The temperature is rising up and you’ll want to make sure that you and your child stay hydrated this spring and summer.  Did you know that children get dehydrated long before they get thirsty? A child who is dehydrated is more likely to become irritable and cranky, or if they are playing sports their performance will likely suffer.  So the answer is to just give them some Gatorade and all will be good…right?  Wrong.

Why not Gatorade (isotonic)? Isotonics have 8.5 tsp of sugar in a 20 oz bottle and the ingredients include: Water, high-fructose corn syrup* (glucose-fructose syrup), sucrose syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, salt, sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate, modified food starch, glycerol ester of rosin, yellow 5.

The perception has been that isotonics have much needed electrolytes for heavy physical activity or when the temperature is hot.  However, ONE banana provides the same amount of electrolytes (potassium is an electrolyte) as 10.8 bottles of Gatorade!  Additionally, all the added sugar ultimately has the opposite affect on thirst as the surge from high-fructose corn syrup is quickly followed by a energy crash.

So, the best choice is always water for maintaining hydration, however, 100% fruit juice is ok on a limited basis.  And don’t be fooled by those professional athletes sitting on the sidelines with cups and coolers that say Gatorade, they know better, because they are only drinking water.  To learn more about beverages follow this link.

So, now that we are sure that we won’t get dehydrated, let’s look at some ideas to make this spring and summer more exciting with the kids.  Avoid “I’m bored” with some great and inexpensive ideas to help fill up your calendar as kids are beginning to get out of school for the summer.

Our ideas include visits to farms, museums, factory tours, swimming and four-legged fun.  Follow this link to discover these great ideas.