As summer soon approaches, many parents will be thinking about keeping their kids entertained and well-hydrated during the hot days. Water is a healthy beverage choice, but getting the young ones to choose water over sugary beverages can often feel like an uphill battle.
Today, beverages account for 47% of added sugars in the U.S. American diet and more than 13% of calories consumed per day. Replacing a single 12-ounce, 140 calorie sugar-sweetened beverage with water each day for a year can cut more than 50,000 calories from one’s diet.
This summer, arm yourself with the following creative tips to keep your family healthy, happy and hydrated!
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Prepare ahead of time
Sort out a week’s worth of bottled waters at the beginning of the week for lunches or on-the-go events. Store them in the freezer and remove when needed to stock lunches, backpacks or gym bags. The water will be on hand to drink when your children are thirsty and ready.
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Get silly with your cups
Have cups, straws, lids and other drinking “equipment” available to provide to your kids to help make drinking water more fun. Empower them to fill their own cups of water, and praise them when they do.
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Use “fun tactics” to personalize bottles or cups
Try storing a disposable cup or water bottle on a low shelf or in the side door of the refrigerator, and label it with your child’s initial. You can use a favorite character sticker or trinket to identify their specific cup or bottle, or designate a special space in the fridge just for your child’s water!
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Integrate water drinking habits into playtime
During play dates or other group events designate an adult Water Captain to help with hydration. The captain sets an alarm on his/her phone for various intervals, depending on conditions such as temperature and the type and level of play. Each time the alarm sounds the group breaks for water.
Tapping into your family’s creativity will encourage everyone to participate and develop healthy habits over time. This year, Nestlé Pure Life is also helping to make drinking water not just a healthy choice but also a fun one by kicking off an interactive contest. Visit www.shareyoursmilecontest.com for details on how to submit your child’s drawing of “What Makes Them Smile” for a chance to have their child’s design included in the 2017 Share-a-Smile bottle label collection, plus additional prizes.
The contest will run from April 7, 2016 – June 6, 2016; online submission portal opens on May 6th, 2016. The winners will be announced on or about August 16th, 2016.
Parents of Kids ages 6-12 are invited to enter the contest – entries will be divided into two age groups, 6-8 and 9-12. Parents are asked to visit www.shareyoursmilecontest.com where they can download the “Share Your Smile” design template and find the Official Rules for the contest and instructions for the design. Completed entries can be mailed between 4/7-5/6, or uploaded via the website from 5/6 – 6/6 for a chance to win.