Kids may wield great marketing power but it's the parents who hold the purse. The $90 billion beverage world is figuring out that parents will pay a premium for more nutritious drinks for their kids. Every beverage maker seems to be following into the fray – from Pepsi to Snapple to Stonyfield Farm.
It's all about creating drinks that can pass the parent test. Next year, General Mills – which owns Go-Gurt squeezable yogurt – will begin selling Go-Gurt yogurt drinks. They'll be fortified with calcium and vitamins. Two months ago, Stonyfield began selling organic Juice Smoothies made with yogurt. Earlier this year, it introduced YoBaby, yogurt and milk drinks that target kids to age 4. Look for a bevy of new beverages in the year to come including:
- Dairy drinks made from 2% milk instead of whole milk from beverage giants Pepsi, Coke and Nestlé.
- Juice drinks such as Juiced! From Snapple that are fortified with vitamins A and C and calcium.
- Better-for-you soft drinks including Cadbury Schweppes 7Up Plus. It contains fruit juice, calcium and vitamin C and has 10 calories per serving.
- Calcium-fortified drink mixes such as Hershey foods calcium-fortified chocolate syrup.
All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.