Home-Made Healthiest Summer Drinks For Your Kids
Summer vacations are just around the corner. Due to the intense heat, kids lose body fluids which can lead to dehydration. We parents are stressed thinking about the health of our children. There is nothing more important than hydration, especially for small children. As we know, kids are fussy eaters and they are generally not fond of drinking plain water so parents should prepare some healthy drinks to keep them hydrated. Here are some easy-to-make summer drinks. These drinks are refreshing for the kids to keep them cool when the temperature soars. Also, they are way better than market-bought drinks that are added chemicals and preservatives.
- Orange And Cream Smoothies
If you are an ice cream lover, you already know the combination of orange and vanilla. They make a perfect lip-smacking drink for all. The combination of sweet and citrusy and creamy flavor altogether makes it refreshing. Kids are very fond of this flavor.
- Lemonade
We may be surviving in a materialistic era where kids are attracted to fancy items. But lemonade has always been a favorite drink of all, and kids are no exception. This recipe is simple and can be made with lemons, sugar, salt, and water. That’s all you need to make this refreshing drink at home.
- Strawberry Milkshake
This shake is prepared with fresh strawberries, sugar, milk, and vanilla ice cream. When you use frozen strawberries, you can skip sugar, since these are already sweet.
- Watermelon Smoothies
Summer is the season of fruits. Watermelon is one of the most preferred summer fruits that kids love the most. You can make the best use of this fruit by making a smoothie, which is also very light and refreshing. Keep the watermelon in a freeze before preparing the smoothie for a cooling effect.
- Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
This smoothie is very easy to prepare as the ingredients are easily available in your kitchen pantry. The ingredients needed to prepare it are banana, peanut butter, and honey. This smoothie is thick and rich.
- Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
Fresh strawberries can make this drink sweeter so we can add frozen lemonade to make this drink perfect for the sweltering summer season. You can also splash up this smoothie with raspberries and blueberries. It is very delicious, and you can give it a try!
- Oreo Milkshake
No need to visit an ice cream parlor! You can prepare an Oreo milkshake at home as it is easy to make. It is a special dessert on a sunny day. Children love to eat cookies and cream, so they will love to drink it.
- Blue Berry Smoothie
This smoothie is a super hit for everyone who tries it. It is loaded with blueberries and yogurt which adds sweetness to the drink.
- Mango Julius Mocktail
You can try this with frozen mango juice and add a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream and your Mango Julius Mocktail is ready! It is very refreshing, indulgent, and appealing to everyone. Adults also like it very much. If you want an extra tropical taste then just throw a little pineapple juice into it. And the taste will be just superb!
- Buttermilk
Buttermilk is extremely beneficial in summer as it is made from yogurt. This drink acts as a probiotic. It helps the child with proper digestion. Buttermilk is a healthy potion in summer for kids.
- Coconut Water
Coconut water contains lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep our body hydrated. It keeps the children energetic and helps them in boosting their immunity. It is a great thirst quencher in summer for kids.
- Aam Panna
This drink is made with raw mangoes and is sweetened with the help of jaggery and sugarcane juice. This drink is rich in Vitamin C and iron. Your child will for sure like it.
- Cucumber Lemon Water
When it comes to hydration, cucumber lemon water is a twist full of fun. Just add a few slices of cucumber and lemon in a jar of water with a bit of mint in it. And your cool summer drink is ready! It will surely keep your child’s body and mind cool.
- Cherry Limeade
Cherry is available throughout the year. So, this drink is easy to make and children used to like it so much. For making this drink we need two oz of frozen cherries, a cup of fresh lemon juice, a cup of sugar and some plain water. And one amazing drink is ready to serve!
- Pineapple Juice For Children
Usually, pineapple juice is loaded with Vitamin C and dietary fiber which makes it a healthy drink for kids. It is best to offer this drink during summer as in summer your kid is constipated and this drink works as a miracle for constipation.
