Do you wish you could reduce the amount of sugar your kids are drinking… without a fight? Then you and your kids will love these tips to lower the amount of sugar kids drink and increase their water intake at the same time.
This post is sponsored by Oasis Canada.
Do you struggle to get your children to drink less sugar and more water? Maybe you also tend to prefer a drink that has some sweetness to it.
Around here, getting our tweens and teens to reduce their overall sugar load is an every day battle.
Kids of all ages love sugar. They crave it. They want flavor explosions.
Unless you catch them in a moment of passionate thirst, that tall glass of water often just isn’t talking to them.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not giving up training my kids to love plain water as the life-giving, thirst-quenching miracle that it is.
They have water (or milk) at meals and we all always have water bottles with us, wherever we go. Water is our go-to drink.
But I don’t want to ban all fruit juice from their lives. So I also have some tricks that I use to satisfy their desire for sweet fruit flavor while keeping their sugar intake under control.
5 Tips To Get Your Kids Drinking Less Sugar
1. Use a Beverage with Less Sugar But NO Sugar Substitutes
Remember when your kids were little and you could water down their juice and they had no idea what you were doing? With my first child, full-strength juice had rarely touched his tongue until he went to kindergarten.
Of course, my second child didn’t have such a strict environment. Sadly, she had far more juice boxes and yogurt drinks than I care to admit.
Now that my kids are older, I can’t fill sippy cups with watered-down juice.
So I was thrilled when I saw that Oasis (my kids’ favorite brand of juice) has a new reduced sugar option that does NOT use any sugar substitutes.
The new Organic Oasis HydraFruit juice and water blend has less sugar but tastes just as delicious as their regular juice. To make their new 60% less sugar recipe, Oasis reduced the sugar by using filtered water instead of a sugar substitute.
Because it has less sugar and more water, I thought it would taste like the watered down juice I fed my kids when they were little. But it doesn’t!
We can’t even tell the difference. It tastes sweet and satisfying. We have a new favorite drink! My kids told me not to buy anything else from now on.
As well, the new Oasis HydraFruit is organic. We do our best to buy organic fruit and vegetables as often as possible, so it is fantastic that these are organic.
We are also all excited that Oasis HydraFruit comes in 200ml juice boxes. Now we can have a lower sugar juice box option for school lunches.
And don’t forget you can use frozen juice boxes to keep lunches cold for school and snacks on the go.
2. Make tasty ice cubes
If your kids are just not impressed with the glass of water you hand them, you can add some extra fruit juice flavor fun to their glass with HydraFruit ice cubes.
Simply fill up an ice cube tray with Oasis HydraFruit Organic, you can also add some fruit pieces for extra fun, and that glass of water will suddenly become much more exciting.
When I made these HydraFruit ice cubes, I was shocked at how much flavor they gave the water. It worked beautifully.
3. Make flavorful spritzers with carbonated water
I have fully converted my tween and teen to the joys of a Club Soda and Lime.
I regularly drink sparkling water with lemon or lime juice and now my kids do too. It is incredible how quickly they got used to drinking sparkling water with nothing more than a spritz of lemon or lime juice.
If your kids aren’t quite ready for sparkling water with only lemon or lime juice, you can start them off by adding carbonated water to fruit juice — and add a slice of lime or lemon to make it feel extra fancy.
If you use Oasis HydraFruit to make your juice spritzer you will really win since the beverage is already a 50/50 blend of water and juice. (The brilliant thing is that the Oasis Hydrafruit is full flavor so your juice spritzer will still taste fruity.)
4. Make popsicles or cut lid off frozen juice boxes to eat it frozen
Skip the popsicle aisle and make your own.
You can make delicious popsicles with just straight Oasis HydraFruit juice and water blends or you can blend up some fruit and veggies with your juice and freeze.
We made these popsicles with a mixed berry smoothie we made with HydraFruit Fruit Fusion and a frozen lemonade smoothie we made with HydraFruit Lemon Ice Tea.
5. Make slushies and smoothies
Everyone loves slushies and smoothies! You simply can’t go wrong with a flavor-bursting blend of frozen fruit, veggies, and juice.
My kids and I are always testing out different blends of slushies, smoothies, and smoothie bowls.
