Youth Sports: Keep Your Kids Healthy and Hydrated
Did you know that between 50-75% of kids who attend summer sports camps are dehydrated? Not only is dehydration an issue at first glance, but children are often replenished with unhealthy sports drinks high in sugar and other artificial ingredients.
Unfortunately, there aren't many healthy alternatives if your child refuses to drink plain water. I'm sure plenty of you can attest to your kids not wanting to drink anything that isn't colorful or flavored. There has to be something fun about their drink or they won't even bother. In fact, studies show that children prefer flavored beverages to plain water and will drink up to 90 percent more when it is offered to them.
While this is easier said than done, there's always fun, healthy ways to make water more kid friendly. One way to do this is to make cold pitchers of water with fresh fruit like melons, lemons, oranges, strawberries or grapes. You can even freeze the fruit water in ice trays and use them as ice cubes. This will not only make your child's drink more colorful, but they can eat the fruit from their drink once the ice has melted.
Getting kids involved in the process is great too, as you will be instilling healthy eating and drinking habits at a young age. Also make sure these beverages are in plain sight. Kids are more likely to drink healthy beverages when they can see them!
Like adults, children lose electrolytes during highly intense activites like running or playing sports outside. That's why it's so important to keep your children hydrated before, during and after their summer activities. Don't wait until your child is thirsty to offer them something to drink. Severe dehydration in children can lead to a variety of health issues such as heart-related illnesses.
Need to grab something on the go? There are a few kid-friendly sports drinks on the market. Take Greater Than, for example. Greater Than is all natural, non-GMO and flavored with superfruits. There's no added sugar and is packed with naturally occurring electrolytes that will ensure your children stay hydrated while they're on the go all summer. You can even take it up a notch by making Greater Than popsicles. Simply freeze the drinks in trays and add some popsicle sticks. Your kids will be beyond excited for this post-game treat!
At Greater Than, we pride ourselves on going for greatness every day. This is especially true for kids. If you live a healthy lifestyle, chances are your children will be inspired to do the same.