Five foods that can help keep children hydrated during a heatwave
“Have another drink.” It can become a familiar refrain for parents during a heatwave, particularly when a child is busy playing and has little interest in stopping for a glass of water.
Keeping up fluid intake becomes more important as temperatures rise because heat increases water loss, particularly through sweating. But a child’s fluid intake does not have to come solely from a cup or water bottle – the water in food also counts.
That contribution can be substantial. An analysis of Australian dietary data found that moisture in food supplied 29% of total water intake among children and adolescents. And research involving children aged four to ten found that those who ate more fruit and vegetables tended to have better measures of hydration.
Water-rich foods should supplement regular drinks rather than replace them. But if getting children to drink enough feels like a battle, food can provide another way of adding fluid to their day.
