I don’t know about your kids, but when my kids are sick, convincing them to drink a homemade electrolyte drink isn’t easy. Depending on their age and how they’re feeling, getting them to drink anything is difficult.
The unfortunate thing about many homemade electrolyte drinks is that they lack flavor. Many are made out of straight coconut water. Sure, coconut water is great for you and it provides a good bit of minerals, but when it’s combined with a small amount of sweetener and extra minerals (usually in the form of sea salt), it simply tastes like coconut flavored salt water. I mean, I’m not all that excited about drinking it when I’m not sick so I can’t expect my feverish child who’s vomiting to drink salty tasting water when he is sick. Right?
So what’s a natural mama to do when their kiddo is sick and needs to stay hydrated? Store-bought electrolyte drinks are full of sugar, dye, and other unhealthy ingredients, and while the idea behind a homemade electrolyte drink is a great one… if your kids won’t drink it, what good is it?
So, I decided to tweak some traditional homemade electrolyte drink recipes to make them taste better. That way, my kid will actually drink them and benefit from them when they’re sick. Not only will these drinks help to keep my child hydrated, but they contain healthy ingredientsand actually taste decent.
Today, I’d like to share them with you in case you are like me, and you’ve struggled to get your kids to drink a homemade electrolyte drink when they’ve been sick in the past.
3 Homemade Electrolyte Drinks Your Kids Will Love
Below you’ll find three different recipes for homemade electrolyte drinks that you can make and give your kids when they need them.
You see, homemade electrolyte drinks aren’t just for when you’re kids are sick. They’re for any time when the body is sweating a lot and is at risk of losing too many minerals or too much water.
Some different times homemade electrolyte drinks may be a good fit is:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fever
- outside working
- outside playing
- sports events, etc.
Each recipe makes a small pint-sized mason jar of homemade electrolyte drink, but feel free to double it and make a quart-sized jar if you know you’ll need that much. I’d also suggest that you start with a smaller amount of electrolyte salts and add more if you think you’ll need it.
“Tummy Trouble” Homemade Electrolyte Drink
This homemade electrolyte drink is great for when your little’s stomach is upset. Not only do they need to stay hydrated, but they need help to settle their stomach a bit as well. Thankfully, the herbs in this blend are just the thing to help them, and yes, mama… it tastes great!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons Ginger Peach herbal tea
- 1-3 teaspoons raw honey (or preferred sweetener)
- 1/16 – 1/8 teaspoon of electrolyte salt
Directions:
- Make a pint-sized jar of Ginger Snap tea by placing 2 tablespoons of tea mix in a tea strainer and pouring 16 ounces of boiled water over it. Cover the jar with a plate and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Remove tea strainer and compost tea (or make another 8-ounce cup to drink yourself).
- Add honey and 1/16 teaspoon of electrolyte salts to tea for minor fluid loss or for children 3 and younger – 1/8 teaspoon of electrolyte salts for major fluid loss or for children 4 and older. Mix well.
To Use:
Pour homemade electrolyte drink over a small amount of ice to chill, and serve with a straw. Encourage your child to take a sip every 15 minutes or so.
“Just Beachy” Homemade Electrolyte Drink
This homemade electrolyte drink is my personal favorite. It tastes like a delicious drink you’d have at the beach thanks to the coconut and pineapple flavors. Think of a pina-colada of sorts! This is a great homemade electrolyte drink to give to your kiddos during a long day in the sun whether you’re actually at the beach or a theme park or simply working or playing in the yard.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 cup of pineapple juice (no sugar added, non-gmo)
- 1-3 teaspoons raw honey (or preferred sweetener)
- 1/16 – 1/8 teaspoon of electrolyte salt
Directions:
- Combine coconut water, pineapple juice, and honey in a pint-sized mason jar.
- Add 1/16 teaspoon of electrolyte salts to tea for minor fluid loss or for children 3 and younger – 1/8 teaspoon of electrolyte salts for major fluid loss or for children 4 and older. Mix well.
To Use:
Pour homemade electrolyte drink over a small amount of ice to chill, and serve with a straw. Encourage your child to take a sip every 15 minutes or so.
“Fruit Punch” Homemade Electrolyte Drink
This homemade electrolyte drink isbright and fruity. It’s another great one for hot, summer days, but it’s also a great one during viral illnesses because of the vitamin c content it has thanks to the hibiscus flowers. Vitamin C is a great vitamin to increase when sickness arrives.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoonshibiscus flowers
- 3-6 teaspoons raw honey (or preferred sweetener)
- 1/16 – 1/8 teaspoon of electrolyte salt
Directions:
- Make a pint-sized jar of hibiscus tea by placing 2 tablespoons of hibiscus flowers in a tea strainer and pouring 16 ounces of boiled water over it. Cover the jar with a plate and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Remove tea strainer and compost the flowers (or make another 8-ounce cup to drink yourself).
- Add honey and 1/16 teaspoon of electrolyte salts to tea for minor fluid loss or for children 3 and younger – 1/8 teaspoon of electrolyte salts for major fluid loss or for children 4 and older. Mix well.
To Use:
Pour homemade electrolyte drink over a small amount of ice to chill, and serve with a straw. Encourage your child to take a sip every 15 minutes or so.
So there you have it, mama. Three different homemade electrolyte drink recipes you can make and use anytime you or your kiddo needs to rehydrate. I hope these help you as much as they have helped me!
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Love and light,
Meagan
