HEALTHY WATER ALTERNATIVES

FUN WAYS TO DITCH THE SODA

 
It’s Summertime – yay! With all the fun outdoor activities in the sunshine and heat, it’s more important than any other time of year to stay hydrated. Water is the obvious choice, but some kids don’t really like plain ol’ water. Rather than reaching for the soda, jazz up your kiddo’s water with fruit! Here are a couple of healthy water alternatives that are teeth-friendly.

Juice + Seltzer = Jeltzer!

Mix 100% juice with seltzer. A thick, tart juice, such as cranberry, pomegranate, or grape, makes for a great jeltzer base in addition to supplying health benefits. Studies have shown that cranberry juice might protect against urinary tract infections and kidney stones; pomegranate juice is a great source of vitamins C and B; and grape juice has antioxidants that may help protect your brain and blood vessels. Mix one part juice with three parts seltzer to create this light and bubbly concoction.

Fruit it up!

Infuse water with flavors of fruit. Add slices of your favorite fruits; lemons, oranges, watermelon, berries, grapefruit, or limes, to a pitcher of ice-cold water for a refreshing and flavorful drink. You can actually add any type of fruit you like; it’s fun to experiment. Get your kids involved – they’ll love choosing their favorite fruit and even fun fruit combinations, then doing a taste test.

Fruity ice cubes!
Another fruity idea is to put chopped-up fruit in an ice cube tray, add water, and freeze. Place these colorful fruit cubes in your jeltzer or a tall glass of water for instant flavor and color!