Water Does Wonders

Water really does wonders. It is the natural choice for children to stay hydrated and the best part – it is free! Encourage children to reach for water when they are thirsty. It is much better for them than drinks with sugar added.

• Water is essential for life. It makes up more than half of a child’s weight. Children need a steady supply of water to keep their bodies working and growing properly. The body functions poorly when it lacks water.
• Water contains no sugar, calories, additives, preservatives or caffeine.
• Other healthy options such as plain milk and fortified, unsweetened soy beverages are also encouraged.

Sugar-sweetened drinks are the single largest source of sugar in children’s diets.  Having too much sugar can lead to an increase in the number of dental cavities, and a greater risk of heart disease and type two diabetes.

Make water the easy choice for children – and keep them sipping throughout the day. Here are some ideas to make water the ‘new normal’ in your home:

• Keep pitchers of water on the kitchen counter or in the fridge for everyone to grab a drink from throughout the day. The tap water Waterloo Region is safe, refreshing, healthy and affordable.
• Put water on the table at mealtimes.
• Fill up reusable bottles of water for children to take to school and sports activities. Children need to drink plenty of water before, during and after any physical activity, and especially in hot and humid weather.
• Dress up your water with healthy fruit or vegetables like berries, watermelon, cucumbers, or herbs. This is a natural and healthy way to add flavour to your water! Check-out these tasty and easy recipes to flavour your water.

Look for hydration units at recreation facilities and community centres in your community to access safe and free tap water. The Blue W program logo can be found on storefronts around Waterloo Region. If you see it on a business or public facility, you know you can refill your reusable bottle there with free tap water. There is also a tracking web-app that you can use on your computer or smartphone to find the nearest Blue W location.

Water Does Wonders