Keeping little hands in your home warm and snug without oodles of added sugar and caffeine can be tricky. But after the indulgences of the holiday season, our bodies are craving something a little different.
There’s a widespread myth that kids won’t drink beverages unless they are loaded with sugar, milk and chocolate. Kids’ palettes are much more complex than we give them credit for! And as an added bonus, these beverages are all caffeine-free (and delicious) so adults who are kicking a caffeine habit can also enjoy them.
Hot Chocolate
It’s easy to make a few switcharoos to turn hot chocolate into a healthy, nourishing drink. That’s right, hot chocolate doesn’t have to be loaded with sugar and other inflammatory ingredients! With the addition of full-fat dairy, coconut sugar, and carob, our recipe for Hot Carob shares how you can treat your kids with a tasty drink you can feel good about them drinking.
And when making hot chocolate on the stove top isn’t an option, Equal Exchange offers an organic, fair-trade hot cocoa mix that supports small farmers. Just mix it with hot water!
Golden Milk
For something more exotic, try Golden Milk. This healthy warm drink is flavored with turmeric and ginger, offering anti-inflammatory benefits. Don’t worry, the kids will love it. Try our recipe for Golden Chai Latte. For more convenience, Wild Lew Golden Milk Latte is available in single-serve form. Just add hot water or milk.
Herbal Coffees
In many cultures, older children and teens receive mugs of coffee to warm up on a chilly morning. But, with the effects of caffeine on growing bodies, many families are choosing to encourage their teens to enjoy herbal substitutes instead.
Made with roasted roots, herbal coffee alternatives like Dandy Blend are rich and full-bodied and taste remarkably like a cup of coffee, but without the acidity and bitterness you find in a mug of coffee. Filled with liver supporting dandelion, Dandy Blend offers a myriad of health benefits too. Make it into a latte with this recipe.
If specialty flavors are more your speed, Teeccino offers herbal coffee alternative blends that are lightly flavored with deliciously tantalizing flavors like Vanilla, Hazelnut or Mocha. And when chocolatey drinks are what you’re after, pick up Crio Bru. This 100% ground cocoa bean coffee substitute is antioxidant-rich and brews like coffee while tasting like dark chocolate. Crio Bru also offers a range of flavors to inspire your mornings.
Hot Molasses
Mixing a tablespoon of blackstrap molasses with hot water is a tasty drink that offers wonderful health benefits. Add lemon for an additional flavor boost. This simple drink is both warm and nourishing, while being rich in iron and trace minerals your body needs.
However you choose to stay snug this January, you can warm up hands and bellies with these delicious alternatives that fuel you with the nutrients needed to keep going all winter long.