As the popular saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” That’s not the case for apple juice, though, which may actually be harmful to your child’s health, according to a new report by The Associated Press.

As if recent concerns about the level of arsenic in apple juice weren’t enough to turn parents off the sweet stuff, the Associated Press points out that the juice is also low in nutrients, high in calories and contains large amounts of sugar, which can be harmful to your child’s teeth. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends offering water to your kids instead of juice for exactly these reasons. According to the Caring for Kids website, “Too much juice (especially apple juice) can cause toddler’s diarrhea, early childhood tooth decay or fill them up before their next meal.”

Trying to cut down on your family’s juice consumption? Consider these tips from Dr. Lili Nasseri, a family physician in Port Moody, B.C.

• Gradually add more and more water to each serving of juice.
• Decide with your child when he will have his juice (school lunch is a popular time), and serve water the rest of the time.
• Provide your child with a water bottle each morning and remind her to refill it regularly.
• Offer fruit instead of juice. “Two oranges will fill a child up and provide lots of fibre, while a glass of orange juice contains more calories than two oranges and can still leave a child unsatisfied.”

For more information on juice and juice alternatives, check out our story on the frightening facts about sugary drinks. You can also read the full Associated Press story here at CBC News.

Do your kids drink juice? Has recent news about apple juice changed your family’s juice-drinking habits?