Lack of healthy options for kids drinks?

[Eseedeepee]

Anyone else genuinely fed up with how unhealthy kids drink options are? Obviously they drink water most of the time, I’m thinking more the options when you’re out - cafes, restaurants, kids parties, a nice alternative for them etc.

I’ve got young kids and I feel like I’m constantly choosing between options I’m not really happy with:

• squash / cordials full of sweeteners
• kids drinks full of sweeteners
• juice that’s loaded with sugar

What really frustrates me is that adults now have endless healthier choices - kombucha, sparking waters, functional and clean drinks etc.
…but for kids it still feels like the choices are basically stuck at sugary juice or brightly coloured squash.

I don’t want loads of sugar, but I also don’t particularly want them drinking artificial sweeteners all the time either.

So I end up doing watered-down juice a lot, which feels like a compromise rather than a proper solution.

Surely I can’t be the only one who feels like there’s a huge middle ground missing here?

Do other people feel the same, or am I massively overthinking this?

What do you actually give your kids to drink?

There’s nothing wrong with the occasional glass of juice. 🤷🏻‍♀️ We eat out about 4 times a year. They have an appletizer which is not going to kill anyone.

Just get the healthier adult option like sparkling water and give it to the child?

Water at home, soda drinks for the occasional celebration. A fizzy drink occasionally won’t harm, and banning it entirely can just make them want it more. I sometimes buy Dash drinks, and Appletiser seems innocuous.

If they drink mostly water at home and school I don’t have a problem with an occasional fruit juice or squash

I honestly don't understand your issue fizzy water kids can have kamucha is an acquired taste and not every adult have it, just water down juice or give them water when they are out.

What’s wrong with water or juice?

Weird thread. Kids can have almost anything adults can unless it’s too much caffeine or alcohol of course. My kids mostly drink sparkling water - my son likes it with a splash of lemon juice. We have a soda stream so it’s always available. I prefer regular water to anything else you’ve listed.

Water, milk or fruit juice is what my kids have. I'd rather they have fruit juice than artificial squash

I have two little ones and they drink water 95% of the time, so I don't an occasional juice or babychino is going to hurt them if we're out. I don't think they particularly need a fancier drink. Both mine do like a lukewarm peppermint tea though, so you could try that if you really want them to have something different.

Rooibos, camomile tea, lavender tea, decaf tea, fruit teas. Yorkshire tea (with caffeine) occasionally from around 5 - I drank it from younger and my son is now a teen and it’s done him no harm Decaf coffee. Caffeinated milky coffee occasionally. I am not fussed about caffeine as long as it’s early in the morning on a weekend but it doesn’t affect my children negatively. Watered down fruit juice. Milk. Water, kefir. Kombucha is also an option if it’s early in the day.

As they get older I find a hot drink means they have to sit and chat to you for a while. Also it is associated with relaxation (in my house). A warm camomile in a favourite mug before bed and a book helps my teenager relax. He has told me it’s one of his favourite times of the day. It’s a small treat, inexpensive and can be done daily with or without company. Something to look forward to after playing a cold match outdoors or after a stressful day. He will chat to me for 20 mins while drinking it some evenings. If he is sad or upset or angry I ask if he’d like a cup of tea. It’s never refused! It always helps.

The fermentations means kombucha is very slightly alcoholic. That’s why it can’t be given to kids.

Why do you think they can't have sparkling drinks?

When I was that age I had orangina, appletiser or fruit juice. Occasionally one of those organic cokes, or Fentimans flavoured lemonades.

All of those drinks you mentioned as being healthy for adults are also suitable for children.

Just give them water. Nothing's nicer than iced water!

Cawston press do some nice children’s drinks, basically juice mixed with water in cartons
i like their fizzy apple and I also drink half orange juice, half water with loads of ice

The occasional drink of fizzy pop or juice is not going to harm them if 90% of the time they are having water or milk.

Fruit juice is not "loaded with sugar" 🙄
It's just pure juice from fruit. Yes, the juicing process breaks down the sugar meaning it's not as good for teeth and your body absorbs it quicker but it's not as if anyone is pouring extra sugar into an otherwise "clean, functional drink" (whatever that is!)

I'm genuinely not sure what sort of drink you're hoping to find other than a carton of already diluted juice which does exist and costs more than diluting it yourself.

water
milk
Water with ice cubes and slices of lemon or lime or strawberries

No one is forcing you to buy from the kids section. Just order the drink you want for them. It's not hard 🙄

Water or milk

I totally agree with you OP. The hot drink situation is just as bad. Adults have a tea or coffee which can be sugar and fat free depending on the milk/sugar/flavoured syrups etc. The equivalent for kids once they’ve grown out of babycinnos is hot chocolate which is incredibly sugary.

I mean I think that's enough choices tbh? My dc drink water and milk most of the time. They also like hot chocolate and milkshake but this is about 95% milk the way I make it. Cordial is fine sometimes as is juice which can be watered down. Get a grip.

Kids can also drink herbal tea. Honestly curious what drinks you think are only available to adults? Or what’s missing with the options available?

Water or milk.

Sometimes juice at the weekend or out and about or on special occasions.

Sometimes homemade smoothies at breakfast. I add milk and Greek yoghurt for added protein plus banana, strawberry or any fruit we have.

I genuinely have no idea what you're talking about? How often are you eating out that the occasional juice or glass of pop is going to have any impact on them?