Almost None Sugary Beverages

Strive to drink ALMOST NO sugary beverages.

Kids today are drinking too much soda. Soft drink consumption has more than doubled since 1971. The average teenage boy drinks two 12-ounce sodas per day, adding up to more than 700 cans per year. The average teenage girl drinks 1.4 12-ounce sodas per day—that’s more than 500 cans per year.

Sugary beverages include regular sodas, non-100% fruit juice drinks and lemonades, sweetened iced teas, sports drinks, and coffee drinks. It is best to choose water, fat-free milk, 1% milk (for children aged two and older), or 100% fruit juice (if limited to a ½ cup per day).

Sugary beverages contain little nutritional value, while drinks such as fat-free milk and 100% juice are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

Tips for Success:

Change what you drink with meals. Serve water or fat-free milk during mealtime and snacks.
Start at home. When you go shopping buy healthy beverages instead of sugary drinks. Your children learn from you so let them see you choose healthier beverages.
Limit 100% juice to a ½ cup per day. Water and fat-free or 1% milk should be the primary beverages for kids aged two and older.
When thirsty… THINK WATER. Keep water on hand to quench thirst instead of reaching for convenient, but sugary, drinks. Add flavor to your water with citrus slices.

More Information
More "Almost None" information and resources can be found at our 5-2-1-Almost None Fact Sheets and Guides page. The Almost None Sugar Shock Kit can be found on the Resources page.