Are your children drinking too much soda?
The soda sipping habit can be cured by employing a few simple strategies. However, the adults in the family may feel more “pain” during the habit breaking process than the children. The old adage of “do as I say not as I do” doesn’t usually work with children.
Strategies to Stop the Slide down the Soda Sipping Slope
- Model The Way: If you don’t want your kids to drink soda, don’t drink it yourself or at least not at home. Model the behavior you want to see in your children. If you want them to choose healthier beverages, choose them yourself. I know this may put a crimp in your style, but in the long run your children and your body will thank you.
- Limit Availability & Access: Do not make soda available at home. If there isn’t any soda chilling in the easily accessible fridge, they will have to make a different beverage choice (and so will you).
- Establish an Occasional Junk Food Holiday: Institute a family rule that soda is only allowed on certain occasions, like at the lake or at grandma’s house. You may need to place limits on the amount available on these special occasions as well.
- Water – the new Soda: Replace sugary soda with all natural, free and healthy water. If your child goes on a beverage strike and refuses to drink – IGNORE the beverage strike. Your child will eventually drink water when they are truly thirsty. Purchase some fun new cups and straws for water drinking. Have your child help you make some flavored water. See the recipe below.
Please keep in mind that you can make these changes with out big discussions and tantrums. The next time you go to the store, do not purchase any soda. When the kids ask about the missing soda simply state “We only drink water at home.”.
Lemon Mint Water
1 pitcher of water
1 sliced lemon (remove seeds)
5-8 fresh mint leaves
Stir, then place in the fridge until cold.