While I often use plain water in my smoothies, my kids prefer when I add fruit juice to their smoothies. The extra bit of sweetness helps mask any bitterness of veggies we have also added.
So I am now always going to use Oasis HydraFruit when I make our smoothies. It only takes about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of liquid in most of our smoothie recipes and with the 60% less sugar in HydraFruit, I can feel good about using it instead of regular juice.
We made a bunch of different slushies and smoothies with our HydraFruit samples and they all were wonderful.
Here is one of our favorites — a Watermelon Slushie which is seriously SO incredible my mother stole this sample as soon as I photographed it.
We both agreed it was better than any cocktail mixer that we have ever tasted. So feel free to add a splash of vodka, tequila, or rum, if you want to serve an adult version.
Watermelon Slushie
Ingredients
- 1 cup Oasis HydraFruit Watermelon Apple
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 tsp honey optional
- 1 tsp lime juice optional
Instructions
- Add ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
- Garnish with slices of lime or watermelon
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored, so extra thanks for reading and sharing.
Written and photographed by Janice Croze, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at pinterest.com/5minutesformom
Wow really great post. Thanks for sharing with us.
My daughter would love the ice cubes made from Oasis juice. I use the juice when preparing rice to add interest to a somewhat bland side dish.
The fruite popsical
My little one would love making popsicles with Oasis HydraFruit juice.
I think my family would make the smoothies – but all the suggestions were good
my little niece loves popsicles great tips
To use the juice for making smoothies and popsicles! My kiddos would love it!
My daughter really likes making homemade popsicles so love that tip. However, I want to make the ice cubes, my husband does not much like drinking just water and we try not to consume lots of juice so these would be great to have on hand.
The fruit ice cubes.
Popsicles and Ice Cubes
My kids would definitely love the ice cube idea along with the slushies. Mommy used to do all of these things when she was a little girl. So, it would be fun to try them again!
I know my kiddos would love the frozen pops, and the fruit ice cubes; they also would love the spritzers! Thank you!
My grandchildren would mot like the ice cubes and popsicles.
My kids would like making the popcyles
My kids and I are going to try your smoothie recipe, yum!
The ice cubes are a cool idea.
Adding carbonated water is the best idea.
Love these ideas! I think both my daughter and I would love the tasty ice cube trick the most.
I just bought the apple watermelon juice today. I think we’ll try your smoothie recipe tonight 😊
Our family loves Oasis!! With three growing children I love the less sugar drinks for them!
My son would really like the sparkling fruit juice! We have had pre-made ones before, but never tried to make our own! Great idea to use Oasis Hydrafruit! Thanks!
I have been make popsicles at home forever I will add fresh fruit to or juice and lil bit sprite or 7up.
I usually make smoothies for my kids but I really like the idea of the ice cube tray with fruits. I am actually going to do both once the weather gets warmer. I am sure they will love it. Thanks for the article and the chance to win.
My kids would love that watermelon slushie! Perfect for the cottage this summer.
I love the ice crude idea. Going to try it out this summer
*ice cube
Great post and giveaway
I think my kids would love the smoothie, might even through in some frozen watermelon as there is always a bag in our freezer for extra hot days.
I would love to try the ice cubes and slushie with my kids. All of these ideas are great though.
Hi there,
My kids would love the tasty ice cubes, we are already buying oasis hydra fruit they live the lemon iced tea! Thanks for the chance to win this great prize pack! I am trying most of the flavours I like the mixed berry one myself.
I love the ice cubes idea!! My kids would love the slush drinks the most
Love your juice
I am torn between making the ice cubes or adding carbonated water! They both sound good.
I think Sophie and J would love the MAKE TASTY ICE CUBEs tip. They would love to help with this activity.
As a diabetic, its nice to know there is a juicebox with reduced sugar that I can have!
My daughter might enjoy the frozen juice box!
My son loves popsicles so making yours would go over great!
I think my kids would like the 60% least sugar juice from Oasis the best, then the juice icecubes.
I like the idea ofcutting off the lid of a frozen juice box. My daughter will love these healthier popsicles!
I love the slushie and popsicle ideas but rarely have time to make these. So I definitely feel less guilty giving my two kids juice because I give them the Hydra fruit. I don’t need to dilute it in water and I know it has less sugar and no sugar substitutes.
