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Should kids drink energy drinks? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has stated that energy drinks are not appropriate for children and adolescents, due to the high levels of caffeine these drinks contain.
Aug 3, 2023 · Are energy drinks safe for kids? An energy drink is a beverage that contains high concentrations of caffeine and other stimulants like guarana, taurine or L-carnitine. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against caffeine for children under 12.
- 1. Water
- 2. Naturally Flavored Water
- 3. Coconut Water
- 4. Certain Smoothies
- 5. Unsweetened Milk
- 6. Unsweetened Plant-Based Milks
- 7. Certain Herbal Teas
- Drinks to Limit
- 1. Soda and Sweetened Beverages
- 2. Juice
When your child tells you they’re thirsty, you should always offer water first.
This is because water is critical to health and necessary for countless vital processes in your child’s body, including temperature regulation and organ function (1).
In fact, in relation to body weight, children have greater water requirements than adults due to their rapidly growing body and higher metabolic rate (2).
Unlike many other drinks, water won’t provide liquid calories, making it less likely that your child will feel full and refuse solid food. This can be especially important if you have a picky eater.
What’s more, drinking enough water is linked to healthy body weight, reduced risk of dental cavities, and improved brain function in children (3).
Additionally, dehydration can negatively impact your child’s health in many ways, potentially reducing brain function, causing constipation, and leading to fatigue (4).
Because plain water may seem boring, it’s possible that your child may dislike this essential fluid.
To make water more interesting without adding extra sugar and calories, try infusing water with fresh fruits and herbs.
You can try out many flavor combinations to find one that your child enjoys.
Plus, your child will get a boost of nutrition from the fresh fruit and herbs used in the water.
Some winning combinations include:
•Pineapple and mint
Although coconut water does contain calories and sugar, it makes a healthier choice than other beverages like soda and sports drinks.
Coconut water provides a good amount of several nutrients, including vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium — all of which are important for children (5).
It also contains electrolytes — such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium — which are lost through sweat during exercise.
This makes coconut water an excellent hydration alternative to sugary sports drinks for active children (6).
Coconut water is also beneficial when your child is sick, especially if they need to rehydrate after a bout of diarrhea or vomiting.
However, it’s important to carefully read the label when purchasing coconut water, as some brands contain added sugars and artificial flavors.
Smoothies are a scrumptious way to sneak fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods into your child’s diet.
While some premade smoothies are loaded with sugar, homemade smoothies — as long as they’re rich in nutritious ingredients — make excellent choices for children.
Smoothies can be especially helpful for parents dealing with picky eaters. Many vegetables — such as kale, spinach, and even cauliflower — can be blended into a sweet-tasting smoothie that your child will love.
Some kid-friendly smoothie combinations include:
•Kale and pineapple
•Spinach and blueberries
Even though many children prefer sweetened milk drinks like chocolate or strawberry milk, plain, unsweetened milk makes the healthiest choice for kids.
Plain milk is highly nutritious, providing many nutrients that are critical for growth and development.
For example, milk contains protein, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium — essential nutrients for bone health that are especially important for growing children (7).
Additionally, milk is often fortified with vitamin D, another important vitamin for bone health.
While many parents tend to give children fat-free milk, milk with a higher fat content may be healthier for younger children, as fat is needed for proper brain development and overall growth (8).
In fact, children have a higher need for fat than adults, due to an increased rate of metabolism (9).
For children who are intolerant to dairy milk, unsweetened plant-based milks are an excellent alternative.
Plant-based milks include hemp, coconut, almond, cashew, rice, and soy milk.
Like sweetened dairy milk, sweetened plant-based milks can contain loads of added sugar and artificial sweeteners, which is why it’s best to choose unsweetened versions.
Unsweetened plant-based milks can be used on their own as a low-calorie beverage or as a base for kid-friendly smoothies, oatmeals, and soups.
For example, 1 cup (240 ml) of unsweetened almond milk has under 40 calories (12).
Providing low-calorie beverages with meals decreases the likelihood of your child filling up on liquids alone. Plus, many plant-based milks provide a variety of vitamins and minerals and are often fortified with nutrients like calcium, B12, and vitamin D (13).
Even though tea isn’t usually thought of as a kid-friendly drink, some herbal teas are safe and healthy for children.
Herbal teas — such as lemongrass, mint, rooibos, and chamomile — are fantastic alternatives to sweetened beverages, as they are caffeine-free and provide a pleasing taste.
Additionally, herbal teas offer nutritional benefits and may even provide relief for children who are sick or anxious.
For example, chamomile and lemongrass teas have long been used to calm and soothe both children and adults with anxiety (14).
Chamomile has also been used as a natural treatment for intestinal symptoms — including nausea, gas, diarrhea, and indigestion — in both children and adults (15).
Research shows that chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce symptoms related to intestinal inflammation (16).
Although it’s perfectly acceptable for children to occasionally enjoy a sweetened drink, sugary beverages should not be consumed regularly.
Frequent consumption of sweetened beverages — such as soda and sports drinks — may lead to health conditions like obesity and dental cavities in children.
If any drink should be limited in a child’s diet, it’s soda — as well as other sweetened beverages, such as sports drinks, sweetened milks, and sweet teas.
A 12-ounce (354-ml) serving of regular Coca-Cola contains 39 grams of sugar — or almost 10 teaspoons (17).
For reference, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that added sugar intake be kept under 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for children aged 2–18.
Sweetened beverages are linked to an increased risk of illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, in children (18, 19).
Plus, drinking too many sweetened beverages can contribute to weight gain and cavities in kids (20, 21).
What’s more, many sweetened drinks, such as flavored milks, contain high-fructose corn syrup, a processed sweetener linked to weight gain in children (22).
Even though 100% fruit juice provides important vitamins and minerals, intake should be limited to the recommended amounts for children.
Professional associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that juice be limited to 4–6 ounces (120–180 ml) per day for children aged 1–6 and 8–12 ounces (236–355 ml) per day for children aged 7–18.
When consumed in these amounts, 100% fruit juice is not usually associated with weight gain (23).
However, excessive fruit juice consumption is associated with an increased risk of obesity in children (24).
Plus, some studies have linked daily fruit juice consumption to weight gain in younger children.
For example, a review of 8 studies found that a daily serving of 100% fruit juice was associated with increased weight gain over 1 year in children aged 1–6 (25).
- Jillian Kubala, MS, RD
- Energy drinks aren’t the same thing as sports drinks. Though they’re often lumped into the same category, sports drinks and energy drinks are different beverages.
- Energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine. Energy drinks contain much more caffeine than soda does. It’s not uncommon for energy drinks to contain as many milligrams of caffeine (mg) as a strong cup of Starbucks coffee–and in some cases, even more.
- Caffeine can have adverse effects on kids. Caffeine is a drug that has a range of side effects on the body. Most adverse effects of energy drinks are caused by high amounts of caffeine.
- Energy drinks contain a lot of extra stuff (of questionable value) Besides caffeine, energy drinks often contain many other substances. Here’s what some of these extra ingredients are
Sep 16, 2023 · Despite their popularity, experts say there are health risks to consuming energy drinks, and it’s important for parents and teachers to have open conversations with teens about those risks.
Apr 23, 2021 · The American Academy of Pediatrics says that energy drinks should be totally off-limits to kids and adolescents. A cup of cola contains about 45 milligrams of caffeine, while a cup of coffee has about twice that. Energy drinks vary widely, depending on the brand and the size of the can or bottle.
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Are energy drinks safe for my child or teen? Energy drinks are not recommended for children and teens because of the amount of caffeine, sugars and other ingredients (like herbs and amino acids) they contain.
