Eat Right: Be vigilant about what is sold as a ‘healthy drink’ in the market

We all love to have a cool drink to refresh ourselves during the hot summer months. But given that many of us have become health conscious especially, post-Covid, we instinctively reach out for a healthy drink. But the question is: Are healthy drinks really healthy? More so, when it comes to giving these to our children.

Healthy drinks are often marketed as a healthier alternative to soda and other sugary beverages. While these drinks may contain fewer calories and less sugar than their unhealthy counterparts, it is important to question whether they are truly healthy for children.

Most parents reach out for the fruit juices readily available in the market. While fruit juice does contain some vitamins and minerals, it is also high in sugar. Drinking too much fruit juice that is high in sugar can lead to weight gain, tooth decay, and other health problems.

What are the challenges parents face?

In today’s world, parents are often faced with the challenge of ensuring their children consume healthy drinks. With so many different options available in the market, it can be difficult to differentiate between what is healthy and what is not. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that many brands market their products as ‘healthy’ when in reality, they are loaded with harmful ingredients such as preservatives, synthetic flavours, and excessive amounts of sugar.

Sheena Ahuja, a Home Science teacher at Apeejay School, Sector 15, Faridabad, says it is important to understand that a healthy drink does not contain any added sugars and is rich in fibre and antioxidants. For her, a healthy drink for the summer would be watermelon juice with a sprig of mint leaves and half a freshly squeezed lemon.

“According to the World Health Organization, the maximum recommended daily intake of sugar is around six teaspoons or 25 gm, depending on one’s age group. Thus, it is imperative for parents to carefully scrutinize the drinks their children consume,” Ahuja stressed.

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“Parents need to be vigilant when it comes to the drinks their children consume. A healthy drink should be made using fresh ingredients. By being mindful of the drinks their children consume, parents can play an important role in ensuring their children remain healthy and hydrated”

–Sheena Ahuja, Home Science teacher at Apeejay School, Sector 15, Faridabad

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She said that many drinks sold in restaurants or bottled drinks often contain artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives. “For instance, even coconut water sold in bottles is likely to contain synthetic components and these are not healthy for children. Therefore, parents should encourage their children to consume drinks made at home using fresh ingredients like watermelon, mint, and lemon. Drinks like wood apple juice (bael), sattu drink made from roasted gram, and fresh orange juice are healthy options,” Ahuja said.

Many parents think that ordering a smoothie for their child is a good option. “While there are some restaurants that make a smoothie with fresh fruits, there are many that end up using fruits from a tin. This defeats the purpose of the drink being healthy,” Ahuja said.

She added that there are parents who give their kids aam panna or coconut water that come in fancy packaging thinking that it is healthy and a good way to keep their kids cool during the summer months.

However, it is important to note that the drinks sold in tetra packs are not always healthy, Ahuja said and added that orange juice sold in tetra packs often contains added sugar and may not be as nutritious as fresh orange juice.

“Therefore, parents need to be vigilant when it comes to the drinks their children consume. A healthy drink should be made using fresh ingredients. By being mindful of the drinks their children consume, parents can play an important role in ensuring their children remain healthy and hydrated,” Ahuja opined.

Parents need to be careful when somebody says it is a healthy drink

Ahuja warned the parents that the soft drinks they give to their kids should not be processed. “We need to be aware of what sugars are being used. Sometimes, companies advertise a drink as ‘sugar-free’. Giving soft drinks or processed juices that are sugar-free is not good for small children. When parents go shopping they need to be careful about the type of food they give their children as it may lead to various health problems. In the past, parents never had to worry about diabetes in children. But now it’s becoming more prevalent. So, parents need to be extra careful about what they give their children,” Ahuja said in conclusion.