Choosing Healthy Drinks for Your Young Child
Children who are often given sugary drinks are more likely to have tooth decay (cavities). Learn about which drinks have added sugar and which drinks (water and milk) are best for children.
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Healthy Drinks
Resources here focus on healthy beverages — such as water, milk, and fruit or vegetable juice — and their importance in maintaining good oral health, nutrition, and overall health. These resources call attention to the risks associated with beverages containing added sugar such as soda/pop, fruit drinks, and energy drinks. They also highlight how unhealthy beverages can contribute to tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity in young children. Also see resources on healthy eating.
Giving Your Child Healthy Snacks
Giving children healthy meals and a variety of healthy snacks at scheduled times during the day is important to keep children healthy. Get tips for healthy snacks to give children.
Encouraging Your Child to Drink Water
Giving children water to drink throughout the day is one of the best ways to keep their teeth healthy. Learn about fun ways to encourage children to drink water.
Cook’s Corner: Recipes for Healthy Snacks
Find simple recipes for healthy snacks that young children can make in Head Start programs or at home with their families.
Fruit Recipes
This section contains fruit recipes. None of the recipes include added sugar. Each recipe includes a list of ingredients, directions, a picture of the prepared recipe, and, where needed, safety tips. Enjoy!
Apple Cider Smoothies
Try this simple recipe for a healthy snack that young children can make in Head Start programs or at home with their families.
Chocolate-Banana Smoothie
Try this simple recipe for a healthy snack that young children can make in Head Start programs or at home with their families.
Orange Slushes
Try this simple recipe for a healthy snack that young children can make in Head Start programs or at home with their families.
Understanding How Sugar Contributes to Tooth Decay
Find out how to read food labels to identify hidden sugars in products and tips for Head Start staff to share with parents about limiting their child’s sugar intake.
Encouraging Children to Drink Water
Learn why drinking water is important for good oral health and find resources Head Start staff can use to promote drinking water.
