Tips to Get Your Kids to Drink More Water

Like most kids, mine will always choose juice or milk given the chance. I've discovered a few tricks to cut back on the junk and get them to drink more water.

• Stop buying juice: This might seem harsh, but we don't keep juice or other sugary drinks in our house. If we have it, they want it (NONSTOP). Store bought juice is mostly sugar and unhealthy additives, so we make sure that it isn't an option at home. We do treat them with juice on occasion when we're out somewhere or at someone else's house, but not at home. That's half the battle.
• Hide the sweet stuff: We don't buy regular milk anymore, but we do buy unsweetened almond milk and vanilla almond milk on a regular  basis. Given the opportunity, my kids would choose vanilla almond milk first, then the unsweetened, and then water. Because of this I sometimes keep the vanilla almond milk in the fridge in our garage so they don't know we have any. We use that milk as a treat for them, and for when we make "banana ice cream" or other dessert type smoothies. 
• Fill their bellies with water first: To limit the amount a regular almond milk they drink, and to push water, I often restrict milk to mealtimes and don't offer it until they've finished the water I gave them. 
• Educate them: When they fuss about it, I explain to them how important it is for our bodies to drink enough water and how healthy it is for us. My five year old is very interested in science and how our bodies work. I talk to him about how our muscles and bones work together and how water is essential to keep him growing big and strong. 
• On the rocks: For some reason, ice makes water much more appealing to my kids. If I give them the choice between "water" or "ice water", they will always enthusiastically pick ice water. It's like I offered them mud or chocolate. ;) 
• Make it hip: All three of us drink from water bottles during the day that we refill. I have much greater success getting them to drink water if I put it in a fun cup or bottle - or if I add a straw. I also let them help me refill it when the time comes. My two year old loves the refilling part. Occasionally I will let them get a new bottle or cup if we find a good deal and they need a little motivation boost. They were super excited about these new bottles the other day and have been drinking water like champs all week. :)

It's so important to teach our kids good, healthy habits at a young age. Get them started early while they are still little sponges who soak everything up! :)


In other news:

The New York Times published a story yesterday about two recent studies where researchers reported a link between the food people eat, specifically red meat and eggs, and an increase in the risk of heart attacks. Check it out! I was excited to see this kind of news being discussed in mainstream media.