21 Healthy Drinks For Kids Besides Water
Jump To Specific Health Drink For Kids:
A kid’s diet should contain all essential nutrients as he is physically active throughout the day. As the amount of energy spent by him is more than an adult, the replenishment needs to be carefully planned. MomJunction brings a list of nutritional drinks for children that would help conserve energy and rejuvenate them.
What Are Healthy Drinks For Kids?
Any drink that is beneficial to the body, in terms of mineral and nutrient fulfillment, is a healthy drink. There are a plethora of drinks, both from natural and artificial ingredients, which are good for the body.
As the body structure of kids differs from that of adults, the health requirements also differ. Therefore, the quantity and the kind of drinks they consume are different from adults’
health drinks (1).
While water is one of the most healthful drinks, as it keeps the body hydrated, it does not contain enough minerals and nutrients required by the body. These mineral and nutrient requirements should be obtained from other sources.
This chart shows the calories and sugar in different beverages:
Which Drinks Are Healthy For Kids?
Milk is the healthiest drink for children unless they are lactose intolerant. In such cases, lactose-free milk or calcium-fortified soy drinks can be given. Milk provides the daily need of calcium. It strengthens bones and improves muscle functioning.
The amount of calcium a child needs a day is:
Nutritional drinks also fall in this category. They are one of the best health drinks for children and are safe to consume. As they come in several flavors and taste delicious, kids usually like to have them.
However, do make a note of the ingredients before selecting a drink, as it should suit the body type and nutrition requirements of your kid.
Fresh fruit and vegetable juices also fall under the category of kids’ health drinks. But ensure that your child is not allergic to a particular fruit or vegetable.
How To Make A Healthy Drink For Kids
Health drinks require milk or water to be at a certain temperature and come with pre-added sugars, which are not in excessive amounts.
Milk and fruit or vegetable-based drinks such as milkshakes, juices, or smoothies, which can be made at home, are a healthy alternative to soda and soft drinks (which are harmful to kids).
They can be made with a blend of various ingredients and given different tastes such as tangy, sweet, little spicy, etc. These are a hit with kids, who want a break from mundane milk.
Nutritional Drinks For Kids:
Nutritional drinks are a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. They are especially good for kids who may have eating disorders or are underweight. While having them with milk or water is good, they should not be made a permanent substitute of food. Formula nutritional drinks should be avoided for kids and could be given to older teenagers.
Nutritional drinks are of three kinds:
1. Formula:
These are disorder specific, which means they may be given to kids with acute appetite or food disorders or to cancer patients. As far as possible do not include these in everyday diet unless the doctor insists.
2. Shakes:
These nutritional drinks such as Protinex or Nutrilite can be used every day as they are a staple supplement of proteins and essential nutrients. One glass a day with milk or water helps in meeting the daily requirements of nutrients for your kid.
3. Electrolytes:
Electrolytes contain ions which are important for the transmission of nerve impulses in the body. They help in maintaining muscle contractions for easy movement. There are seven main electrolytes in the human body:
One need not have to worry about electrolyte balance in the body, as regular meals help maintain that but they could sometimes be required for kids. Children get dehydrated faster than adults due to physical activity and sweating. Sweat results in the loss of electrolytes from the body and could result in a dizzy feeling.
Electrolyte drinks are useful when your child is suffering from diarrhea or loose motions, which result in severe loss of ions from the body. ORS (oral rehydration solutions) or electrolyte water helps in balancing out the lost ions by replenishing them in the body.
There are several electrolytes available in the market but consuming a mix of common salt (or table salt) with sugar in water is the best. Avoid manufactured electrolytes as they could dump excessive ions in the body causing problems like hypernatremia (a high amount of sodium in the blood), hyperkalemia (a high amount of potassium in the blood), etc.
Branded Nutritional Drinks:
Here are a few popular branded health drinks to buy for your kids.
1. Protinex High Protein Nutritional Supplement
Protinex is the ideal protein supplement scientifically formulated with the power of hydrolyzed proteins (proteins broken down into components like amino acids). It provides complete nutrition and strength and is fortified with the right amount of carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, iron, folic acid (which prevents low blood levels in the body), calcium, and zero trans fats. Protinex is also easy to digest and is rapidly absorbed by the body due to the power of hydrolyzed proteins. This has a high-calorie content which makes it ideal for kids who are underweight.
Nutritional Values:
Composition per estimated portion (30g)
Ingredients:
Peanut protein hydrolysate, sugar, malt extract, minerals (tribasic calcium phosphate, ferrous gluconate), choline bitartrate, vitamins (ascorbic acid, niacinamide, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, phytomenadione, retinyl palmitate, thiamine mononitrate, ergocalciferol, riboflavin, pantothenol, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, cyanocobalamine, D-biotin), permitted natural colour, and added flavour and artificial chocolate flavouring substances.
