Budget drinks for kids...

[Bird-Mom]

Why no milk? Just curious because my ds hates milk and his pediatrician wants him to drink it but I can't get him to.

Does he eat any other calcium rich foods? Cheese, yogurt, broccoli, dried beans, tofu, fortified cereals? Humans don't really need milk, but it is an easy way to get calcium, so it is what the docs recommend. If your ds won't drink it but will eat other calcium rich foods, I wouldn't bother with milk. My 2.5 year old will not touch it (nor will I!), and my almost 5 year old will only occasionally get chocolate milk when we go out to eat.

 

[PaulaSue]

I want to stop buying juice boxes and would love to buy just a big jug of juice and then in containers in the refrigerator. My daughter is almost 7 so a sippy cup is too "little" for her. So what do you put it in?

Thanks

I use cups at home and my DD's 6 and 8 get their own drinks. My youngest, almost 4, can't yet.

My budget brainchild idea for lunch boxes....I use the happy meal cups from McD and BK. I remove the label, dishwasher them and decorate them with stickers. p.s. I though of this because they forget and throw them away sometimes and it adds up after reeplacing them a few times. GPs take them every few weeks so I get a bunch for free.

 

[pweyl36]

water or milk for us.A box of juice will last 1 1/2 -2wks in my house.My son
will actually ask for water with lemon when we eat out.Usally they get to have soda when we eat out,that a treat for them.

 

[writersblock42]

I drink water and iced tea. The iced tea I make with tea bags and I add no sugar but I am the only one that drinks that. My son has the choice of milk or water. Sometimes we get juice when it is on sale and fresh squeezed OJ for special meals. Gatorade in the summer time-you can get the packets and mix it. Kids don't really need juice-it is mostly sugar anyway...water is fine. For my son, I can say water only....now my husband's soda habit adds about $12 a week to our grocery bill so getting him to drink something cheaper is a whole another story.

 

[Chloesmom]

My Dd drinks mostly water at home. She is diabetic and our dietician has pounded into our heads the importance of lots of water. They only time she gets a juice box is for lunch at school and even that is a flavoured water pouch. If we go out to eat she can have pop or juice or milk but at home its 95% water. We dont even have pop or anything else here most of the time.

 

[lillygator]

well tonight, both girls had bottled water...(we have cases!!) and they did have a Minute Maid juice bar for dessert...I usually have DH bring home some juice boxes if we run out and I said nope!!

 

[tinytink]

well tonight, both girls had bottled water...(we have cases!!) and they did have a Minute Maid juice bar for dessert...I usually have DH bring home some juice boxes if we run out and I said nope!!

I mix my kids juices with Perrie or soda water. My daughter calls them Mamosia's when I mix it with her OJ. When I mix frozen juices(white grape or passion fruit) I add 3 2/3 cans of water to one can of concentrate mix, then I add the carbonated water. During the day they just help themselves to the water cooler, my kids know not to ask for soda and they can have all the soy milk and water they want. Good luck in your search.

 

[Chloesmom]

Does it concern you to be giving them so many chemical sweeteners?

I know this is probably a huge dispute but.. our dietician swears that the sugar free stuff is perfectly fine for everyone and so do all of DD's docs. That being said I never ever gave her art. sweeteners prior to her being diagnosed but they have become a life saver for her since. On her old insulin therapy she could not just eat whenever and whatever she wanted so sugar free jello and juice because a staple in our fridge. Now that she has switched to a new therapy she can eat whatever so she rarely has those except for her flavoured water at school.

 

[MommaPooh]

Why no milk? Just curious because my ds hates milk and his pediatrician wants him to drink it but I can't get him to.

Two reasons: First, DS came off of formula at 6 months old, by 1 year old he was drinking three full gallons of milk a day. Pediatrician then took him off of whole milk and reduced it to skim milk. Second, at age 5 he entered kindergarten and went from weighing 40 lbs to 70 lbs in three months. He began seeing a nutritionist and she (along with his pediatrician) took him off of all caloric drinks and all drinks that contain sugar. If they eat cold cereal, they use powdered milk that has been heavily diluted.

