Drink Right

Published in our May 2025 newsletter

Staying hydrated is key to overall health and, for students, better learning. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration can lead to poor concentration, short term memory problems, moodiness, and anxiety. The best way to combat this? Drink more water!

Supporting healthy hydration starts by creating an environment that encourages drinking water. Nutrition Coordinators incorporate healthy hydration messaging into schools by putting up bulletin boards, teaching students about how water benefits the whole body, and adding posters and signage to draw attention to hydration stations. This provides a foundation of daily reminders to reinforce what students learn during nutrition lessons, health fairs, and other healthy living promotions.

Throughout the school year EAT RIGHT PHILLY programming staff host a variety of hydration promotion events. These often include educational flyers, hydration trivia, samples of healthy, easy-to-make beverages, and free, reusable water bottles and color-changing “mood cups” for students to make it easier and more fun to drink water throughout the day. Many students are able to customize their water bottles using paint markers, giving them an extra incentive to bring their bottles to school and keep them topped off at the hydration stations.

Healthy hydration promotion focuses not only on staying hydrated but also on making healthier choices by reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. While water is a healthy and cost-effective choice, sometimes having a flavored beverage can make it easier to stay hydrated. One way Nutrition Coordinators do this is by teaching students how to infuse plain water with fruits, vegetables, and herbs to boost flavor without adding any sugar. Citrus fruits, strawberries, pineapple, cucumbers, and mint are all popular enhancement options, and students are often amazed at how delicious and refreshing a simple glass of infused water can be!

Smoothies are also a favorite when it comes to healthy hydration! During classroom lessons and cafeteria tastings, students learn how to blend up a refreshing drink using frozen fruits, such as strawberries, mangos, bananas, 100% orange juice, and low-fat or fat-free yogurt for a delicious and nutritious way to stay hydrated. Smoothies also offer students the opportunity to be creative; many Nutrition Coordinators encourage students to write or draw out their own smoothie recipes to try out at home. We’ve seen some delicious-looking combinations!

This March, our Fruit and Veggie of the Month program was infused with some hydration action too, allowing students to taste-test the featured fruit, mango, in a fresh mango limeade. Pureed mango, lime juice, and the addition of a hint of honey taught students that they could enjoy sweeteners in moderation, but that plenty of natural flavor and sweetness could come from fruit alone.

Hydration is an easy promotion to incorporate into the classroom or cafeteria as well as at special events such as family nights or health fairs. Using a spin wheel to test students on their hydration knowledge adds a fun, interactive component to the lessons, as does a make-your-own infused water bar. Read about one such hydration promotion event here.

There are so many creative ways to teach students about healthy hydration. If hydration has been one of your school’s priorities, reach out to your Nutrition Coordinator to see what kinds of lessons and events we can incorporate. We also hope to inspire ideas for the next school year!

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