The thermometer officially inched past 90 this week, so we decided it was high time to share a few of our favorite healthy summer drinks for kids – and there’s something for every taste and occasion!
These icy refreshers are more than just a quick, delicious cooldown…each drink offers its own supercharged health benefit (and they’d all make amazing homemade popsicles, too!).
Another hidden advantage of DIY’ing your own summer drinks? It’s an easy way to get your kids involved in the kitchen!
Lower-Sugar Lemonades
Lemonades: the official drink of summer! You can’t beat a tall icy glass of lemonade on a hot day, but they’re often loaded with unnecessary sugar. Here are four of our favorite guaranteed kid-pleaser healthy versions…
10-Minute Healthy Lemonade
10-minute healthy lemonade Oh my, lemony delight! Your classic summer lemonade with zero added sugar, his sunshiny sipper is not only sweet as can be with nature’s own lemon goodness. But it’s also a cinch for tiny hands to whip up in a jiffy! Kiddos will beam with pride as they serve up this better-for-you bevvy, all while learning about healthy choices.
Low-Sugar Lavender Lemonade
Our homemade lavender lemonade is a delicious twist on the usual that adds a fun flavor, a beautiful color, and is naturally calming. Imagine sipping a summer breeze with a hint of flowery bliss! This dreamy drink tickles taste buds with its lovely lavender touch and helps soothe busy little bees after a day of wild adventures. With less sugar, it’s a guilt-free treat that’s pure relaxation in a glass.
Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade
Who doesn’t love some bubbly fun in the sun? A little bit of fizz makes this summer raspberry sparkling drink extra refreshing. This berry-tastic quencher combines the yumminess of raspberries with a pop of fizz, making it an oh-so-cool delight for kiddos. They’ll be berry happy to sip on this healthier alternative, all while feeling refreshed and energized.
Mermaid Lemonade
This magically vibrant lemonade is secretly packed with superfoods! Dive into a sea of enchantment with this mesmerizing mermaid potion! Its attractive colors will surely lure little ones, while the hidden treasure of superfoods, like spirulina and apple cider vinegar, make it a nourishing nectar. Cheers to a drink that’s as delightful as it is good for growing sea creatures!
Creative Smoothies Just for Kids
These are the kinds of smoothies that you can eat for breakfast or enjoy as a dessert. They taste great and look fun and delicious!
A Colorful Rainbow Smoothie
The stuff kids’ dreams are made of – a rainbow in a glass! This delightful DIY smoothie dazzles little ones with its vibrant hues while secretly nourishing them with oodles of fruity goodness. With a whirl of a blender, kiddos can create their very own magical masterpiece, perfect for sunny summer days. Hooray for a kaleidoscope of sippable happiness!
Chocolate Banana Smoothies
Potassium is excellent for active growing bodies – and who doesn’t love the classic combo of chocolate and bananas? This scrumptious chocolate banana smoothie is like a chocolatey hug that fuels the fun of bouncing kiddos. With the goodness of bananas, it’s a potassium-packed powerhouse that keeps little bodies energized for all their summer escapades.
A Tropical Green Smoothie
Spinach, pineapple, and Greek yogurt make this 5-ingredient green smoothie a kids’ summer drink winner. Aloha, green goodness! This island-inspired sipper whisks tiny taste buds away on a tropical adventure while sneaking in some leafy treasures. With just a handful of ingredients, it’s a breeze for kids to blend up their very own emerald paradise – a lush and nourishing treat.
An Orange Dreamsicle Smoothie
A super delicious way to get in your whole day’s worth of Vitamin C, this orange dreamsicle smoothie is zesty sunshine in a glass! This citrusy sensation brings back nostalgic creamsicle vibes while packing a Vitamin C punch. Kiddos will adore the creamy, dreamy taste, and parents will love knowing they’re sipping on a healthy dose of immune-boosting goodness.
Homemade Milks Your Kids Will Love
Almond, rice, soy, flavored…there’s a milk drink here for every kid! Drink these ice-cold for a yummy way to keep growing bones summer strong...
Healthy Homemade Chocolate Milk
Everyone’s favorite chocolate milk, done just a tad healthier! This twist on the classic favorite gives kiddos the chocolatey bliss they crave while keeping their well-being in mind. Made with wholesome ingredients, this healthier version ensures tiny tummies can indulge without a lot of added sugars. Raise your glass to a chocolate milk makeover!
Cinnamon and Honey Soy Milk
Like a chilled, creamy horchata – I could start every summer morning with this spiced homemade soy milk. Mornings have never been sweeter! This heartwarming concoction is a cozy hug in a glass, perfect for welcoming sunny days. With its soothing blend of cinnamon and honey, this scrumptious soy milk is a dreamy delight that’ll have kiddos skipping to the breakfast table.