It has since just become a way of life. The kids are homeschooled and on an average day DS will drink a gallon of unsweet tea, several glasses of water, and a couple of diet sodas. He stays thirsty and if he drank that much milk or juice he would be an unhealthy size.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Milk or water only. We occassionally have juice in the house, but it's orange Juice for weekend breakfast.

 

[sk!mom]

My DD10 has always drank milk or water only. My Ped. and dentist do not recommend juice- too sugary and linked to childhood obesity.

 

[MommaPooh]

Does it concern you to be giving them so many chemical sweeteners?

Not at all. DS's diet is completely supervised by his pediatrician and nutritionist. He has been seeing the nutritionist for six years. We would be more concerned if he were drinking fruit juices, kool-aid and other sugar filled drinks all day. The weight he would gain from drinking caloric and sugar filled drinks is of more concern to his pediatrician and nutritionist. I am diabetic and live off of artificial sweeteners.

 

[meandtheguys2]

My husband is diabetic also, and we primarily use natural sugars with fiber, stevia and just don't eat as many "sweets." They can be so addictive! I also don't like to add to the chemicals that the kids are exposed to. We live in a valley that has a very high pollution rate. So, adding to the toxins is a potential risk here per the docs and the PH Dept.

eta: not trying to start a fight, just giving our way of not living off of artifical sweetners. If it works for you, enjoy!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Soy Milk, water or 100% Juicy Juice. Keep in mind that Kool Aid, Hi-C and Capri Sun are soft drinks not juice and you'd might as well be giving your kids soda. My kids are really water drinkers by choice which makes me happy since I'm a soda drinker and I'd prefer that they be healthier than I am.

 

[mjantz]

My kids love several of the Bolthouse Farms juices & smoothies. Their favorites are Blue Goodness & Berry Boost. They're usually in the produce section near the bagged salads & such.
They're not the most budget drinks, but they have lots of vitamins in them so I feel they're a good purchase. I do limit them to 1 glass of this per day & its not something I feel I have to keep around so we don't go through 2-3 bottles/week or anything like that.

 

[meandtheguys2]

My kids love several of the Bolthouse Farms juices & smoothies. Their favorites are Blue Goodness & Berry Boost. They're usually in the produce section near the bagged salads & such.
They're not the most budget drinks, but they have lots of vitamins in them so I feel they're a good purchase. I do limit them to 1 glass of this per day & its not something I feel I have to keep around so we don't go through 2-3 bottles/week or anything like that.

Those look yummy! I've never seen them, but am going to check our co-op for them!

 

[summerrluvv]

Juice is loaded with sugar and I read some articles online that parents feed their kids way too much juice. Maybe you could dillute it and it will last longer? My son only drinks juice for snack time at school. The rest of the time he drinks skim milk.

 

[summerrluvv]

Two reasons: First, DS came off of formula at 6 months old, by 1 year old he was drinking three full gallons of milk a day. Pediatrician then took him off of whole milk and reduced it to skim milk. Second, at age 5 he entered kindergarten and went from weighing 40 lbs to 70 lbs in three months. He began seeing a nutritionist and she (along with his pediatrician) took him off of all caloric drinks and all drinks that contain sugar. If they eat cold cereal, they use powdered milk that has been heavily diluted.

It has since just become a way of life. The kids are homeschooled and on an average day DS will drink a gallon of unsweet tea, several glasses of water, and a couple of diet sodas. He stays thirsty and if he drank that much milk or juice he would be an unhealthy size.

Wow that's a lot to drink! Have you had him checked for diabetes? I know excessive thirst is a symptom.

 

[rigs32]

Did anyone mention the fact that MOST "juices" out there are not much better for you than full sugar Kool-Aid. Most juice products are only 10 or 25% juice. Unless you make sure to buy the 100% juice products, I'm not sure you can really count on the health benefits.

As for containers for kids too old for a sippy cup, what about the Poland Spring water bottles with sport tops? I refill those for working out or active stuff so that I won't spill.

 

[Frye7127]

In reference to the Bolthouse Farms, we drink Naked fruit juices and smoothies. I believe the Bolthouse drinks are from concentrate and Naked is not. We love them! Again, not the most budget friendly, but Sam's has a two pack for just about the price of one and no added sugar, preservatives...and no inhibitions!