Choose water

What are sugary drinks?

Sugary drinks include:

• Pop
• 100% juice
• Fruit drinks (e.g., 'punches', 'cocktails', or '-ades')
• Energy drinks
• Sports drinks
• Flavoured or vitamin-enhanced waters
• Flavoured milks (e.g., chocolate, strawberry, milkshakes)
• Sweetened plant based beverages (e.g., almond, rice, or soy)
• Specialty teas and coffees (e.g., iced tea, bubble tea, mochas)
• Hot chocolate
• Sweetened yogurt drinks
• Sweetened smoothies

Have you chosen juice, a sports drink, a yogurt drink, or a sweetened smoothie thinking it was a "healthier" choice? Many drinks are marketed as being "healthy", but are actually loaded with sugar. Knowing which drinks are high in sugar can help you make healthier choices for you and for your family.

How do sugary drinks impact a child's health?

Sugary drinks make up the largest amount of sugar in childrens' diets. Sugary drinks such as pop, juice, and sports drinks replace the healthy foods and drinks that children need to play, learn, and grow.

Why is 100% fruit juice considered a sugary drink?

Fruit juices, even those labelled 'no sugar added' or '100% juice', contain a lot of natural sugar. Drinking juice doesn't give the same feeling of fullness as eating whole fruit or vegetables. Whole fruit and vegetables give children important nutrients and added fibre, which will keep them feeling satisfied longer.

Why is chocolate milk considered a sugary drink?

Why is vitamin-enhanced water a sugary drink?

How much should I limit sugary drinks to?

Less is best. Many drinks, such as energy drinks, sports drinks, vitamin-enhanced waters, and fruit juice can have as much sugar as pop, so it's best to only have sugary drinks occasionally. Offer plain milk at meals and offer water most of the time throughout the day.

Tips for parents to reduce sugary drinks

• Keep the fridge stocked with a pitcher of cold water and plain milk.
• Keep sugary drinks out of the home most of the time.
• Set limits on sugary drinks. Offer water or plain milk during parties and playdates.
• As a parent, it's your role to decide what foods and drinks are offered with meals and during snack time. Offer water throughout the day and with snacks, and offer plain, unsweetened milk with meals.
• Talk to your child and teen about the benefits of drinking water. This can help your child choose water wherever they are.
• Set a good example and drink water yourself. When we make healthy drink choices, our friends and family are more likely to make those choices too.
• Pack a reusable water bottle in your child's lunch bag.
• Carry a reusable water bottle throughout the day, and refill it as you go.
• At sports games and at events, pack a water bottle with ice. Sugary sports drinks aren't needed.
• Kids love ice cubes! Keep water cold and make it fun by adding large ice cubes to a reusable water bottle or open cup.
• For fun, flavour, and colour, add fruit or herbs to water!