Lesson 3.1: Refresh with water

Background: Drink water instead of sugary beverages! Sugar-sweetened beverages, including colas, teas, fruit-flavored drinks, sports drinks, and others add a lot of sugar in the diets of children and adults. Consuming a lot of added sugar, including syrups and caloric sweeteners, makes it harder to eat a healthy diet. 

Sodas and sports drinks, which contain sugar and acid, may lead to dental caries. Energy drinks  can be very high in caffeine and have been associated negative health effects in children, including feeling jittery or irritable, sleep disturbance, and increased blood pressure. Choosing healthy foods and beverages that limit added sugars helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.

Parents find out how much sugar beverages contain

To make healthier beverage choices, parents often need to see how much sugar is found in different beverages. Since fruit and fruit-flavored beverages are popular in Latino audiences, promoting fruit-infused waters without added sugar can be an effective strategy.

Teaching Tips: While parents compare sugar content of different beverages, children can taste the fruit-infused waters in small cups and vote on their favorite flavors. Sharing the voting results with the parents is a good way to show that children accept fruit infused waters. 

What's your child's favorite infused beverage?

Target Audience: Latino families with young children, ages 3 to 8 years

Key Message: Drink water instead of sugary beverages.

 Objectives: By the end of the lesson, participants will be able to:

 1) Compare amounts of added sugar in different kinds of beverages;

 2) Identify reasons for choosing water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages; and

 3) Try healthy alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages.

Materials:

Pens

Assortment of empty beverage containers

Bags of sugar

Poster paper

Markers

Small cups and other supplies for food demonstration/tasting (suggested Fruit Infused Waters)

Click here to download complete lesson plan (Lesson 3.1 Refresh with water English)