My kids love slushie drinks, so the watermelon slushie recipe would go over big with my kids! Personally, I would enjoy the sparkling water with fruit juice idea, as I am looking for different ways to cut pop out of my diet, while still enjoying carbonated beverages.
Love the slushy and ice cube ideas. My kids would love them
I love the flavoured ice cube idea and i slso never thought of using juice boxes for ice lollies or slushies.
Im going to try theres once the weather warms up.
My kid would love this in his smoothies! Less sugar for mom! Yay!
I love the tip of making ice cubes! My son would love that. He’d like helping to make them as well. Definitely going to try!
The popsicle idea is cool.
My kids love slushies! Gonna try it out!
My kids love Oasis! I have been known to steal an apple juice box once in awhile too! Love the recipes ideas above
My favorite juice ever is the watermelon apple, I absolutely love it!! My kids and I are going to make the popsicles and smoothies for sure!
My kids would love all but the spritzer my little don’t like the bubbles in pop
My daughter would love the popsicles
I love the ice cube idea! Sounds like a great way to get them drinking more water!
I think my kids will love the popsicles best!
The popsicles would be a hit at our house for sure!
My daughter would love those popsicles! And so would I! ðŸ˜
On this very cold (-25) day my kids were wishing they had popsicles. I’m sure they would love the popsicle and watermelon sky slushies.
My little one would love homemade popsicle idea. She would have a blast choosing the different flavour combos.
Smoothies
My boy would be all over the popsicles.
the popsicles look good
Making popsicles and ice cubes are great ideas that I will definitely be using!
Love the smoothie idea! I just upgraded my blender!
Smoothies and popsicles for my kids! I love the ice cube idea!
Definitely smoothies – we love them
smooties
I like the ice cube idea!
Hi! All great tips, but for out family #4 is the most popular choice. My son loves anything frozen. Thanks!
I like the idea of making juice filled ice cubes! Not only will I get ice cold water, but an added bit of flavour, too!
Making ice cubes with juice!
I think my family would make smoothies, and fruit spritzers most!
I think my kids would love the idea of popsicles. We usually don’t offer juice or pop, both are a treat for special occasions.
I would love to try the smoothie idea. My kids like the watermelon juice too
Smoothies, super tasty and filling
That Watermelon Slushie looks delicious!! I think my kids would love the tip to make slushies and smoothies the best – they love fancy slushy drinks. I love that tip too, as well as the one to make tasty ice cubes – a great idea I hadn’t thought of before!
My family will be trying the smoothies and popsicles. I think the Oasis strawberry kiwi hydra juice would also be a great addition to jell-o instead of water.
My son loves adding flavor to his water the ice cubes and the smoothies would be great.
They would love those popsicles!
Popsicles or Smoothies! Such a healthy treat for everyone. I had no idea about the ice cubes and will be trying it for work!!
My kids would love the ice cubes. What a great way to add flavour. Cannot wait to try them with my kids.
I can’t wait to try some of these ideas! I never thought of turning the juice into ice cubes and love the smoothie recipe
The slush is and smoothie idea is great – can’t wait to try out the WATERMELON smoothie!
The ice cubes are a great idea- perfect for my three year old
Our 2 yr old would go for smoothies for sure.
I think my kids would love the popsicle and smoothie idea.
My kids love smoothies!
I agree, we only buy these juice boxes for my son and he loves them, and I love that they have so much less sugar.
Make popsicles
Wow, I had no idea oasis had this new improved juice with less sugar. We have just started reducing sugar intake without kids so this is amazing. We will be trying out your smoothie recipe for sure.
I absolutely LOVE the idea of making ice cubes with Hydra Fruit…so trying it this summer! We love Hydra Fruit at our home and in trying to cut out some sugar in our lives, (besides drinking Hydra Fruit), we eat plain yogurt and have fresh fruit mixed with it…less sugar than the fruit on the bottom stuff and much better for us!
Love the watermelon slushy recipe. My kids love watermelon and slushies.
My kids are popsicle fiends, all year long! I think this will be a real game-changer for our house!!
