Value for Money

Conor Pope reviews school drinks

Dawn Smooth'n'Juicy 3pk (600ml) €1.55, €2.58 per litre

Highs: This is an Irish-made orange juice drink made with just 10 per cent juice, though it still has 67 per cent of the RDA of vitamin C. The skimmed yoghurt lends it a smoothiness which is surprisingly pleasant. The packet boasts it has been "packed for freshness".

Lows: Lord only knows what "packed for freshness" means, mind you. Also, there are five days in a school week, so why do these only come in a three-pack, which will last a single child until Wednesday? (To be fair, not one of the drinks surveyed comes in a five-pack.) More seriously, the ingredient list contains preservatives and colours.

Verdict: Smooth but no so juicy.

Capri-Sun Orange Juice Drink 4-pk (800ml) €1.80, €2.25 per litre

Highs: This comes in a handy squeezy pouch which will fit into the smallest of lunch boxes. It is the cheapest of the lot and the squeezy pouch can turn it into an impromptu schoolyard water pistol. It is very sweet tasting - although there is no information on percentage of sugar on the list of ingredients.

Lows: There is also no information on how much vitamin C the juice contains, which seems like an odd oversight, unless of course the answer is not very much at all. It is very, very watery and while the packaging promises it is made with "natural juice", it clearly hasn't been made with very much of it.

Verdict: Cheap but watery.

Ribena Toothkind 4-pk (1.32 litre) €3.39, €2.57 per litre

Highs: This is keenly priced and seems healthier than most of the other options tried. It is refreshing and filled with flavour, has no added sugar and just 10 calories per bottle - the others are in excess of 40. It comes in generous 330ml bottles, and unlike the others, once opened it can be easily resealed.

Lows: A bottle provides just 28 per cent of the RDA of vitamin C, probably because there is just six per cent blackcurrants in the mix. While it has no added sugar, it does have the artificial sweetener aspartame, which will not to be to all tastes. Also, the bottle takes up a lot more room than the little boxes.

Verdict: A healthy and nice tasting option.

Sqeez Orange Juice 3-pk (600ml) €1.70, €2.83 per litre

Highs: The first thing to note about this is that with its added calcium, a 200ml serving offers 38 per cent of daily recommended calcium allowance or more than a similarly sized glass of whole fat milk. It also provides some vitamin D. It has a minimalist ingredient list with nothing but orange juice (from concentrate) calcium and vitamin D listed.

Lows: While it should be commended for the added calcium and the vitamin D, the absence of a mention of Vitamin C in the nutrition information is surprising. There's no word of it at all on the packaging. When poured into a glass the juice doesn't look very orangey.

Verdict: Squeezes in extra calcium.

Innocent Pure Fruit Smoothie 4-pk (720ml) €4.99, €6.93 per litre

Highs: This tastes great and is very good for you - a single carton amounts to a full portion of fruit. The ingredient list - 1½ pressed apples, nine grapes, six blackcurrants and a quarter of a mashed banana - is impressively pure. There is no added sugar, sweetners or colours. It can also be turned into an excellent ice-pop by following the simple instructions on the carton, and kids will love the carton, all cartoons and games and friendliness.

Lows: All this goodness and fun comes at a cost - and a fairly severe one at that. At more than double the price of the others, this lunchtime option will not be for every budget.

Verdict: Great for you and great tasting.