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Years ago, soda was considered a treat, a beverage that you enjoyed when you went out for dinner or while attending a special event. Today, over 50% of Americans over the age of 2 are drinking this sweet, bubbly drink daily. Matter of fact, soda is a large source of sugar in most people’s diets and the average consumption is about 1.6 cans per day. This increase in sugar intake is creating many health issues like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease at a younger age. Also, teenagers who drink more soda than other beverages have more mental health difficulties, including hyperactivity and mental distress, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Public Health.

What can we do? How can we help our children drink more water so they may avoid these unwanted conditions and diseases later on in life? Here are five tips that may help:

• Be particular with what beverages you serve. If you do offer your kids something sweet like a fruit juice, then you may want to dilute this beverage with water. This will decrease their sugar intake dramatically. Please note that it is never too late to start this adjustment.

• Lead by example. How can you tell your kids that soda is a treat when they see you drinking it all of the time? If you want your children to select drinks that are good for them, then it is important that you share the same healthy habits. Let them see you drink a glass of water vs. a diet soda or other sugary beverage. A great way to get your kids to drink more H20 is to have them start their day with a glass of water and then have an additional glass before each meal.

• Everything in moderation. There is nothing wrong with enjoying soda as a treat once in awhile. Nowadays, there are many companies that make natural alternatives that are sweetened with fruit juice and are free of dyes and other harmful chemicals. For most kids, it is not the sugar that they enjoy, but the texture and flavor that soda provides when eating certain foods. For example, you will find that adding 100% fruit juice or our Berry Essential Spa Water Drops to sparkling water makes a fantastic soda alternative.

• Add fruit to water. Now this is a simple and delicious way to quench your kids thirst – NATURALLY. Adding fruit to water infuses essential vitamins, minerals and flavor from whole food sources, plus will help them increase their water intake which provides so many health benefits. When you go food shopping, bring your kids along and introduce them to the produce department. This is an excellent opportunity to talk about key nutrients like Vitamin C and how it helps them maintain healthy teeth and skin, plus gives their immune system a boost. Need some tasty recipes? Our Spa Water Book provides a wonderful selection of fruit infused waters for you and your family to enjoy year round.

• Prepare beverages together. If you are going to make infused water for your kids, then have them help you with the preparation. Make it fun! Kids love to learn! At a young age, begin to teach your kids about the importance of providing their bodies with proper nutrition. You will find that this practice also encourages your kids to try new foods. This summer, help them stay on track with their water consumption via our Spa Water Bottle. This convenient, sturdy thermos will keep your beverages super cool and is a terrific way for the whole family to enjoy their infused water on-the-go!

When it comes to beverages, you want to inspire your kids to select items that are good for them. Establish these healthy habits now so they may last a lifetime. Children who make water their main beverage experience:

• Less oral health issues
• Better digestion and elimination
• Improved focus and concentration (Better test scores)
• Less skin conditions (Acne)
• Better sleep patterns

How much water should our kids drink? This Water Guideline from Freshly Squeezed Water.org provides a helpful overview:

• From 2 – 12 months of age – one ounce for every month of age.
• From 1 – 19 years of age – one glass of water per year of age up to age 5, then add a half a glass for
every year above age 6.

Remember that healthy hydration rituals begin at home. Equipping our kids with the right information and continuously guiding them as they progress in age will help them follow a lifestyle that maintains their overall health and balance. So don’t delay… Start today!

Here is a delicious recipe from MySpaWater.com that you may prepare with your kids this summer:

Rainbow Spa Water

Ingredients:

• Fresh or frozen organic peaches – sliced
• 1 pint of organic strawberries – sliced
• 1 pint of organic blueberries
• Fresh or frozen organic green and purple grapes
• Fresh or frozen organic cantaloupe balls
• 1 -2 gallons of cold water
• Ice

Instructions:

Alternate layering ice with fruit in a large pitcher or beverage server (you may even layer the fruit like the colors of the rainbow- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple). Fill your beverage server daily with this recipe and keep it on a counter/table that is easily accessible. You will be amazed by how quickly your kids will drink-up this delicious and nutritious beverage. It is also perfect to serve at parties!

Spa Water Note: Adding fruit to water is another way to get your kids to increase their daily consumption of fresh produce – effortlessly. Just remember to properly cleanse your fruit before adding to a pitcher or beverage server.

Health Note: Most frozen fruits are picked when they are ripe and then frozen through special techniques that preserve their nutritional value. You will find that they maintain the same amount (sometimes more) of vitamins and minerals that are found in fresh fruit.