Frozen juiceboxes are amazing
Cutting open the frozen juice box to eat it is brilliant! My kids beg to have “frozen juice†cups from the school cafeteria, so smart!
My daughter will be thrilled to know that she can make frozen juiceboxes
Fun popsicles for the summer my girl would enjoy!
I definitely think my daughter would love the smoothies:) It would be a great way to incorporate more veggies and fruits into her diet🥰. I enjoyed all of the tips and thank you for the chance at the contest ðŸ˜ðŸ¤ž
Tasty ice cubes would be a hit with the kids. I would love them too.
We would love making them into slushies and smoothies – fun tips!
My daughter would love to make some fun ice cubes or Popsicles, especially in summer! Thanks 🙂
Now that there is a 60% less sugar version I’d be more likely to purchase them for my daughter. I’m always looking for more was to lessen the amount she gets but still taste great
Popsicles are a favourite in this house for sure!
These tips are so helpful! I will definitely be looking to stock up on this Oasis juice for my kids!
I really like the idea of making ice cubes using use; and adding fruit to it is just genius.
I think the tip to make popsicles would be a hit!
My kids are older but love smoothies. Best way for them to have fruits and veggies.
My kids & myself no matter the age love ice cubes with fruit in them & smoothies! Always a hit in my house & such great ideas!
My kids love drinking smoothies! That’s the easiest way to get healthy food into there bodies.
My kids would love the popcicle idea the most. Thanks for the chance. We love your drinks and our fridge is always stocked. The most we had at one time was 22 hydrafruit watermelon in our fridge.
It is snowing and very cold outside today but I couldn’t wait to try the Watermelon Smoothie. The kids love it, and I can see it being our go to thirst quencher in the hot summer months!
Such great tips for moms! My son loves smoothies and we will defiantly be using Oasis HydraFruit in our next one. I meanwith the 60% less sugar how could we go wrong!!!
My nephew loves smoothies so we will try out your recipes.
I think the kids would love the smoothies the most, I would too. The ice cubes are a fun idea also.
I love the frozen juice box idea. So easy, and tastier than store-bought popsicles.
My wife says watermelon anything is a hydrating energy pick me up and she should know ’cause she went almost 4 years living on juice/milk and tea..a long story.
ps Oasis Guava is great
Ohh definitely the MAKE SLUSHIES AND SMOOTHIES! What kid doesn`t love a yummy slushie or smoothie?! Great tips!
wow, can i test it. I think this is very tasty.
The icecubes! I especially like the idea of adding fruit to them. One thing we do is make home made iced tea. Although I was born here in Canada, my Mum is from the southern US, where making your own “sweet tea” (as it’s called) is the norm. It’s easy to make, and, unlike the store bought stuff, you can control the sugar….some people don’t even add any sugar at all (I add a bit, but very little).
My kids would love the slushies
I love the frozen juice box tip.
The Popsicle would be a hit in our household.
They are all great ideas. The ones I think kids will like are Popsicles, and ice cubes
My kids would love to help make their own Popsicle. What a great idea. I really like the idea of maybe blending some extra fruits and veggies that they might not normally eat, and sneaking it into a popsicle.
my grandkids would love the ice cubes
Making tasty ice cubes is cool!
When I feel hungry or headachey, I’ll first drink a glass of water.
My kids would love #4 (make your own popsicles) and #5 (smoothies). Both are really great suggestions.
My kids really like cold food, so they would like the tip about the tasty ice cubes.
Popsicles are always a hit
The popsicles on a hot summer day, for sure
My nieces would love the popsicles made with juice
I like to make smoothies and my daughter helps me by choosing what she wants in it. She sees the spinach or kale but doesn’t understand that what she doesn’t like by itself tastes good in the drink.
My kids would like the fruit ice cubes. They enjoy making “fancy drinks”
I love the idea of freezing the boxes and cutting it off! Very smart for on the go!
love the popsicle idea and the slushies
I like the ice cube idea! A fun way to make water a little bit fancier 🙂
Freezing the boxes and cutting it off is great for camping! Thats why my kids would love the most as we go lots in the summer!
I like the popsicles made with juice plus the ice cubes & know everyone at my house would love them.
This is a good start to reducing the tremendous amount of sugar being consumed by children.
