Several months ago we talked about some healthy snacks you can serve at your kid’s party (if you don’t remember it, you can find the blog post HERE). However, we now feel that it’s time to talk about the other side of the sugar rush: Drinks that are high in sugar.
So, what can we really do about our kids’ hydration? How can we keep their sugar intake in check?
Let’s presume that your kids are already getting a regular intake of veggies, fruit, and fibre (if you’re dealing with picky eaters, you can find some nifty ideas on how to get them to eat veggies right HERE). In that case, your only goal is getting them to drink enough water and making sure they have their share of calcium.
Which brings us to 2 basics we should stick to, water and milk. And if you manage to add a vitamin here and there, you can consider yourself a parenting superhero. Of course, we took some time to help you claim that title.
Substituting juice to water
There are two reasons kids prefer juice to water, and those are colour and taste. The unfortunate thing is that those two are mostly coming from large amounts of sugar and artificial colouring.
Luckily, nature has already taken care of both colourful display and sugar levels. For example, by blending watermelon chunks with a bit of lime juice, you can make a delicious punch which is both colourful, sweet, and hydrating.
You can also give a traditional lemonade a twist by adding honey instead of sugar. It might take your kids a while to get used to the taste. In that case, you can start by mixing smaller amounts of both sugar and honey and then gradually taking away the sugar.
Then there are kids who love soda. If yours happens to be one of them, you’ll have to take your game to a different level. Be patient, as stirring away from soda drinks can require a lot more persistence and time. A trick up your sleeve can be preparing their favourite fruit tea and diluting it with cold water once it cools down. It’s a healthier alternative which is still sparkling and has a recognisable taste.
Keeping their calcium levels high
Even though most parents haven’t experienced having a child who doesn’t like drinking milk, those who have know how hard a struggle it can be. On the other hand, you also have kids who are head over heels with flavoured milk and milkshakes, and these alternatives can help with both.
Healthy drinks for kids which include milk are pretty much just long lost basics which were there before all the commercial variations we have today appeared. For example, instead of chocolate milk, you can serve your kid a blend of a cup of warm milk with 1-2 tbsp of cocoa powder. A thicker version which can be a substitute to chocolate milkshake includes 1/4 avocado which makes it creamier and more rich in taste.
Also, blends with smaller amounts of fruit like bananas or strawberries can be great go-to drinks throughout the day. They are not only delicious but also colourful and refreshing, which makes them a great choice for both everyday use and smaller birthday parties.