24 Healthy Kid-Friendly Summer Drinks

May 28, 2020
Credit: Casey Barber

These kid-friendly drink recipes are the perfect answer to the hot summer sun. These drinks will help your kids quickly cool down and feel refreshed after enjoying time outdoors. Whether it’s a smoothie or slushy, these drinks are packed with fruit. You can easily use fresh or frozen fruit depending on what you have on hand. Whipped Frozen Lemonade and Strawberry-Pineapple Smoothie are just a few of the healthy, delicious recipes your kids will love.

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Whipped Frozen Lemonade

Credit: Casey Barber
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Whipped frozen lemonade combines the creaminess of a milkshake with the thirst-quenching tanginess of freshly squeezed lemonade for an incredibly refreshing treat. And this simple frozen lemonade treat comes together with just four ingredients and a blender. You can use light coconut milk or refrigerated coconut milk in place of full-fat coconut milk, though the end result won't be as rich and creamy. Leftover simple syrup will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2020

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Blueberry Lemonade Slushies

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This super-refreshing fruit slushie is so easy to make and uses just three ingredients. Try it with strawberries and raspberries, too--these are great for a kids' party, but the adults will love them just as much (especially spiked with a little vodka or gin). Source: EatingWell.com, January 2018

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Apricot-Strawberry Smoothie

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Combine fresh apricots with frozen strawberries in this healthy smoothie recipe for a perfectly frosty way to cool down all summer long. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2017

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Basil Lemonade

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Basil and lemon pair beautifully in this refreshing summer sipper, sweetened with a touch of honey. Make ahead and allow the mixture to infuse for 30 minutes to 1 hour before straining for a stronger basil flavor. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018

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Color-Changing Lemonade Slushies

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Kids and adults alike will be wowed watching this delicious slush turn from blue to pink and purple in an instant. The magical concoction is made with natural blue tea (see Note) and refreshing lemonade for a fun science experiment that's tasty too. Perfect for your child's birthday party! (Adults may enjoy spiking their drink with a little vodka or gin.) Source: EatingWell.com, January 2018

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Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie

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This easy fruit smoothie with yogurt recipe calls for just three ingredients--yogurt, fruit juice and whatever frozen fruit you have on hand. Mix up your combinations from day to day for a healthy breakfast or snack you'll never get bored with.

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Fresh Cherry Lemonade

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This thirst-quenching pink lemonade recipe uses fresh cherries for the pretty pink hue and light flavor. If you like, add a splash of vodka, bourbon or rum to transform this healthy lemonade recipe into a refreshing summer cocktail. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2014

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Unicorn Smoothie

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Turn a healthy breakfast into a magical treat with the naturally colorful layers in this fruit smoothie. Add a fruit skewer to take this fun rainbow recipe to the next level. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2017

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Strawberry-Pineapple Smoothie

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Blend almond milk, strawberry and pineapple for a smoothie that's so easy you can make it on busy mornings. A bit of almond butter adds richness and filling protein. Freeze some of the almond milk for an extra-icy texture. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

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Watermelon Juice

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Clean and simple, it just takes a blender to whip up this DIY watermelon juice. You can enjoy this refreshing drink with no added sugar on its own, or jazz it up with one of our variations (see below). Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Cucumber-Mint Spritzer

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Cucumbers and mint pair delightfully in this refreshing spritzer that's perfect for a summer afternoon on the porch. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018

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Peachy Apricot Slush

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This fresh and fruity drink recipe is a good alternative to high-calorie fruit drinks or sodas. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

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A smoothie with strawberries, blueberries and banana is delicately sweet and entirely kid-friendly, even with a boost of protein from hemp seeds. Freeze the fruits ahead of time for an extra frosty texture once blended. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

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Fruity-Limeade Slushy

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These limeade slushies are a great thirst quencher on a hot summer day. Delivering a perfect combination of sweet and tart, they take only 10 minutes to prepare. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Tropical Smoothie

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Lots of tropical fruit flavors--pineapple, mango, banana--plus yogurt and carrot juice make a quick and delicious on-the-go breakfast or snack. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Strawberry-Lime Cooler

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Refresh yourself with a pretty, icy cooler made with coconut water, strawberries, and lime. It takes just minutes to whip up. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Fresh Grape Soda

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Make your own grape juice by pureeing and straining fresh grapes for this sweet and tangy sparkling drink. If you have very sweet grapes, you might not need the full amount of honey. Taste as you go. For a special treat, freeze extra whole grapes ahead of time and float them in the drink along with the ice cubes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2009

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Cherry-Vanilla Bean Milkshake

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So thick you'll need a straw and a long spoon to enjoy this frosty cherry-vanilla milkshake. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2010

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PB & J Smoothie Without Banana

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This quick and easy, diabetic-friendly smoothie, inspired by the famous sandwich, is low-sugar and has 11 grams of protein per serving thanks to the tofu and peanut butter in this recipe. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Strawberry, Basil & Lime Infused Water

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Meet your daily hydration goals with a refreshing fruity spa water. Adding sliced fruit and torn herbs is a simple way to boost the flavor of still or sparkling water without adding calories. It's also a beautiful beverage option for showers or parties. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2018

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Berry Mango Slush

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Berry-flavored carbonated water and fresh summer fruits give this slushy drink recipe plenty of sweetness without adding sugar. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Creamsicle Breakfast Smoothie

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Though it tastes like those iconic vanilla-and-orange popsicles, this creamsicle breakfast smoothie recipe is a balanced breakfast with carbohydrates, protein and, thanks to the addition of coconut water, essential electrolytes. Coconut water serves up more than 10 percent of your daily dose of potassium--an electrolyte you lose through sweat--in every cup, making it a great hydrator for light workouts. Plus, this creamy orange-mango smoothie only contains about 30 mg of sodium per cup, whereas sports drinks usually deliver about 110 mg of sodium per cup. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2013

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Raspberry Limeade

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Pressing the raspberries through a fine-mesh sieve will get every drop of juice into this refreshing limeade while leaving those pesky seeds behind. If you want to make it ahead, don't add the seltzer until the last minute. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2010

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Watermelon Cucumber Basil Seltzer

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Watermelon, cucumber, fresh basil, and lime juice flavor a summer drink that's fancy enough for guests. The soda takes only minutes to put together. Keep the fruit concentrate, simple syrup, and seltzer water separately in the fridge, then mix just before serving. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2018

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