They would love the popsicles made with juice and also the ice cubes
Oh boy, my kids will love number 4. MAKE POPSICLES OR CUT LID OFF FROZEN JUICE BOXES TO EAT IT FROZEN
My son would absolutely love having the drink frozen in the carton itself!
I like the Spritzer tip, they don’t drink pop often but occasionally. With the bubbles of the spritzer they’d feel like they were getting such a special treat.
They would like the watermelon slushie idea the most.
My daughter loves making fancy drinks, so I think she would love making the juice ice cubes to add to the glasses.
My daughter’s would definitely love to make their own popsicles and Momma will be trying the “Adult version ” of the watermelon slushie.🙂
Like the ice cube idea…
I think making my own popscicles is a great idea!
I like the idea of the watermelon slushie. I can’t wait to try it!
My kids would be all over the Watermelon Slushie idea. I think we’ll definitely be trying that this summer
the ice cube idea and making your own popscicles are so cool!
#4 ! I totally forgot about freezing juice boxes! I used to do it all the time as a kid.
Smoothies & Slush it’s
My kids love making smoothies that they even have their own recipes they whip up.
Making the slushies and smoothies ! Everyone in my house loves smoothies , its easy to get the good stuff in , they don’t see it as a healthy drink ! Best ever !
They would like the ice cubes with fruit in water tip.
The slushies tip would be my kids fave. The concoctions we could make would be fun
My granddaughter would love the flavour ice cubes. At 60% less sugar, they will probably drink some juice now. The regular juice as way too much sugar.
popsicles are always a kiddos favorite
I think my kids would love the homemade popsicles idea. I am going to try it out this summer.
Smoothies are the biggest hit at my house , I love how nutritious they are.
My kids love popsicles. So that’s the one for me.
5. Make slushies and smoothies – My kids would like that idea. (Actually, who wouldn’t?)
My kids love both the making smoothies and making popsicles!
My son eats a lot of popsicles & they are the store-bought ones so the best idea for him is to make homemade popsicles to reduce all that sugar.
I think the popsicle idea would be awesome for summer.
My kids would like the tip about Skipping the popsicle aisle and making our own. I have never thought about this but it’s a great tip.
Making our own popsicles is always a hit! Coming up with new flavours ideas for this is half the fun.
Making popsicles is one of our favourites! It’s a great tip and one that definitely works!
My kids would love the popsicles
I really love the flavoured ice cubes idea!
Our kids would like the Popsicle idea!
I know my kids would think that cutting the lid off frozen juice boxes to eat it frozen would be pretty cool. Then, then can have a healthy ‘Popsicle’ any time they want (or when mom lets them)
My grandkids would love the popsicles and I like the fack that it contains less sugar than other juices.
I love the less sugar that is very important with my kids
I don’t have kids, but less sugar sounds great!
The slushie sounds great …for kids or adults!
My Daughter would love the flavored ice cubes 🙂
My kids would love the frozen juice and the smoothies must try the recipes
Mine would probably go for making popsicles 😉
I love the flavored ice cubes. Such a great idea. My kids will love them.
Using a beverage with less sugar would definitely work here.
Popsicles!
My child already doesn’t drink sugary drinks, but the flavoured ice cubes we have used anyway in the summer esp with frozen fresh fruit in them . If you don’t give them the sugary drinks from the start they wont care about them in the long run. A choice of drinks and my little will choose water every time.
flavored ice cubes i have been doing this for a long time i add yogurt to mine my son loves them
love the juice cubes idea
I like the idea of juice in smoothies
The flavoured ice cubes is my favourite tip! I am going to try it today. Thank you!
Love the “Make popsicles or cut lid off frozen juice boxes to eat it frozen” tip – my husband has been freezing drinks like this for years!
I love the Watermelon Slushie recipe but I also love the ice cube idea very much as well. Love the lower sugar part the most.
Love the juice cube idea
Using the drink boxes to make them freezes would be an hit with the kids.
Slushies and smoothies are always a hit!
The juice popsicles would be a hit!
My grandkids would love the ice cubes
I think my family would enjoy the flavored ice cubes! What a fun idea!
I like the flavoured ice cubes, great idea!
