Soda adds excessive amounts of processed sugar and unnecessary calories into a child's life. Drinking large amounts of soda puts your child at risk for being obese. The sugar washing over your child's teeth also increases the risk of cavities. A child used to drinking soda on a regular basis is likely to resist cutting back or completely eliminating the unhealthy drink. A gradual decrease in your child's consumption helps him replace the soda with healthier drink options that hydrate the body.
Step 1
Talk to your child about the lack of nutritional benefits of soda. Tell your child that to stay healthy, soda is not an option for regular consumption. Teach her about healthier beverage options like water and milk.
Step 2
Limit the amount of soda you purchase at the store. If you don't make soda readily accessible, your child doesn't have the option of consuming large amounts of the drink.
Step 3
Reserve soda for special occasions like a family pizza night or birthday parties. This makes soda seem more like a special drink instead of an everyday beverage option.
Step 4
Serve your child only one small serving of soda when you do let her drink it. Avoid large bottles that are available at convenience stores. Instead, serve the soda in a small glass with ice to limit the portion size.
Step 5
Stock the refrigerator with water bottles filled with water, 100 percent fruit juice, unsweetened ice tea, milk and similar healthy beverages. This makes the other beverages convenient so your child is more likely to drink them instead of soda.
Step 6
Pack healthier beverages when you leave the house to run errands so you aren't tempted to buy yourself or your children a soda. Pack healthy beverages in your child's lunch box.
Step 7
Make water more appealing by adding lemon slices or mint leaves to flavor it slightly. Let your child decorate his own reusable water bottle to encourage him to use it more frequently.
Step 8
Reward your child for making healthier beverage choices. Give her a small toy or other small item, or simply praise her for her choices.
Tips and Warnings
- Girls who drink soft drinks, even diet soft drinks, may not be getting enough calcium for good bone health -- another reason for kids and teens to drink low-fat milk.
Things You'll Need
- Water bottles
- 100 percent fruit juice
- Unsweetened ice tea
- Milk
- Slices of lemon
- Mint leaves
- Reusable water bottle
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