Instill healthy drinking habits in your home by buying and drinking only healthy beverage options. Talk to your children about the very real health effects of drinking sugar-sweetened beverages. Let them know that sugary drinks can contribute to weight gain and that young people can also develop Type-2 diabetes, heart disease and other serious health issues as a result of being overweight or obese.
Make giving up sugary drinks a family affair. Help each other avoid unhealthy beverages and encourage each other to make smart choices. Direct your children to fatsmack.org where they can learn more about sugary drinks and blog about their experiences. Visit our facebook page to share your stories of creating a sugar-free home.
Don’t forget to read labels before you refresh! Be sure to look at the ingredient list and check for any sugar code words, but also check the nutritional facts label for the serving size of your beverage.
If you buy a drink at the convenient store that says it only has 50 calories per serving, it’s important to know just how much a single serving is. A single serving is 8 ounces, however, a can of soda usually has 1.5 servings and a 20 ounce bottle of soda 2.5 servings.
If you’re not careful, you could end up drinking a lot more calories than you think if you drink the whole bottle or can. Learn more about nutrition labels here.