When schools close for summer vacation, our children brave the harsh summer sun to make the most of their holidays. Kids can easily become exhausted as they run and play in the hot weather, losing minerals and fluids through sweat without even realizing it. To replenish their bodies with minerals and prevent dehydration, they should be given healthy drinks that provide a boost of energy. It's not a good habit to give them cold soft drinks as soon as they come inside the house.
Lukewarm water is the best drink to enjoy during summer. Store-bought cold drinks do not contain any nutrients and are instead loaded with sugar and calories, which can cause obesity and fluctuating sugar levels leading to exhaustion. Parents should ensure that their kids drink at least two litres of water per day during summer. Water boiled with dried ginger or coriander seeds is extremely refreshing. Bottled water sold in the market is not good quality mineral water; they are just packaged drinking water. Original mineral water is natural spring water that is not purified and is often packed at the source.
Fruit juices are delicious and filled with vitamins and minerals, and fruits like apples, oranges, watermelons, grapes, mangoes, lemons, and pomegranates should be included in the diet during summer. Kids should be given at least a glass of fresh fruit juice per day. Lemonade is an easy drink that can be enjoyed frequently, and ginger lemonade made with lemon juice, ginger juice, and sugar contains energy and vitamin C. Adding a pinch of salt in the lemonade can help replenish the body with minerals to prevent muscle spasms and pain.
Here is a simple recipe for sambaram or flavoured buttermilk, which is a healthy drink that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike: mix fresh curd with water and add crushed ginger, green chillies, and curry leaves. Serve the sambaram chilled.