Why Choose It
Hydrolyzed proteins are easily digestible. The drink contains 50% extra proteins, and can prove to be a good substitute if your child does not like eating fruits.
This product improves immunity and stamina and helps build stronger muscles and bones, which are a prime necessity for growing children.
How Kids Would Love It
Protinex has a bitter taste which can be easily cut down by honey or small amounts of sugar. Add a few cherries or permitted food flavors, or even well-chopped almonds and cashews to the milk to enhance its taste.
Kids would love to have milk which does not taste very sweet and is seasoned.
2. Amway Nutrilite Kids Drink
Nutrilite Kids Drink chocolate flavor provides a balanced nutrition for children with essential foundation nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients improve the growth of strong bones and muscles, healthy teeth, hair and skin, good vision, and sharp mental skills.
It is a low-calorie composition which ensures adequate energy with no unwanted calories, which makes it the best healthy breakfast drinks for kids of all time. It is an ideal drink for growing children and fussy eaters and can be had at any time of the day – asfter play, bedtime, etc. This is especially good if you are a vegetarian and cannot eat meat to serve your body with essential nutrients.
Nutritional Value:
Composition per estimated portion (25g)
Why Choose It
The best part about this drink is its low-fat content. This makes it a better seller and ranks it higher than most other nutritional drinks.
How Kids Would Love It
Kids may take time to get used to this, but it can be made tastier by mixing with fruit juices that sync with milk. Kids would like the added fruit flavors.
3. Rajam Mix Ragi Malt Drink
This health drink powder is made of special sprouted ragi. Ragi or finger millet has abundant amounts of amino acid threonine, which prevents fat formation in the liver and reduces the cholesterol levels. Ragi happens to be an excellent plant source of natural iron, which helps in preventing anemia. It helps in overall growth and development. (2)
How Kids Would Love It: The Rajam mix is enhanced with cardamom flavor, making it tasty for your kid.
at breakfas4. Double Horse Health Mix
Double Horse combines the goodness of cereals, pulses, and nuts. Cereals are rich in minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, fats, oils, and proteins. Pulses are high in proteins and fiber. Nuts are rich in essential nutrients like fiber, protein, minerals, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants.
Double Horse contains added nutrients. It can be easily made with water (read instructions on label) and is especially good for vegetarian families.
Ingredients:
Samba wheat, brown rice, maize, banana powder, ragi, green gram, sago, carrot, Bengal gram, cardamom, cocoa, soya, almonds, cashew nuts, Brahmi, Tulsi, Amaranthus, Njavara rice, barley.
How Kids Would Love It:
Your child may be reluctant initially to drink the mix, but the presence of cardamom, cocoa and nuts should make the task easy for you. Add a bit of honey, and the mission is accomplished.
5. Herbalife Dinoshake Nutritional Children’s Drink
This is an excellent source of calcium, protein, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E. This does not have any artificial colors or preservatives and helps get around eating disorders in children. It provides wholesome nutrition.
How Kids Would Love It:
As it is available in chocolate flavor, you need not have to put in any extra efforts to make your children drink this.
Branded Electrolyte Powder Drinks:
6. Unived RRUNN During Sports Drink Mix, Hydration & Endurance, Lemon Flavour
This electrolyte replenishment mix prevents hyponatremia, cramping, headaches, nausea, and fatigue. It is good for vegans as it contains natural flavors and is gluten-free.
Ingredients:
Maltodextrin, sugar, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, sustamine (l-alanyl-l-glutamine), betaine, natural lemon flavor.
Why Choose It?
Unlike other electrolyte drinks, this causes no spiking (a sudden rise in energy) or dropping (a sudden fall in energy). This is gluten free and is easy on the stomach.
How Would Your Kid Love It:
Lemon gives a tangy flavor, which is a favorite with children. You may add some honey to make it interesting.
7. Venky’s Hy Speed (Orange)
This gives a quick boost to the depleting energy stores of the body. It provides essential electrolytes to minimize muscular cramps and maintain water level during intense physical activity.
Nutritional Values:
Composition per estimated portion (15 g)
Why Choose It?
It helps in maintaining the acid-base balance in the body. It gets instantly absorbed due to the composition of supplements that is similar to the concentration of fluids in our body.
How Would Your Kid Love It:
The tangy flavor of orange will get your child hooked on to it, especially when he drinks it after an exhaustive physical activity.
