5 Healthy Drinks which can nourish your growing child

As parents, you only want to provide the best nutrition for your little ones, especially when it comes to choosing a healthy drink for kids. But with the advent of digital media and supermarkets, you’re constantly bombarded by products that promise to stimulate, strengthen, soothe and nourish your kid. All of them are portrayed as the best health drinks for kids with fortifying nutrients & vitamins, so the options that are supposed to make our lives easier, can be really overwhelming and confusing.

However, all that glitters is not gold, and everything thrown your way under the label of being “healthy”, may not be so. What then are the best nutrition drinks for kids? Well, kids are hard to please and may not always take to everything you serve them. Here are our top 5 picks for what actually can your child have for a healthy, nourishing life.

Healthy drinks for kids

1. Milk (with Complan)

Most kids aren’t fond of milk. Especially plain milk. And for growing children, pasteurised cow’s milk is ideal as it has the best nutrition. It’s a source of protein, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium that are critical for growth and development. However, there’s no harm in enhancing the taste of milk and serving it to them. Complan health drink gives wholesome nutrition, is tasty and nourishing drink for children (even beyond 12 years). It is a clinically proven formula to deliver two times faster growth. Complan includes 34 vital nutrients such as:

• Vitamin A, E & C, Zinc, Selenium etc. to support immune function
• Iodine, Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid for brain development
• Calcium, Vitamin D & K that help in bone development

Plus, it contains 100% milk protein. So, just add it to your kid’s drinking milk and they’re good to go!

2. Coconut Water

Coconut water provides several nutrients, including , potassium, sodium and manganese — all of which are important for children. It contains electrolytes which are lost through sweat when kids go out to play. This makes coconut water an excellent hydration alternative to sugary sports drinks for active children. It’s also a great summer drink for kids.

3. Fresh Fruit Juices

Juices often have a bad reputation for packing on the pounds, some fresh fruit juices for kids can actually give them a good fix of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, folate, magnesium, and potassium and are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients. As long as they’re 100% pure juice and consumed in moderation, they should be just fine. Additionally, many kids have an aversion to eating certain fruits, so more often than usual, giving them cold pressed juices becomes the only way to ensure they don’t miss out on certain essential nutrients.

PS: As far as possible, try to get your kids to have the whole fruit. Additionally, avoid adding any sugar in the fruit juices and make sure your child has a glass of juice during day time rather than bed time.

4. Fresh Green Juices

Mention a leafy vegetable and chances are that your kid will throw a fit at the sight of it (unless you’re a blessed mama and have a non-fussy eater). So how do you make sure your little one has their regular intake of spinach, kale and the likes? Mix these leafy veggies with some fruits and make cold pressed vegetable juices for kids. Not only does this camouflage the real taste of the vegetable, it makes sure your kid gets the best of both- the vegetable and fruit worlds!

5. Water

Is there anything better than water? We don’t think so! When it comes to picking the best health drinks for kids, it’s almost impossible to keep water out of the list. A simple Google search will tell you the endless benefits of drinking water. Needless to say, water ensures every system in the body runs smoothly. It carries nutrients and oxygen to your cells, aids digestion and  bowel function, eliminates waste from the body, regulates body temperature, maintain body fluids etc.  . For growing kids, it’s recommended that they drink up to 1.7litres of water every day.

Growth is influenced by genetics, nutrition, and other environmental factors. Please consult your healthcare professional further.
The information provided in this article is based on the writer’s personal experience and view. Any recommendations made about physical activity, nutrition source, and benefits on this website should be consulted with your paediatric/ health professional. The information you receive in our blogs, and other communication does not take the place of professional medical advice. Any recommendations made about physical activity, nutrition, or diet on this website should be consulted with your healthcare professional