Kids Love Cold Refreshing Drinks for Summer

Alternatives to Soft Drinks for Children to Make

Jun 17, 2009

Too hot for a meal, but a cold drink will hit the spot! Try some cool refreshing beverages that can be easily prepared at home.

Dentists and doctors discourage the hot weather habit Americans have of drinking pop. Soda can ruin a child’s teeth because it soaks in between teeth and the combination of sugar and acid causes tooth decay. Some pop and energy drinks have too much caffeine and too much sugar and artificial color. Caffeine and certain food colors in soft drinks can cause sleeping and behavior problems. Sodas are also fattening – with empty calories.

What alternative to sodas can be prepared and served to summer guests that will be better for them and still be thirst-quenching and interesting?

Flavored Waters

Water is an important drink that people can’t seem to get enough of, but it can seem boring. Try flavoring iced or chilled water with fruit flavor juices. A twist of lime and a maraschino cherry make a sweet, yet tart drink.

Add a slice of lemon to the rim of the glass, which can be decorative or squeezed into the water as a flavoring. A little sweetener or a squirt of fruit juice can make the water into a treat. A piece of fruit added to the glass adds some interest and color too. A slice of peach, strawberry slices, Kiwi juice, a chunk of fresh pineapple, even a slice of apple can be added.

Iced Teas

Brew ice tea concentrate by heating 2 cups of water for 2 minutes in the microwave. Add two family size tea bags to the hot water. Allow it to brew for five minutes or more. Stir in sweetener if needed and add water to make the tea as strong as preferred (about 2 quarts). A little sugar in tea still will be less than most sodas. With time, a taste for less sweetening can be developed.

Another fun way to brew tea is to set a gallon jar of water with four family size tea bags added outside in the sun. Sun tea takes a while, but uses the natural heat of the sun. Serve the finished tea over crushed ice. Add slices of lemon for pizzazz.

Look for decaffeinated teas and flavored teas. The most popular tea flavors are peach tea and raspberry tea.

Fruit Drinks

Many fruit juices are now available and they can be combined for fun new flavors like cherry grape and strawberry kiwi.

Use a blender or a juicer machine to make drinks from fresh fruits and even vegetables like carrots. Apples, oranges, pineapple make naturally sweet treats to sip. Pour over ice or allow juice to chill before serving.

Another neat trick is to make fruit juice ice cubes to float in juice or water for a cool drink.

Milk Drinks

Milk is a thirsty man’s drink. If thoroughly chilled it is great for beating the heat. Flavor milk with a small squirt of chocolate syrup or strawberry syrup. Blend up a banana with the milk, or a peach, a handful or strawberries or blueberries

Add a scope of frozen yogurt or a scoop of ice cream to the milk. A frosty drink can be made by combining a cup of milk, one cup of ice cream, and 1 cup of berries or other fruit (serves 4). Try a combination of bananas and strawberries for a smoothie.

Try some flavorings like coffee, chocolate, caramel, malt, or vanilla added to milk and ice cream for a milk shake that will be fun and refreshing. These will still have sugars but no acid or empty calories.

Yes, the heat of summer calls for cool drinks. Kids can devise their own cold drinks with water, fruit juices, tea, flavorings, ice cream, crushed ice, fresh fruit, and milk.

The copyright of the article Kids Love Cold Refreshing Drinks for Summer in Kids Cooking is owned by Elece Hollis. Permission to republish Kids Love Cold Refreshing Drinks for Summer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.