- Fresh Fruit Smoothies
Summer is a time for fresh fruits, and varieties of smoothies are always a summer treat for children. Mix all the seasonal fruits together like mango, pineapple, mosambi, and strawberry, and add some vanilla ice cream to it. And your fruit smoothie is ready to serve!
- Pomegranate Juice
It has become a popular drink. Children like to drink it if added with a scoop of ice cream.
- Papaya Juice
Papaya juice can be given to children as it reduces body heat. It is a healthy drink that helps regulate blood circulation and cleanses the body.
Water: The Best Drink Choice For Children
Everyone needs water to survive. Along with milk, plain water is the best drink for kids. Do you know, why?
Because it’s super healthy with zero calories and has no added sugar in it. It is essential to keep the children well-hydrated during summer as it helps in improving their moods, memory, and attention.
How Much Water Do Children Need In Their Day To Day Life
At the age of six months, babies are introduced to water. At this time, they need only four to eight ounces of water per day until they are one year of age because the rest of the liquids are coming from either breast milk or formula milk.
Children in the age group of one to three years, to stay hydrated needs approximately four cups of beverages including water or milk. This increases with their age. Children of four to eight years need around five cups to keep them well hydrated. This amount also varies with the need and should be adjusted depending on the activities performed by the kid and environmental conditions like humidity and heat.
But it has been seen that children do not like to intake plain water. So, if you delight kids with special water bottles or cups, they will enjoy drinking water.
Tips For Encouraging Your Child To Drink Water
To keep the child’s body healthy, water is needed. So, you should encourage your child to intake water in summer:
- Try to make drinking water fun for your children. You can use bendy, colored, and silly straws. You can also let the child select the cups and bottles of their own choice.
- Try to use those bottles that can be carried with ease anywhere.
- You can use lemon, orange slices, and leaves of mint in the water to make it refreshing.
- Give your child ice cubes of different shapes like alphabets, animals, etc. to make it fun.
- You yourself try to be a role model for your child. Children imitate a lot at this tender age. You try to intake plain water instead of drinks, and soda and they will follow you.
- Make an easy water station where your child can get water easily when they are thirsty.
- Show them different videos related to drinking water. You can also read out different stories to them like ‘A Thirsty Crow’, ‘Potter and Otter: A Tale about Water’.
Water, Water Everywhere – But Your Child Is Not Drinking! What Will Happen?
You may notice several side effects if your child is not drinking water properly during summer:
- Stubborn Headache
The time your child is dehydrated from not drinking the right quantity of water, you might notice dehydration headaches. It will range from mild head pain to full migraine.
- Fatigue, Lack Of Focus And Consideration, And Mood Swing
If your child is not drinking an adequate quantity of water then you may notice fatigue, poor concentration and frequent mood change among the child that may result in relationship and productivity.
- Poor Digestion
If your child is properly hydrated, the digestion power is increased. But if the child is dehydrated, then they are likely to suffer from sluggish, digestion and constipation.
- Dry Skin
Is your child suffering from dry skin? Does the skin not respond to moisturizing? Then for sure, your child is suffering from dehydration. It can be only tackled by giving your child enough water. What your child needs is a good balance of glucose, sodium, and electrolyte to hydrate them.
- Negative Mental Attitude
A dehydrated child behaves negatively. It is going to affect his relationship, so it is very important to keep the child hydrated.
- Urinary Tract Infection
Dehydration can increase the probability of urinary tract infection among children. That’s why children who suffer from UTI are encouraged to drink more fluids.
Conclusion:
Summer is here. Isn’t it? So, we should welcome those hot sunny days wholeheartedly. We must struggle in our own ways to cut this scorching heat. So, try new things to keep your child hydrated and make his vacation a fruitful one.
Disclaimer: This health blog’s content on healthy summer drinks is just meant to serve as general information. It does not serve as a substitute for expert medical guidance, diagnosis, or care. Before making any changes to your food or way of life, always consult your doctor or another certified health expert with any questions you may have regarding a medical problem.
