Many children are struggling with obesity before they develop the awareness to consider the health consequences of the foods and drinks they consume.

Nearly one in five school-aged children in the United States now have obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since the 1970s, and calorie-laden beverages such as sports drinks and soda are partly to blame.

A 20-ounce bottle of sports drink can have a whopping 140 calories and 34 grams of sugar, which is the equivalent of more than 8 teaspoons of white granulated sugar.

That’s appropriate for professional and collegiate athletes who are burning thousands of calories during intense sports events such as football games, which is why sports drinks were invented.

But for children, that can be an unhealthy overload that leaves them cranky and tired from the sugar crash as their small bodies try to process the drinks.

Instead of these sugary sports drinks, choose healthier beverages for children and explain why certain drinks are better than others so they start learning about calories and healthy diets.

We like to serve NADI Rosehip Drink to our children and their friends, because it has Vitamin C, Vitamin B, antioxidants and other healthy nutrients without the added sugar, preservatives or artificial ingredients you often find in juice.

Here are several healthy beverage choices for kids:

• Water infused with fruit such as lemon, strawberries or oranges
• Herbal tea
• Low-calorie fruit juices with no sugar added
• Coconut water
• Sugar-free vitamin enhanced water
• Club soda mixed with fruit juice

For a special low-calorie healthy treat for children, make this rosehip “soda” that will keep little ones hydrated and asking for more.

Rosehip Soda

1 bottle of NADI Rosehip, NADI Rosehip Grape or NADI Rosehip Pomegranate

1 8-ounce bottle of club soda or zero-calorie sparkling water

2 slices of orange

Fill two cups with ice. Pour half the bottle of NADI Rosehip Drink in each glass, top with half the bottle of club soda and garnish with a slice of orange. Makes two drinks.