The longer I am a parent, the more irritated I become about sports drinks.
I am irritated that million-dollar marketing tactics are used to woo children with star athletes, logos splashed all over televised sporting events, and online comics and games. It’s wrong.
How wrong? Last year, Gatorade actually developed a video game in which the player maneuvers around a course, gathering up Gatorade and avoiding water–the “enemy” that would slow him down. (Read “Water is the enemy, Gatorade Mobile Tells Youth” on Civil Eats and this follow-up on The Lunch Tray that includes action you can take if you’re disgusted too.)
The marketing has also confused and misled parents, many of whom believe that sports drinks are not only good for kids but also necessary for any kind of sporting event, even pee-wee soccer games that barely last 45 minutes or baseball games that involve more sitting and waiting than running and sweating.
What most kids need for sports is water and good food. In their 2011 clinical report, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said that water is “the appropriate first choice for hydration before, during, and after most exercise regimens”. For garden-variety sports practices and games, electrolytes lost through sweat can be replaced with the next snack or meal. According to the AAP report, “For most children and adolescents, daily electrolyte requirements are met sufficiently by a healthy balanced diet; therefore, sports drinks offer little to no advantage over plain water.”
What most kids don’t need: The ingredients in sports drinks.
Here’s what’s in a bottle of Gatorade Cool Blue: WATER, SUGAR, DEXTROSE, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SALT, SODIUM CITRATE, MONOPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, GLYCEROL ESTER OF ROSIN, BLUE 1.
In other words…
- Two kinds of added sugar (8.5 teaspoons of it in a 20-ounce bottle)
- Citric acid, which can erode tooth enamel
- Artificial flavor and synthetic food dye
- Thickeners and stabilizers
- Sodium and potassium that kids can get by eating actual food
I know sports drinks taste good to kids, including my own kids. And I’ve let them have sports drinks on rare occasions (read “Why I’m Glad I Bought the Gatorade“). But lately, we’ve also been talking about the marketing tricks, the massive paychecks given to athletes, the huge sums paid to the NFL for placing Gatorade coolers, towels, and water bottles all over the sidelines.
We’re also talking about how sports drinks won’t make them faster on the soccer field or better able to catch passes in flag football, regardless of what they see on billboards and in commercials–that unless they’re playing sports for a very long time in very hot and humid weather, plain water is perfect. And that sports drinks are no better than soda, fruit punch, or any other sugary drink they see in vending machines.
I also lobby for sports team snack policies that include water–only water. If you’d like to see sports drinks gone from the sidelines of your child’s games too, check out my Sports Snacktivism Handbook for resources on making change happen.
Hi! I'm Sally, a dietitian-mom.
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Lexie Wolf says
Thank you for writing this! The whole snacks n sports things is a huge pet peeve of mine. I am going to check out your handbook. Not only is gatorade horrible, but do kids really need a snack at all for playing an hour or so of soccer? Kids have come to expect snacks at every game. At my daughter’s last soccer season in the fall, the games ended at 11:45, and everyone handed out a snack. Um, how about just going home and having a healthy lunch, folks! Your site is great.
Sally says
Lexie–if you’d like to make change on your daughter’s soccer team, you’ve come to the right place! Once you read the Sports Snacktivism Handbook, let me know if you have any questions. You CAN get rid of junk (or snacks altogether) on the sidelines–and chances are, there are many parents who agree with you on that.
Hanna Saltzman says
Wonderful post, Sally – I’m so glad that you (and Bettina & Nancy!) are shedding light on this important aspect of child-targeted marketing. I hadn’t seen the online comics before – such a deceptive form of advertising! As is celebrity & athletic sponsorship by food & drink companies in general.
Sally says
Thanks Hanna. I was so impressed by Nancy exposing the story and Bettina for spreading the word and raising awareness. That Gatorade video game really angered me and I talked about it with my kids. It really opened up a great dialogue about the marketing involved with sports drinks.
Heather says
Just found your blog and I totally agree! Sports drinks are also a big issue with construction workers (that I’ve had as patients) who often have diabetes.
Have you seen the movie Idiocracy? Its totally silly but everyone in the future drinks sports drinks and its pretty hilarious. They also start watering plants with it…
Jenn says
I’m a new parent too and I totally agree! Water for my kids. I did want to point out a typo you have…barley instead of barely. 🙂 just wanted to let you know, sure I’m not the first to point it out. Love your blog by the way, you are such an inspiration!
Sally says
Jenn–thanks so much, especially for pointing out that typo. Fixed it! I’m the writer, photographer, and copyeditor around here so sometimes errors slip past me. 🙂
Jeanette says
I remember back as a teen involved in lots of sports back in the 90’s and even then, water rarely made an appearance on the sidelines. I always thought that Gatorade was very healthy and necessary for athletes, and my parents never corrected that assumption. Most likely, they were under the same beliefs, fueled by the heavy-handed advertising.
My kids have asked for it on occasion, but since we cut out all artificial food dyes years ago, they know that I won’t say yes. I mean, the drink is blue! But it is so true that we have to educate our kids while pushing against the mainstream. Thank you for a thoughtful and well-written article.
Sally says
Thank you Jeanette! You’re right, the marketing has been VERY effective–which of course means more money for beverage manufacturers but nothing good for kids. And when the true marketing tactics are exposed–that Gatorade is actively working to make kids think water is an “enemy”–it’s enough to turn your stomach! Thanks for your comment and your nice compliment.
Alyssa says
Hi Sally! This is a great post! I’m not a mom, but I’m dietetic intern now who also loves fitness. So I just wanted to add how this isn’t only crucial for moms and dads to keep in mind for their kids but for themselves as well. As parents are outside playing with their kids or heading to the gym to workout themselves, their best bet is always water over any of the sports drinks or even the energy drinks I now see many adults and teenagers with. Also, I’m so happy to have found a health and nutrition related blog run by an RD!
Sally says
Great point Alyssa. And agree about the energy drinks. Those provide so many extra calories and so much added sugar. Glad you found my blog!
Casey Chambers says
Hello,
I have been looking through your website and have seen several articles relating to nutrition and overall health. I am an Area Marketing Manager for BODYARMOR SuperDrink and would love the opportunity to introduce you to a healthy alternative to your typical gatorade or powerade. Our product is a premium sports drink packed with electrolytes, vitamins, coconut water, and NOTHING artificial. Sports are important for our kids and the fuel we give them should be top of mind! I would like to send you a mixed case for your team to check out and review. I am asking for honest feedback and a written review on your site. I encourage you to check out our website and see what we are all about. Let me know if you are interested and the easiest way for me to get you samples. I look forward to hearing from you!
Samantha Jacokes says
I couldn’t agree more! We play summer baseball here, which can be pretty hot, so I have been making my own “Gatorade” with a combination of water, coconut water, and juice. And, in addition, I’d like to see the team snack disappear. My kids don’t need a snack after a baseball game, soccer practice, or anything. I am perfectly capable of feeding my kids when needed.
SARAH says
This is great info! I found an artificial colors and flavoring free drink mix that I love… I rarely pick up Gatorade and if I do its because I was clearly unprepared! It’s awesome you’re such an inspiration for healthy living!