10 Best Health Drinks for Children of 2023 (PediaSure, Honest Kids, and More)

Two key nutrients that promote healthy growth in children are fiber and protein. Fiber, typically listed as “dietary fiber,” is an essential nutrient that ensures smooth digestion and therefore fights constipation. 

Not only that, but foods and drinks rich in fiber are also rich in other nutrients kids need to grow healthy and strong–and may help with obesity. Kids need from 19 to 38 grams of fiber per day (depending on their age).

So select health drinks that will help them reach their specific fiber intake goals. Also, it's important to avoid eating too much fiber. Adding an excessive amount of fiber to your kid's diet might result in gas, constipation, and bloating. 

The other key nutrient, protein, helps kids grow and maintain healthy muscles, blood, and organs. Protein is also needed to produce hormones and enzymes and to build and repair tissue. 

According to the National Academies of Science, the recommendations for daily protein intake vary depending on your kid's age. Specifically, kids from one to three years old should consume a minimum of 13 grams of protein per day, while kids from four to eight years old need to take in at least 19 grams of protein per day. 

The amount of protein that kids from nine to 13 years old should consume is more than 34 grams per day. So if you intend to purchase a protein drink for your kids, check the total amount of protein it has and make sure that it doesn't provide too much protein for your kid's needs. 

Unlike multivitamins, probiotics don’t get as much attention. This is unfortunate, as a healthy level of probiotics can prevent several digestion disturbances seen in kids today. 

Probiotics decrease the amount of inflammation- and infection-causing bacteria in the gut and instead promote the growth of healthy bacteria. If your kid is constantly complaining of stomach issues such as diarrhea or constipation, chances are they could use more probiotics!

Did you know that approximately 50 percent of the American population suffers from a magnesium deficiency? It’s true, and again, it’s largely due to our diet, since magnesium comes chiefly in foods like dark leafy greens, which we don’t seem to consume enough of.

Magnesium is crucial for creating a sense of calm and focus in the body and for helping the brain relax in the face of anxiety and stress. When the body is under stress, it uses up magnesium, and so if the body is trying to use up magnesium when there isn’t enough there, then that's an issue.

Typically, though, multivitamins have low dosages of magnesium, so you’ll need to look for a supplement that is pure magnesium, or a health drink that contains high levels of magnesium. 

Today, many health drinks for children are made from several dark leafy greens. There are also powders that are specifically 100 percent magnesium, and these powders easily mix into your kid’s favorite juice or milk.

The chief advantage of powders is that you can control how much of it you put into a liquid base like milk, water, or juice. You can start with a little bit of powder, then work up to more once your kid gets used to the new flavor or consistency. Likewise, you can always scale back on how much powder you include if they can't handle it.

This means that you can control how many nutrients you’re adding to your child’s diet and you can hide the powder in your kids' favorite drinks and food without them noticing—which makes it perfect for picky eaters.

The main issue with powder, however, is with consistency–while some powders do a great job of dissolving completely in the liquid base, others have an aftertaste or leave clumps of powder. 

So look at the reviews. Parents will be quick to say if these powders blend well or not, and what juices or other beverages they blend well into. Some powders are better for smoothies, while others are fine for even the lightest juices.

With liquids, you have the convenience of being able to grab them from the fridge and go. The nutrients are already all measured out for you, so you don’t have to take those extra two minutes in the morning to ensure you’re giving your kids the right amount.

These liquids also don’t have an odd texture or consistency, meaning they may be easier for your kids to adapt to, but you also can’t control how much of anything you include, since the drink is already ready-made.

Flavor, too, is pre-determined. So if you’ve got a picky eater, he or she may very will refuse to drink. Note that chocolate or vanilla tend to be the flavors most health drinks come in.