Strawberry-Watermelon Water with Basil opens in a new tab
I’ve read that children need between five and eight cups of water each day — and children who are very active may need more. So wait…how much water exactly should my kids drink? It’s a bit confusing.
Here’s what I do. I have water accessible nearly everywhere my kids go, and I offer them water a lot. However, I don’t count every ounce of water my kids drink because I make sure that they are getting hydration from plenty of other sources too.
A Toast To Drinks Other than Plain Water
You can prevent taste bud boredom by simply flavoring water with lemon, lime, mint or a little 100% fruit juice. Freeze slices of citrus and then drop them right your drink. Or make infused water such as Strawberry-Watermelon Water with Basil opens in a new tab at home. Here are a few more ideas when your kids (or you) are craving something other than plain water.
Blueberry-Herb Lemonade Punch opens in a new tab
Fruits and Veggies
Nutrition isn’t the only reason I serve my kids hearty helpings of fruits and veggies. Lots of varieties have a very high water content making them good additional ways to hydrate. Snacks for my kids often include melon, strawberries, pineapple, orange slices, apples slices, cherries or grapes. (Cool tip: For older kids, freeze the grapes whole as a cool treat.)
Sadly my kids don’t yet like lettuce and cherry tomatoes at mealtime, but cucumber slices and broccoli are warmly received thankfully.
I’m also a big fan of 365 Everyday Value® Fruit & Veggie Bars. They are another delicious way to get some of the benefits of fruits and veggies — each refreshingly delicious frozen pop has the equivalent of 1/2 cup! Choose from Tropical Greens, Berry Rhubarb or Carrot Tangerine.
Sweet Treats
On hot days an icy dessert is just the thing for kids of all ages. Here are a few of my favorites.
Cherry Ice Pops opens in a new tab
Your turn! In addition to water, what do you serve your kids to keep them hydrated during warm active summer days?
