Howard County
Family and Consumer Sciences
Smart Summer Sippin'
It's hot outside and your child wants something to drink. How do you satisfy
their thirst in a healthy way? Smart beverages for children are water, milk and
100% fruit juice.
Children need 8 to 12 cups of water (fluids) every day.
Water is especially important for children because:
- it helps regulate body temperature.
- children sweat less than adults.
- they may not realize they are thirsty until it is too late.
- they get hotter when exercising.
Help children increase their water intake by:
- encouraging them to take sips of water throughout the day.
- taking a bottle of water along on car trips.
- letting older children suck on ice cubes.
- keeping a pitcher of water in the refrigerator.
Smart Sippin' tips for getting your child to drink milk:
- Serve milk at breakfast, lunch & dinner.
- Make milk shakes or smoothies for a refreshing snack.
- Dip graham crackers into a cool glass of milk. Have them drink the
leftovers.
- Add milk to cereals.
- Whip up a mug of hot cocoa for a bedtime snack. Don't forget the
marshmallows!
Smart Sippin' tips for getting your child to drink 100% fruit juice:
- Mix equal parts of fruit juice with sparkling water for a refreshing
fizzy drink.
- Freeze 100% fruit juice in paper cups. Cover the cup with plastic wrap
and insert a popsicle stick to create your own juice-sicles.
- Freeze 100% fruit juice in ice cube trays to make your own fruity ice
cubes.
- Buy individual serving sizes of boxed or squeeze bottles of fruit
juice. Be sure to check the label for 100% fruit juice.
- Create your own fruit punch by mixing several flavors of 100% fruit
juice together.
Quick & Easy Recipes
You Can Make Together
Apple Juice Jigglers
Nonstick cooking spray
1 ½ tablespoons unflavored gelatin
¾ cup water
1 (6-oz) can frozen apple juice concentrate
Very lightly coat a 9 x 5" loaf pan. Soften gelatin in water in a saucepan
for 5 minutes. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly until gelatin
dissolves. Remove from heat. Add frozen apple juice concentrate; mix well. Pour
into pan. Cover and refrigerate. Chill until set, about 2 - 3 hours. Cut into
one-inch cubes and serve as a snack.
James and the Giant
Peach-Apple Smoothie
2 (8-oz) cartons low fat peach yogurt
1 (6-oz) can frozen apple juice concentrate
½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
4 ice cubes
Add each of the ingredients in the order listed to a blender. Blend until
smooth and creamy. Pour into glasses and serve.
Razzle-Dazzle
1 frozen banana
¾ cup raspberries
1 cup orange juice
Combine the fruit and juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until
smooth.
Mango Tango
1 cup mango slices
1 dash white grape juice
4 scoops vanilla frozen yogurt
Combine the mango slices, grape juice and frozen yogurt in a blender or food
processor. Blend until smooth.
Yellow Howler
8 lemon-lime sport drink ice cubes
¼ to ½ cup lemon-lime sport drink or water
Drop the ice cubes into a blender or food processor. Pour in the sport drink
or water. Blend until slushy, adding more liquid if necessary.
Orange Fizz
¾ cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 ¼ cups carbonated water or tonic water, chilled
Ice cubes
Pour thawed orange juice concentrate into a pitcher. Gently stir in the
chilled carbonated water. To serve, pour over ice cubes in glasses. Serve at
once.
For more information, please contact the Howard County Extension office at
870-845-7517.
Prepared by
Jean A. Ince
County Extension Agent - Staff Chair
Back to Family and Consumer Sciences
|
