Does your child seem constantly tired, listless and low on energy? Vegetable juices go a long way in building your child's health and increasing energy levels.

Younger children are constantly running around all day, and never seem to have a tired bone in their body. But the minute adolescence sets in, the same children want to just lounge around in their bedroom, chatting on the phone with friends, watching television or sleeping.

Vegetable juices are a surefire way to ensure your child gets a rapid energy boost. Vegetables are packed with anti oxidants and nutrients, are unprocessed, and are great for your health. Unfortunately not many children willingly eat vegetables, and are more likely to push them off their plate than they are to put them in their stomach! So, vegetable juices can be a great alternative. Making tasty vegetable juice can be a little tricky though.

The minute you hear 'vegetable juice', most people immediately think of carrot. But, think again. Although carrot definitely has its benefits, carrots also have a lot of sugar, and so drinking a glass of carrot juice everyday for a prolonged period of time may raise your insulin levels. However, carrot juice may be a great chioce for a slim, active child, but again, make sure you alternate carrot juice with other vegetable juices. Too much of a good thing almost always turns out to be a bad thing!

Most other vegetable juices are far lower on sugar than fruit juices, which is why fruit juices are tastier. A glass of fruit juice can make insulin levels shoot up, while vegetable juices don't have the same effect. However, a glass of fruit juice provides more of an instant energy boost than a glass of vegetable juice does. Here are some tips on juicing vegetables:

1. Vegetable juice is quickly perishable, so it makes sense to drink it      immediately after juicing the vegetables.

2. Do not give your child the same vegetable juice every day for a prolonged period. It is best to rotate vegetables, to insure your child is getting a balanced diet.

3. Although you can throw away the pulp if you like, it would be better if      you just mixed the pulp in your juice and swallowed it. Pulp provides      your body with much needed fibre and roughage.

4. Bear in mind that vegetable juices have virtually no fat and no protein,      so you will need to ensure that your child gets his protein from other      sources.

Here are some recipes:

1 apple
1/2 beet
4-5 carrots
Your child is guaranteed to love this juice. Give it to him once a week. Add a handful of cucumber to a glass of carrot juice for added benefit.

5 carrots
5 leaves of lettuce
5 leaves of spinach

Blend the above and give to your child once a week.

The number of combinations you can come up with is endless. Keep experimenting on a daily basis. In this manner you will be constantly trying out something new and will also ensure that your children are getting a well-rounded doze of vegetables. Make sure you keep track of the vegetables you are throwing in so if you ever stumble upon something truly amazing, you will be able to make it again!