Rethink Your Child’s Drinks

Ah, summer! Ice cold lemonade, refreshing juice, and other icy sweet drinks come to mind. While these tasty beverages can really hit the spot on warm days, they’re also filled with lots of sugar and yes, empty calories.

Shannon Whaley, Director of Research and Evaluation at the Public Health Foundation Women Infants and Children program, recently reported that "Twenty-nine percent of children 0-2 are drinking soda on a typical day. So that's really where we need to start."

There’s a much better way for our little ones to get their thirsts quenched, and that’s by choosing water first. This is especially important for young children who are still developing dietary tastes and habits. It's a simple choice that can profoundly impact their overall health. After all, drink choices can significantly affect dental/oral development and appropriate weight gain.

So help your young child choose – and enjoy – water first instead of sugary drinks. And at mealtimes, include milk for added calcium. These simple actions are some of the most important steps you and family can take toward good health both now and in the future.

And, just in case you were wondering about how many calories or how much sugar is in that drink…