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Water instead of soda and more: A healthy school environment teaches kids a healthy lifestyle

2 min read

Better Society
Water instead of soda and more: A healthy school environment teaches kids a healthy lifestyle
Source: BrightVibes

Kids spend a great deal of time at school. Teaching them math and language is important, but teaching them healthy habits and supplying the tools for this is just as important! And it doesn’t have to be difficult at all.

investing in a healthy future

In order to combat overweight and obesity among children and youth, the Dutch government is investing 2 million euros for tap water stations on playgrounds across the country.

This is necessary as almost 16% of the children between 2 en 25 is overweight. There are many ways to combat obesity and to choose for a healthier lifestyle, but switching from sodas to water, may be the most effective way.

Source: Rijksoverheid

Some schools let kids take care of their own vegetable garden. This is great for many reasons! They learn how vegetables grown and what this process all entails; they wont take food for granted as fast.. They can get excited about growing their own vegetables at home. Plus they are outside, moving around and getting fresh air.
tending your own vegetable garden Some schools let kids take care of their own vegetable garden. This is great for many reasons! They learn how vegetables grown and what this process all entails; they wont take food for granted as fast.. They can get excited about growing their own vegetables at home. Plus they are outside, moving around and getting fresh air. Source: BrightVibes

water is life

Water quenches the thirst incredibly effectively and doesn’t contain any calories or fats. It seems like such a simple and straightforward solution, to switch from soda to water, and it is!

Children in western countries drink too much soda. Because of the high amount of sugar it contains, resulting in a very sweet taste, it’s the preferred choice among children. However, soda sometimes contains more sugar than a candybar, and if it’s all a kid drinks, they are headed towards an unhealthy lifestyle.

Waiting for the train or just walking by? Fill your bottle and quench your thirst with the water stations at the train station in Alkmaar.
Public Fountains are important too Waiting for the train or just walking by? Fill your bottle and quench your thirst with the water stations at the train station in Alkmaar. Source: Duurzaam Actueel

learn it at school

Kids spend a lot of their time at school and thus it is important that healthy habits are either created or encouraged here. 

Some schools, such as De Windwijzer (The Wind vane) already enforced the healthy water drinking habit. Here, every kid has their own water bottle, which they can fill whenever they like in the tap water station that is in each classroom. 

For the schools that don’t enforce a healthy habit environment for their students yet, the government is investing money for them to do so. Within a short period of time, every school ought to have a tap water point so that their pupils can drink water whenever and wherever they like.

This school encourages children to drink water. They have all been given a 'dopper' ; e reusable plastic bottle to keep refilling with water for a healthy lifestyle.
Doppers all around This school encourages children to drink water. They have all been given a ‘dopper’ ; e reusable plastic bottle to keep refilling with water for a healthy lifestyle. Source: Facebook Basisschool de windwijzer

nobody truly ‘loathes’ water…

However, when kids drink a lot of soda, the absence of sugar can make water taste bland and cause the kids to not like it. All it takes is getting used to the taste!

When they really don’t like it, try ‘spicing’ up he water with a couple of slices of fruit. This isn’t only tasty, it’s healthy as well! Add some lemon, cucumber, mint or berries to the water and see how it transforms the taste.

Make an Impact

Having trouble hitting those 2.5 liters a day?

Here are 22 tips to drink more water during the day!