• Skip to main content
  • Skip to "About government"
  • Skip to section menu

Language selection

  • Françaisfr
Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Menu

  • Jobs and the workplace
  • Immigration and citizenship
  • Travel and tourism
  • Business and industry
  • Benefits
  • Health
  • Taxes
  • Environment and natural resources
  • National security and defence
  • Culture, history and sport
  • Policing, justice and emergencies
  • Transport and infrastructure
  • Canada and the world
  • Money and finances
  • Science and innovation
  • Jobs and the workplace
  • Immigration and citizenship
  • Travel and tourism
  • Business and industry
  • Benefits
  • Health
  • Taxes
  • Environment and natural resources
  • National security and defence
  • Culture, history and sport
  • Policing, justice and emergencies
  • Transport and infrastructure
  • Canada and the world
  • Money and finances
  • Science and innovation

You are here

  1. Canada.ca
  2. Health
  3. Food and nutrition
  4. Canada's food guide
  5. Healthy eating recommendations
  6. Make water your drink of choice
  7. Sugary drinks
Canada’s food guide

Sugary drinks and your teen

Teens may not admit it, but they look to their parents to help guide their choices and behaviour. Help your teen replace sugary drinks with water.

On this page

  • Benefits of decreasing your teen’s intake of sugary drinks
  • How to help lower your teen’s intake of sugary drinks

Benefits of decreasing your teen’s intake of sugary drinks

Parental influence can play a major role in decreasing teens’ intake of sugary drinks.

Reducing your teen’s intake of sugary drinks may lead to a decreased risk of:

  • obesity
  • tooth decay
  • type 2 diabetes

Teens are some of the highest consumers of sugary drinks. Sugary drinks are a major source of sugars in the diets of pre-teens and teens. Teens consume most of their sugary drinks at home in the afternoons and evenings.

Soft drinks are the most popular drink among teens. Other sugary drinks include:

  • iced tea
  • fruit juice
  • sports drinks
  • energy drinks
  • hot chocolate
  • chocolate milk
  • specialty coffee and teas
  • flavoured waters with added sugars
  • fruit-flavoured drinks like fruit punch
  • sweetened plant-based beverages

How to help lower your teen’s intake of sugary drinks

Teens are still developing healthy habits. You can help your teen develop healthy habits by:

  • reducing the number of sugary drinks available at home
  • encouraging them to make healthy drink choices when they are away from home

Take some time to explain to your teen that some drinks have a lot of sugars and should not be consumed every day. Make it easier for them to choose healthy beverages. Try to:

  • offer water or carbonated water with meals and snacks
  • brainstorm as a family ways to flavour water with fruits and herbs

Further reading

  • Sugary drinks
  • Make water your drink of choice
  • Caffeine and kids
  • Diabetes
  • Childhood obesity
  • Supplemented foods
Report a problem or mistake on this page
Please select all that apply:
Date modified:
2024-02-09

Section Menu

  • Healthy food choices
  • Eat a variety of healthy foods
    Expand
    • Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits
    • Eat whole grain foods
    • Eat protein foods
    • Choose foods with healthy fats
  • Limit highly processed foods
    Expand
    • Prepare foods with healthy ingredients
    • Choose healthier menu options
  • Make water your drink of choice
    Expand
    • Replace sugary drinks
      Expand
      • Sugary drinks and your teen
  • Use food labels
  • Be aware of food marketing
    Expand
    • Limit kids’ exposure to food marketing
  • Healthy eating habits
  • Be mindful of your eating habits
    Expand
    • Take time to eat
    • Notice your hunger cues
  • Cook more often
    Expand
    • Plan what you eat
    • Involve others
  • Enjoy your food
    Expand
    • Include culture and food traditions
  • Eat meals with others
Benefits of water
Transcript | With described video

For recipes and more food guide resources visit:

Canada.ca/FoodGuide

About this site

Government of Canada

  • All Contacts
  • Departments and agencies
  • About government

Themes and topics

  • Jobs
  • Immigration and citizenship
  • Travel and tourism
  • Business
  • Benefits
  • Health
  • Taxes
  • Environment and natural resources
  • National security and defence
  • Culture, history and sport
  • Policing, justice and emergencies
  • Transport and infrastructure
  • Canada and the world
  • Money and finance
  • Science and innovation
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Veterans and military
  • Youth

Brand

  • Social media
  • Mobile applications
  • About Canada.ca
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
Top of Page
Symbol of the Government of Canada