Children run and play hard in 70 degree weather just as easily as 90
degree weather so it's real important to keep them well hydrated. Under
hydrated children suffer from urinary tract infections, decreased
resistance to disease, crabbiness and listlessness. Under hydration can
quickly turn to dehydration which is acutely serious.
There are many nutritious alternatives to kool-aid , Dr. pepper, and
other fruit flavored squeeze box drinks . There are two and half
tablespoon of sugar in 8 ounces of soda, visual that ! Sugar consumption
can also contribute to dehydration.
The trick is to offer something
good that they will drink without a lot of sugar.
Try making your own root beer with this mixture of herbs,
REAL
ROOT BEER
2 tsp sarsaparilla root
1 tsp licorice root
1 tsp
wintergreen leaves
1 tsp stevia leaves (for sweetness optional)
1/2
tsp cinnamon bark
2 cups water
1 quart carbonated water
Simmer
herbs in the water in 10 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover the pan and
let cool. Strain out herbs, add carbonated water and serve.
Purple Pineapple drink
1/4 cup soy milk
1/2 cup pineapple
juice
¼ cup of blueberries or any other berries in season
1 cup
pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen
1 banana, peeled
2 teaspoons
Flaxseed oil
( provides Essential Fatty Acids which are greatly
missing from the American diet)
1 tablespoon wheat germ
Using a
blender, whirl the soy milk, pineapple juice, pineapple chunks,
blueberries, banana, wheat germ, and oil until smooth. Pour into a
glass
Good Source for Organic Herbs
Chocolate Monkey!
1 cup of chocolate soy milk
1 banana
peeled
½ cup of ice cubes
1 tablespoon of peanut butter
Whirl
away until smooth ! Pour into glasses
Sneaky Peppermint!
1 cup of soy milk
½ cup of brewed then
cooled peppermint tea( fairly strong)
1 cup of ice cubes
handful of
fresh spinach leaves
( don't let anybody see you do this.. it will
make the drink green but not interrupt the flavor, adds nutrition)
You
may need some raw sugar for this
Whirl away until smooth ...pour into
glasses
You can also make some diluted herbal teas and add ice to
them.
Lemon balm with lemon slices or peppermint make a refreshing
drink .
There are also teas called tisanes which the main ingredient is
a variety of dried fruit.
They make great cold drinks great smoothies
and flavored ice cubes!
These drinks are a good way to offer nutrition
and keep the children and the big kids drinking
too!