BUT A SCENTED CAP GIVES THE ILLUSION OF FLAVOR. AND THERE'S FLAVORED WATER LIKE NESTLE'S PURE LIFE THAT HAS NO CALORIES AND USES A SUGAR SUBSTITUTE WHICH JEFFERS SAYS IS OKAY WITHIN LIMITS.

SOT
KEY @ : 1:37 Laura JefferS, RD, LD., Pediatric Nutritionist
"If they're having just a couple drinks a day, it isn't something to be concerned about."

TRACK SEVEN Length: 03
LAURIE AND JIMMY ARE HAPPILY DRINKING IN THE OPTIONS…

SOT
NO KEY
"They're coming out with more flavors, more varieties. I think it's helped a lot."

ANCHOR TAG:
JEFFERS SAYS IF YOU'RE GOING TO STICK WITH JUICE, IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA TO DILUTE IT WITH WATER SO YOUR KIDS GET LESS SUGAR, CALORIES AND CARBS. A LOT OF THESE NEW DRINKS ARE BEING ROLLED OUT IN GROCERY STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY… IF THEY'RE NOT IN YOUR STORE… YOU CAN ALSO FIND THEM ONLINE.

SOURCE INFORMATION
FOR CLIENT-STATION USE ONLY
The information provided below is for client-station use only. It is provided to help you obtain answers to any additional questions you may have and to help you localize a story. This private contact information, including phone numbers, addresses and email addresses, cannot be given to viewers nor posted on your Website. It is for internal station use only. Any exceptions to this will be clearly noted. Thank you.

Laura Jeffers, RD, LD
Cleveland Clinic
950 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44195
PR Contact:
Natalie Guzo
216-444-5703

Laura Jeffers is a Registered Dietitian who works mainly with children. She says all the juices children are drinking are contributing to the obesity crisis we're seeing in the United States. She says these new products are healthy alternatives geared for children if parents are trying to cut fruit juices out.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR TRACK THREE
An estimated 12.5 million children ages 2-19 are considered overweight. These numbers for 2006 are based on the 2003-2004
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which is conducted by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics and were published in the April 5, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.