Is squash such a bad thing?

[GarnishWithALemonTwist]

I am not a fan of it myself but I do give it to my children so that they stay hydrated as they won't drink plain tap water. Am I creating some terrible habits or health issues?

Lol I thought you meant butternut-type things at first, and wondered how they'd be bad!

Depends on the type of squash I guess and how much it's diluted. We don't tend to buy the sugar-free ones because they're stuffed full of artificial sweeteners - I'd rather they had the sugary ones well diluted because they're more natural. Tbh though ds1 mostly has fresh fruit juice (diluted, under dentist's advice).

LOL I also clicked on this thinking of butternut or pumpkin and all prepared to share some soup recipes

I do the same as COCK, don't buy squash - just very (ie 50:50 or less) diluted fresh orange or apple juice with meals. TBH I find they'll take water if it's iced with a slice of lemon, and straws to drink through or something.

But I think there are much worse things you could do than let them have squash :)

We have the high fruit content squash very diluted rather than the artificially sweetened ones at home. They love straws too.

When we're out I get the water bottles with sports caps (but you have to hunt for good ones - like sainsbury's kids ones) and they seem happy with water all of a sudden. wash and refill with tap water numerous times!

Hmmm, yes... I feel I need to wean my DC off the stuff...

We have sugar-free squash at home. As we'd typically get through 1 or 2 glasses a day each, and since the rest of our diet largely falls into the 'home-made' and 'plenty of veggies' bracket, I really can't get too aerated about a bit of artificial sweetner. DS (10) is in rude health, seems not to get all the viruses doing the rounds at school and has a cracking set of teeth!

I don't think it's great for them only to be drinking that. It takes time, but is owrth having DC who can stomach plain old water. If only because it makes life easier.

But no, I can't see what's that awful about it.

Squash, like most things, is absolutely fine in moderation. Well diluted, not the sugar free version.

Iced water with straws also goes down well here.

The very worst thing, IMO, are the crashing smug bores who preen that their DC only drink water. They normally do it whilst watching my DC drinking juice or squash. I don't invite them again.

I'd wait for a spell of really hot weather, then iced water could seem attractive!