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 isnt tons for adults either. Im reduced to drinking wine or gin in a bid to avoid sweetners and juice (I dont like fruit juice)

Or I have tea or coffee

Blame people who have a downer on sugar but also those who think that sugar needs to be added to everything. in my view theres no need to swap sugar for sweetners, just take out the majority of the sugar and leave it.

Ok so what healthy drink are you hoping to see that you cant make yourself? Ie squeeze your own orange juice,not totally healthy but what else is there?

It is all well and good saying you cant find them but what do you want to find then

What is wrong with water? It's the only drink children should regularly have when thirsty.
Milk is healthy to have daily too, unsweetened and unflavoured. Warm milk with plain cocao is nice in Winter. Or a very weak cup of warm tea with milk and Maple Syrup when old enough to sip with Granny and Grandpa.

For the special celebration offer a cordial or watered down juice? The odd milk shake or flavoured milk?
Three or four fizzy soft drinks per year is not going to rot the kids' teeth. Tasting coconut milk and almond or oat juice sometimes would not harm them either.

It is common sense to not introduce sweet drinks so that children do not develop a taste for sugar. Water is best.. Sometimes drinking in a colourful cup and through a straw makes it celebratory.

I do agree with you in parts but have you read the ingredients in oat, almond, soy 'milks' etc., unless you mean making your own

If under seven we just asked for a cordial if a special occasion or water. Over seven cordial or water or if they were at a party fizzy drink. At home milk, water or cordial. Now as teens we have to constantly nag over no fizzy drinks and yes remind them that water is really the main option as it should be!

Why are you only considering kids drinks! You can order any drink you want for them. I've never considered food or drink to be either kid or adult, it's for anybody who wants them. I bet your the type of person who buys only kid packaged food for your kids in the supermarket as well . Food and drink is for everyone regardless of what it says on the packet

I dont think its a chil drink issue. I dont drink alcohol and I dont like sweeteners much so drinks out are limited.

I do like herbal teas which some places do. One of my children liked herbal tea too.

It’s mostly water in my house. And on the table when we eat out. Most things are unhealthy so it’s easier.

Loads of places sell those cartons of Innocent 'Juicy Water' or the cans of 'Juicy water with bubbles'. My younger child usually has these when out. Or I buy a juice and mix with fizzy water- which is what I often drink too.

I have no problem giving my kids a fruit shoot or smoothie in restaurants (What's more frustrating is the choice of meals..beige crap)

No there really aren't lots of options for adults who don't have sugar or artificial sweetners. Which is why I drink soda water or coffee when I'm out.

they can't magically create something that has no naturally occurring sugar or sweetners.