Drinking too much sugar is a major contributor to overweight and obesity, especially for LA County’s children. Sugary drinks, such as sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and even sweetened teas and juice drinks, are a large part of the problem. How much sugar are you drinking? Watch these videos to find out.
Here are ways to help kids avoid sugary drinks:
- Choose water or low-calorie drinks instead of sugary drinks.
- Keep water stocked in your refrigerator and carry a reusable bottle with you to refill throughout the day when you’re thirsty.
- Make water more exciting by adding slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, or watermelon, or drink sparkling water.
- A 20-ounce soda can contain 65 grams of sugar. That’s approximately 22 packets of sugar in just one bottle.
- A typical adult has to walk briskly for 46 minutes to burn the calories in a 20-ounce soda.
- A typical 10-year-old has to bike vigorously for 30 minutes to burn the calories in a 12-ounce soda.
- Switch out juice drinks and other fruit-flavored drinks for whole fruits to eat.
Sugary Drinks by the Numbers:
- 46% – Percentage of added sugar in our diets that comes from soda, energy drinks, sports drinks and sugar-sweetened fruit drinks.
- 22 packs – Approximate amount of sugar in the average 20 oz. bottle of soda, which also contains 240 calories.
- 27% – Increase in likelihood of overweight or obesity for adults who drink one or more sodas or other sugary drinks each day.
- 60% – Increase in a child’s risk for obesity with every additional daily serving of soda.
How to make water fun for your kids:
- Citrus Light – Cut up oranges, limes, and cucumbers, place in a pitcher of water for 2 hours, strain and serve.
- Blueberry Lemonade – Add 1/2 cup of blueberries and juice from 1 squeezed lemon to 1 cup of water. Pour over ice and garnish with a slice of lemon.
- Grape Sparkler – Mash a handful of grapes into a bowl, pour juice into a glass and fill to top with sparkling water.
- Watermelon Lemonade – Puree 4 cups cubed seedless watermelon with juice from 3 lemons and pour over ice.
- Fresh Fruit Cooler – Blend 1/2 cup ice, 3/4 cup sparkling water, 1/3 cup melons or berries until slushy. Garnish with mint leaves or citrus slice.
- Tropical Smoothie – In a blender, puree melon chunks or peach slices with fat-free (skim) milk, crushed ice, and a touch of ginger or cinnamon until smooth.
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