Best Summer Cooling Drinks for Kids – Refreshing & Healthy Options

Remember the TV ad where it shows how the sun sucks out water from our body, making us sweat like anything? We all related to it so well. We’ve grown up and no longer play in the sun, but our kids still do.

The sun is a great source of vitamin D, but it also causes sweating, which can lead to dehydration. To protect kids from the rising temperatures, it’s important for them to stay hydrated and the best way is introducing summer drinks for kids. These healthy drinks for kids in summer not only help them stay refreshed but also offer nutrition.

In this blog, let’s understand why hydration for kids during summers is important and what are some cool summer drinks for kids that can benefit them in staying refreshed in this scorching heat.

Why Hydration is Important for Kids in Summer

Hydration is essential for both kids and adults. In hot weather, staying hydrated primarily helps regulate body temperature. Other benefits of staying hydrated are optimal organ functioning, proper nutrient absorption, and supporting cognitive development.

Effects of heat and dehydration on children

During summer months, it is important to drink water and consume refreshing beverages. If kids fail to do so, they can be prone to dehydration. It is the condition when the body loses more water than it consumes.

Therefore whether they are out playing, or coming back from practice, make sure to offer summer drinks for kids to keep them stay hydrated, and full of zest!

Best Cool Summer Drinks for Kids

a) Classic & Refreshing Summer Drinks

• Homemade Lemonade – A vitamin C-rich refresher.

Simply mix lemon juice, sugar and ice with water and offer it to kids before they go outdoors. To make it more yummy, sprinkle black salt on top of it.

• Coconut Water – Natural hydration with electrolytes.

Coconut water is known for its nutrient rich content. It aids hydration, offers electrolytes and supports energy levels on a hot sunny day.

• Watermelon Juice – A naturally sweet and cooling drink.

Watermelon, just like the name, is high in water content and naturally sweet. Just chop the fruit, remove the seeds and blend it. Add a few mint leaves for extra flavour.

b) Nutritious & Healthy Drinks for Kids in Summer

• Buttermilk (Chaas) – Probiotic-rich and great for digestion.

One of the traditional Indian beverages to beat the summer heat is buttermilk. Made with curd, this healthy drink for kids in summer has a cooling effect on the body. Give kids a glass of buttermilk before and after playtimes to keep them hydrated.

Tip: Add spices and mint leaves to add extra flavour.

• Aam Panna (Raw Mango Drink) – Prevents heat strokes and boosts immunity.

One of the best cool summer drinks for kids to protect them from heat stroke is this raw mango drink called Aam Panna. It not only is yummy, it is also beneficial to protect kids from heat strokes. Moreover, it also contains nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, carbohydrates, iron, magnesium, folate etc.

Tip: Make a concentrated batch of Aam Panna to make sure kids consume it regularly.

• Fruit & Yogurt Smoothies – Combines hydration and essential nutrients.

Fruit and yoghurt smoothies are one delightful way of making summer drinks for kids. Smoothies are a delicious combination of different fruits and yoghurt mixed together. They benefit kids in not just hydration but in also receiving essential nutrition.

Tip: You can try to layer smoothies of different colours to give the drink a rainbow effect!

• Chilled Complan Kesar Badam Drink– Nutritious Beverage for Kids

Kids love drinks with nutty flavours of almond and comforting spices like saffron. Introduce Complan Kesar Badam milk for kids, a thandai like alternative which not only helps kids beat the hot sun but also offer them nutrition with high quality protein and 34 vital nutrients like vitamin A, E, C, Iron and calcium which support kids in their growth and development.

c) Fun & Flavorful Summer Drinks for Kids

• Minty Cucumber Cooler – A cooling and hydrating drink.

This tangy drink is flavourful and refreshing. Cucumber is loaded with water, and mint has cooling properties that soothes the stomach. Simply blend cucumber with fresh mint leaves, for extra flavour squeeze a lemon and see how kids sip it till the last drop!

Tip: Blend this drink with ice to make it into a slushie.

• Berry Lemon Fizz– A refreshing, homemade soda alternative.

Your kids love aerated drinks? Try this Berry Lemon Fizz, a natural soda alternative for kids. Made with lemon juice, cranberry juice and ginger ale, it gives the crispy feels of soda without being a carbonated drink.

Tip: Use frozen lemon juice to make it more crispy!

Healthy Hydration Tips for Kids in Summer

During summer playtime, children may forget to drink water at regular intervals. Therefore it’s important to inform them about the importance of staying hydrated. Parents will also need to encourage kids to drink water and juices. Use summer season fruits to make their drinks even more flavourful. Smoothies with mango, watermelon, muskmelon juices etc. are not just yummy but also rich in vitamins and antioxidants.

Some cool ways to serve summer drinks for kids are:

• Use Creative Bottles: Get your kids water bottles with their favorite cartoon character or the trendy ones that they like.
• Colourful straws: When serving them refreshing drinks, add cute colourful straws and see how excited your little one gets to sip through it!
• Fruit ice cubes: Freeze cube sized fruits and add them to kids water. It not only looks good but also changes the flavour of water as the ice melts which kids will absolutely be in awe with!

Conclusion

Summer brings with itself flavourful fruits that kids eagerly wait to devour. So, keeping them hydrated with these fruits will not be so difficult. Offer healthy drinks for kids in summer other than water more than once a day. Keep batches of Aam Panna, buttermilk and lemonade at home at all times so that kids can have before and after coming back home or with meals. For a refreshing breakfast try smoothies and fruit juices. Make cool summer drinks for kids like minty cucumber cooler or berry lemon fizz for their midday snacks.

Try these homemade cool summer drinks for kids and enjoy a refreshing season!

Happy Summers