Love the MAKE FLAVORFUL SPRITZERS WITH CARBONATED WATER!! I never think of this!
I’m very curious to try the watermelon slushie and see how good it tastes.
Can’t wait to try the popcycles!
The tasty ice cubes!
Yummy. I can’t wait to try this recepie.
Great Idea
I think the flavoured ice cube is a great idea!
Yum!! We are totally obsessed with this juice. It’s become a favourite in our house lately!
I hear you! I just stocked up again at the store.
Love the idea of making flavourful ice cubes to add a boost of flavour to regular water. A great tip for helping not just the kids but the adults in our family stay hydrated!
I think the flavoured ice cubes are a clever tip.
I like the tip to make popsicles or to cut the top off a frozen juice box and eat it frozen. What a great idea!
making popsicles from the juice would be great!
the kids would love 4. MAKE POPSICLES OR CUT LID OFF FROZEN JUICE BOXES TO EAT IT FROZEN
Popsicle from juice is an idea the kids would love the best
Thank You I know my family would really like the popsicles made out of the mixed berry smoothie. Great idea.
I think the oasis ice cubes would be a big hit
Proably the ice qube juice
Watermelon slushie
I love the idea of making popsicles from the juice and my grandchildren would love them too.
I think my daughter would love the ice cubes, as she loves stirring them around in her water!
make popsicles to eat it frozen
My kids would love the popsicle idea!
My favourite tip is to make slushie and smoothie drinks for a sweet treat.
My kids would probably like the slushies and smoothies the best!
I love the popsicle idea! What a great alternative to buying store-bought treats!
The tasty ice cubes are a great idea.
My family loves smoothies and we make frozen pops but the idea I love and am going to try is the frozen tasty ice cubes.
I like the idea of ice cubes
the frozen treats
I like the idea of tasty ice cubes
Tasty ice cubes
I think they would love the Watermelon Slushies
My little one is too young to drink juice yet but when he is older I like the idea of frozen juice cubes in water.
Making smoothies!!
Ice cubes are a great idea. My kids love to crunch and eat the ice in their cups
I like the tasty ice cubes
Love Idea #2! Flavourful ice cubes in water! My kids rarely get juice but when we do it is still watered down unless we are at a special occasion with juice boxes.
My kids absolutely love smoothies. Thanks for the tips!
Making your own smoothies, slushies, freezies are the best, you can control what amount of ingredients you put in. Can opt for natural honey.. whole fruit etc.
They would like the slushies best
icy pops made with juice and also the ice cubes
The tasty ice cubes
Love those “tasty ice cubes!” Makes it fun for kids!
They’d love the spritzers.
“MAKE TASTY ICE CUBES’ is my favorite tip
My kids love smoothies so I will try this in place of other juices we use! Also, the popsicles will always be a hit!
Homemade popsicles
Definitely going to look for this next time I’m at the store! Thank you for sharing.
Love Oasis Hydrafruit! I’ve been giving it to nu toddler for some time. She loves it! I will have to try the ice cube idea too!
Love these tips! Makes me feel guilty about giving my kids juice once in awhile!
Frozen treats
Nice article!
These tips are so helpful! I will definitely be looking to stock up on this Oasis juice for my kids!
I love the smoothie recipies. My daughter is allergic to aspartame and all artificial sweeteners and colors. She would love these recipies. Thank you for sharing.
I know they would love the icy pops made with juice and also the ice cubes
Delicious juice, thanks for sharing with us.
Your idea of tasty ice cubes is my favourite. Thanks for sharing.
I would deffinately use the smoothie info
I like the idea of tasty ice cubes! I
Making ice cubes and popsicles are my fav tips.
The tasty ice cube trays is a great idea that we would love!
I like tip #5 to make slushies and smoothies. Its delicious and refreshing.
Making smoothies or slushies is the tip that we would use the most.
I like tip #4, cutting off the tops of frozen drink boxes and let them eat it like a popsicle. They’d like that. Never thought of doing that before.
We already drink lots of club soda with lemon, lime or splashes of real juice. So i think they’d like the slushies and smoothies. Especially in the summer or at least dreaming of summer.
My kids would most like to make popsicles.
This is a great tip!
I think our family’s favorite tip would be to make tasty ice cubes.