When the school year starts up again, parents lose a measure of control over what their kids may be eating - hence all the controversy about sodas and vending machines in schools. One way to help keep kids away from those soda machines is by giving them something that tastes as good, or better, than soda, but is at least a little less sugary. Single-serving flavor packets offer a potential solution. These individual drink mixers include products like Lipton Green Tea to Go, Crystal Light On the Go and Kool-Aid Singles, all of which contain 0-30 calories and can be mixed in with a bottle of water - a far better vending machine choice than a regular soda.
The Houston Chronicle did a review of a few brands and found that Country Time On The Go Lemonade, Lipton Green Tea To Go and Celestial Seasonings Zingers To Go were all worth buying, with good flavors and minimal artificial aftertaste, which they found unappealing in some brands.
These aren't just for kids, of course, and are a good way to drink an extra serving or two of water each day, though you might want to hold off on the Kool-Aid flavor once you're over the age of 10.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-29-2006 @ 12:17PM
amanda said...
I drink these a lot at work - I think they're a great alternative to soda. However use caution with the Kool Aid flavors - they will turn your tongue purple or red! I'm sure kids wouldn't mind but it might not be a very professional look for the office. Crystal Light lemonade is great! Also Wal-Mart and other stores have generic versions which are much cheaper.
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8-29-2006 @ 1:12PM
Alex said...
Ingredients: CITRIC ACID, INSTANT TEA, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, ASPARTAME, MALTODEXTRIN, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, MAGNESIUM OXIDE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, RED 40 LAKE, RED 40, YELLOW 6 LAKE, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 1, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVES FRESHNESS).
This is from the Kraft Foods website, for the Peach Tea Crystal Light On the Go. Would you really want to have your child drink this? I know _I_ wouldn't drink it myself!
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8-29-2006 @ 4:18PM
Daphne said...
I much prefer the Crystal Light for myself (especially the peach tea), but my grandson (2 1/2)
prefers the Kool-Aid!! It's also fabulous for traveling (not by plane obviously unless you try
to make up a very small bottle of water)!
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