Summer Sips
Sesame Street in Communities
Drinks such as soda and juice with added sugar are unhealthy for young children. They can also cause weight gain, obesity, and cavities. In the early years, it can lead to unhealthy cravings as kids grow. Quick changes in blood sugar can also cause mood changes. The good news is, that it can be fun and easy to get kids to drink more water.
Sesame Street in Communities' Eating Well Initiative has compiled resources to support you in helping children develop healthy relationships with food, plus strategies for planning and making easy, healthy, budget-friendly meals and snacks. Sesame Street in Communities recently released the storybook Summer Sips as part of the Eating Well Initiative. This storybook includes creative tips and recipes for healthy drinks for children.
To get the full storybook, check out Summer Sips.
Share the storybook with children, then try one of the recipes for “fruity water” or invite kids to get creative and invent their own.
Sesame Street also encourages you to keep in mind:
- Unsweetened, frozen or canned fruit is as nutritious as fresh.
- Preschoolers need extra water to drink when they are physically active or when it is hot outside.
- Drinking water between meals and snacks helps oral health because it helps rinse food from children’s teeth.
- Provide water breaks before and during active play.
- Let your child see you drinking water.
- Keep children’s cups within reach by the sink so older kids can help themselves.
- To ensure safety, make sure to cut fruit into bite-size pieces (children can eat them from the bottom of their cup with a spoon). Mash up smaller fruits such as blueberries and blackberries (or chop into pea-size pieces).