A Cautionary Note: It is good to keep kids away from powder electrolytes and give them homemade ones. This is essential as a child’s body cannot take in more than a certain amount of electrolytes. Further, pediatricians advise parents not to give their children electrolytes other than fruit-based ones, made at home.
Homemade Electrolyte Drinks:
There is not much that you have to do here. Just add in all the ingredients and blend! It is a real quick process with loads of good stuff.
8. Tangy Electrolyte Drink
You Will Need:
How To:
Why Choose It?
Lemons are not just easily available, but also contain potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which are the most basic electrolyte requirements of a human body. A lemon and orange drink will also prevent kids from heat strokes in summers and keep them well hydrated.
9. Cool Coconut Drink
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How To:
Why Choose It?
Coconut water is a good source of vitamin C, riboflavin, and calcium. It also contains dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium and manganese. It is a perfect summer and kid party drink, which is energizing and refreshing at the same time. The only downside is this is high in calories.
10. Strawberry Coconut Mix
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How To
Why Choose It?
Strawberries are a source of vitamin C, manganese, folate (B9), and potassium. This is not just an ordinary electrolyte drink. It is also a Halloween, Christmas, or any other occasion and theme party drink for kids.
Fruit And Vegetable Drinks:
Fruits and vegetables provide a major chunk of dietary fibers, vitamins, and nutrients in the body and help in reducing the risks of some diseases and disorders. Obesity, heart diseases, blood pressures, and even a few cancers could be avoided with a good supply of fruits and vegetables in the daily diet. (3)
We list here a few tasty, easy. and healthy juice drinks for kids made from fruits and vegetables, for you.
11. The CPR Drink
The carrot, pear, and orange mix is one the healthiest drinks to have.
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How To:
Why Choose It?
Carrot is one of the best anti-oxidants, which means that it will flush harmful oxygen from the body. It is also rich in fiber and beta-carotene. Pears keep cholesterol levels down and are rich in vitamins C, K, B2, B3, and B6. Oranges are a rich source of vitamin C and are high in electrolytes.
12. Melon Berry Squash
This pretty glass of creamish red will boost your kid with energy.
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How To:
Why Choose It?
Raspberries contain strong antioxidants such as vitamin C, quercetin, and gallic acid. These help in fighting against cancer, heart and circulatory diseases, and age-related decline. Watermelons though mostly watery, are packed with vitamins A, B6, and C, lycopene (a naturally occurring chemical which prevents heart disorders), antioxidants, and amino acids.
13. Green Magic
Most kids hate greens, but here is something that will make your child want more of this.
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How To:
Why Choose It?
Besides being a nutrient blast, kale is low in calorie, high in fiber and zero in fat. It is the perfect energy booster for your kid.
14. Green Orange Punch
This drink is full of healthy stuff and less green in color to prevent your kid from fussing around.
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Why Choose It?
One cup of collard greens contains 63 calories, five grams of protein, one gram of fat, and 11 grams of carbohydrate. Blueberries lower the amount of cholesterol in the body. This drink enhances energy while taking care of the heart.
Herbal Teas:
Though ordinary teas could contain a high amount of caffeine, herbal teas help in detoxifying their bodies and are an easy alternative to everyday milk drinks. There are plenty of herbal teas and some can be made at home, modifying the ingredients and making them delicious.
Herbal Teas Available In Market:
15. Organic India
This brand is available internationally and in many flavors. It suits the palate and its exclusivity of herbs makes it better than other herbal teas.
16. Twinings:
One of the most popular brands the world over, Twinings has been around for many years. It comes in various flavors and is good for adults as well as kids. This is inexpensive and easily available.
17. Tetley:
One of the best brands known in the tea industry, Tetley has a long history of serving various nations. Though it does not have a huge range of flavors, it is a product worth relying upon.
18. Happy Valley
A newer addition to the herbal tea market, this is soaring in popularity. It is organic and safe, but is expensive.
Homemade Herbal Teas:
Though these drinks are named tea, they do not contain tea.
19. Ginger Tea:
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Why Choose It?
Ginger is very effective against digestive issues, protects liver, and provides relief from a cough and cold. Ginger also fights perfectly against respiratory diseases like influenza, bronchitis, whooping cough, etc.
20. Lemon Balm Tea
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How To:
Why Choose It?
Lemon balm is very effective in preventing your kid from microbial infections, strengthening the nervous system, and fighting against cancer causing elements. It also provides relief from gastric issues.
21. Cardamom Tea
You Will Need:
How To:
Why Choose It?
Cardamom provides relief from stomach ache and flatulence, and respiratory and pulmonary diseases. It reduces phlegm.
Healthy drinks come in various forms. Homemade ones will have fresh ingredients, which you can handpick. From our expansive list, choose the ones you like.
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