When it comes to our kids, we’re all trying to do the best we can. But sometimes, despite our good intentions and careful efforts, even the littlest choices can have pretty big consequences on our kids’ health. Sugar-sweetened beverages are the LARGEST SOURCE of sugar in kids’ diets.1 On average, school-age children consume 6 SODAS per week.2 (And we wonder why 1 in 3 kids are overweight or obese).3
So why not skip the sugar and bring out the Brita®? We worked with our health and parenting partners to create a list of tips and tricks that will help your kids get hooked on H2O.
How can I get my child to drink more water?
What if your child doesn’t like water? See how other parents got their kids to drink up.
Best and worst drinks for thirsty kids
Learn the scoop on your child’s beverage options. Which ones are healthy and which ones should you avoid?
Why love water?
Ever wonder why it’s important to stay hydrated?
Every system in your child’s body is dependent on water. After all, kids’ bodies are about 60% water.4
The kind of liquids kids drink are just as important as the foods they eat.
Sodas lack nutrients or vitamins. For every bottle of soda your kids consume, they’re drinking about 240 calories.
Tips for making water fun
Getting kids to drink water doesn’t have to be hard. Here are a few easy ways to keep them hydrated.
Keep It Handy
Have your kids carry a water bottle. And keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator so it’s cold, refreshing and easy to reach.
Don’t Run Out
If your child is playing, running, jumping and sweating, he or she needs even more water and other fluids.
Fill ‘Er Up
Drinking a glass of water before a meal can help your kids feel full and resist the urge to eat more than they need.
Eat Your Water
Remember the rule about eating more fruits and vegetables? Well, it’s partly because they’re actually good at replacing fluids. Fruits like grapes, watermelon, oranges or cantaloupe are full of water. So are veggies like lettuce, cucumbers and celery. Just be sure to keep the liquids flowing, too.
Lead by Example
Encourage parents and school staff to carry water bottles and track their own water consumption. Make it a competition, and the results will start pouring in.
1Guthrie JF, Morton JF. Food sources of added sweeteners in the diets of Americans. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100:43–51.
2Sturm R, Powell LM, Chriqui JF, Chaloupka FJ. Soda Taxes, Soft Drink Consumption and Children’s Body Mass Index. Health Affairs. 2010; 5:1052-1058
3Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. Journal of the American Medical Association 2014;311(8):806-814.