Rice Milk with Fruit Cubes
An excellent alternative for kids who are lactose intolerant, this homemade rice milk is gently flavored with gorgeous, yummy fruit cubes (and three cheers for Lactose-free summer drink options!). This fruity frolic in a glass is a tummy-friendly treasure for those little lactose-sensitive souls. With the added burst of fruity flavor, it’s a taste bud tantalizer that leaves kiddos sipping happily on a refreshing, allergy-friendly treat.
Homemade Strawberry Almond Milk
Heidi Swanson’s site is one of my absolute favorites for finding healthy seasonal recipes, and this one comes just in time for strawberry season. Her rosy-hued homemade strawberry almond milk is the perfect way to celebrate summer’s sweetest gifts. Bursting with fresh strawberry flavor and the wholesome goodness of almond milk, this delightful drink will have kiddos twirling through strawberry fields forever.
Summer Super Hydration Drinks
Sports, swimming, playing outside, or even just sweating while laying in the sun can leave kids parched, dragging, and cranky in no time flat on a hot summer day. These drinks provide great ways to rehydrate and re-energize your minis quickly!
Sparkling Watermelon Sippers
These sparkling watermelon sippers are packed with water, for the perfect pick-me-up! Hello, watermelon wonderland! These fizzy delights are like a slice of summer in a glass, quenching tiny thirsts with a burst of juicy goodness. The hydrating power of watermelon and sparkle of bubbles make it the ultimate refresher for kids on those sun-sational days.
Homemade Electrolyte Summer Drinks
Healthier than store-bought with all-natural flavor and color. Zap! Pow! Electrolyte power to the rescue! These homemade electrolyte drinks are a game-changer for keeping kiddos energized and balanced during their summer shenanigans. With nature’s own flavor and color, they’re the perfect solution for active little bodies, sans the artificial nasties.
DIY Chia Fresca
If you’ve never tried chia seeds, start with this lemony summer drink. Energize me, Chia! This zesty zinger is a lemonade like no other, boasting the superpowers of chia seeds. These tiny gems give kiddos the pep they need for endless summer fun, making it a lip-smacking, energy-boosting sensation! all-day energy!
Sparkling Apple Juice with Probiotics
Optimal hydration starts with great whole-body health, and kids love this “fizzy” juice. Bubbly belly bliss! It’s an effervescent elixir is more than just a thirst-quencher – it’s a tummy-tamer too! The probiotic goodness keeps little tummies happy and healthy, while the fizzy apple flavor brings smiles from ear to ear. Cheers to a happy, hydrated summer!
Water made fun: Cool Ice Cubes Kids can DIY
When it comes to summer drinks, water rules. Here’s where I admit something shocking: it’s one of my least favorite things to drink. I know, I KNOW! Believe me, I wish I loved it more.
Drinking water isn’t just the best source of hydration for kids and adults – it is simply one of those things we HAVE to do as humans. That doesn’t mean we can’t try to make it more fun, though. Here are a few exciting ice cube recipes that may help take the “blah,” out of water…
DIY Glitter Ice Cubes
Edible glitter…in cubes…I mean, need I say more?!? These shimmering glittery frozen cubes are sure to dazzle little ones as they twinkle and tinkle in their drinks. Not only do they add a touch of enchantment to any summer beverage, but they’re also a splendid way to sprinkle some extra magic on an ordinary day.
Homemade Fruit Cubes
Healthy, concentrated fruit cubes for kids and toddlers – and in water, the color magically changes as they melt! Abracadabra, fruity fun! These color-changing wonders are a mesmerizing treat for tiny eyes and taste buds alike. As they melt, they infuse their fruity goodness into water, transforming it into a magically delicious and healthy elixir.
Fruit Infused Water
How refreshing do these fruity-flavor infused waters look? These rainbow-hued sippers are a dream come true for a summer shindig. With an array of delightful colors and flavors, they’re a refreshing and healthy way to keep little party-goers hydrated and entertained.
DIY Striped Ice Cubes
I’m not sure I’ve ever called ice cubes “adorable,” but these striped ice cubes ARE – and made only from healthy ingredients. These cool cubes are like tiny works of art, bringing a splash of color and whimsy to any drink. With their healthy ingredients, they’re an irresistibly fun way to chill out and enjoy a guilt-free, frosty treat.
DIY drinks are the perfect recipes for kiddos who are beginning to explore cooking independently. For our BIG collection of more kitchen play activities, our favorite kids’ kitchen tools, and printable safety rule templates, visit our hands-on kitchen learning list!
For some super fun, easy kid-made drinks, be sure to check out our fresh-fruit, juice-packed Pop Rocks punch and DIY Ecto-Cooler drink recipes!
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
