For Kids, Drinking More Water Means Fewer Sugary Drinks

Parents want what is best for their children. From clothes to school, friends to sports - our kids deserve to have everything they need to support them in finding success throughout their lives.

Health is a key component to that success. With childhood obesity now a huge problem in America, we’ve found that the earlier good health habits can be developed, the better.

Replacing Sugary Drinks with Water Helps Get Kids Off Sugar

Beverages account for almost half (47%) of all added sugars consumed by the U.S. population, according to American Dietary Guidelines. Therefore, one of the best ways to support a healthy lifestyle for kids is to encourage swapping out soda for water instead.

According to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics, kids who don’t drink water consume around 100 more calories per day from drinks like soda or juice than kids who drank even just some water throughout their day. What makes this even more surprising is that about 1 in 5 kids in the U.S. don’t drink any water at all in a day.

With the findings of this study, researchers recommend that parents choose water as their first option over soda, sports drinks, juice, and other sugary beverages when kids are thirsty. With the coming of warm summer months, this is especially vital to decrease sugar intake when quenching thirst.

Changing this habit is also important in paving the way for better hydration throughout a child’s life and into adulthood. We are always encouraging customers to drink more water because of the numerous health benefits, and these same benefits apply to children.

How to Get Kids to Drink More Water

• Replace sugary drinks with naturally-sweetened water.
  Do your kids love soda? Swap out that can for water with True Lemonade. If they love the fizz, use unsweetened soda water with a True Citrus drink mix instead. Remember, diet soda is not a healthy alternative to full-calorie soda.
• Dilute juices with water. 
  If your kids love orange or apple juice, start cutting their daily glass with a little bit of water. Increase the water amount more and more each week so that they can gradually get acclimated to the taste.
• Make water fun!
  Have your kids help you make fruit infused water with fresh ingredients. It’s a fun activity that will encourage them to drink water sweetened with natural fruit rather than soda or sports drinks.

The Takeaway 

It is important to remember that your habits reflect on your children’s choices. If you choose to reach for a fruit infused water over a soda, or you decide to no longer buy juice and instead drink water with True Lemon, your kids will follow suit.

Deciding to quit sugar, especially sugar in beverages, will go a long way in your personal health and the health of your children.

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[Credit: Rapaport, Lisa. “Drinking water might help kids limit soda.” Reuters.]
[Credit: Mozes, Alan. “Many U.S. Kids Don't Drink Enough Water, and Obesity May Be the Result.” US News & World Report.]