While many people are concerned about feeding their children healthy foods, many don't think twice about what their children drink. Drinks consumed throughout the day can have a significant impact on the amount of calories taken in. Eating or drinking more calories than you burn can lead to weight gain.

Water and Milk: The Best Choices!
Water helps keep our bodies healthy, and is also a no-calorie thirst quencher. Teaching your kids to like water from an early age will mean that they will be more likely to continue this healthy habit into adulthood. Milk is another important beverage—especially for growing bodies! Kids need the calcium and vitamin D in milk for strong bones and teeth.

Many drinks provide a lot of calories and very few nutrients. Sugary drinks like fruit drinks, sports drinks, and soda can also fill your child up leaving less room for foods and beverages that provide important nutrients.

Here is a chart that shows the calories and sugar in different beverages:

Limit Juice
It is okay to serve juice, just be sure to serve only 100% juice, not juice drinks. Even 100% juice should be limited, though. Make sure that most of your child's fruit servings come from whole fruit. Fruit is full of fiber and much more filling than juice. To cut back, try mixing ½ juice and ½ water.

Say No to Soda!
Sodas are very high in sugar and contain none of the important nutrients that kids need. Sugary drinks can also contribute to tooth decay. Kids who are in the habit of drinking of soda will likely drink more and more as they get older. Soda drinking has been linked to excess weight gain in older kids and teens. If your kids like soda, make sure they know it is a "once in a while" beverage only. As an alternative, mix 100% fruit juice with plain seltzer water.