Keeping our kids active and hydrated – while avoiding sugar – is a huge challenge for the moms at Motherful. Just think about it – how often does your kid ask for a sugary juice box at lunch, after activity, or when they get home?  In fact, on average, kids consume 3x more sugar per day than the recommended amount¹  – and 46% of that comes from liquids!²

And too much sugar not only causes behavioral issues and mood swings; it also can cause long-term health issues like obesity, short stature, and reduced memory function.³

Yes, we wish our kids would just drink more water – but for when they’re craving something more interesting, we reviewed three top lower-sugar kids’ drinks: Mighties, Honest Kids, and Liquid IV for Kids. Combining the expertise of our Registered Dietitian Vanika Jethwa (RD) with our kids' hands-on testing (and tasting), we compared them on ingredients + nutrition, taste, and convenience. One clear winner emerged. Read on to learn more!

What Should I Look For In A Healthier Kids’ Hydration?

To start, we asked Jethwa, our Registered Dietitian, what to look for in a low-sugar kids’ drink:

• Low (or no) sugar: “High sugar intake leads to negative health outcomes including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental cavities,” says Jethwa, as well as “poor concentration and energy crashes.”^4,5 The American Association of Pediatrics recommends kids aged 2-18 consume no more than 25g of sugar daily⁶ – yet the average child consumes more than 3x that!⁷ 
• Healthy nutrients: Drinks are a great way to supplement nutrients – as many as ⅓ of children are deficient in key nutrients like zinc.⁸ Look for “vitamins D, B6, and B12 to support bone health, energy metabolism, and neurological function, zinc for immune health, and amino acids to support muscle development.”
• Great taste: “Kids do love sweet drinks,” says Jethwa, but a healthier option should use much less sugar, or use natural alternative sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit. Both will “reduce the craving for over-sweetened drinks and reduce kids’ overall sugar consumption.” 

How do Mighties, Liquid IV for Kids, and Honest Kids compare? Spoiler alert - Mighties is the only brand we tested with zero sugar. Read on to find out more!

Healthier Kids’ Drinks Compared

Ingredients + Nutrition: Mighties Wins With No Sugar + Essential Amino Acids

Since sugary drinks make up nearly half of kids’ sugar consumption, reducing the amount of sugar in their drinks is key to a healthier diet.⁹

All three brands contain less sugar than the 20+ grams found in standard juice boxes, but Mighties stands out as the only option we tested with 0g of sugar. One serving of Liquid IV or Honest Kids makes up 25% of kids’ recommended total sugar intake. Liquid IV is sweetened with dextrose, typically found in processed foods, and cane sugar. Honest Kids’ sugar comes from the fruit juice.

Mighties also packs in other important nutrients, including amino acids which "support muscle development and growth,” says Jethwa, and vitamins B6, B12, and D, and zinc – ”all important for bone health, neurological function, and immune health.” Neither of the other brands contained amino acids, vitamin D, or zinc. 

Mighties wins on ingredients with zero sugar and the most nutrient-dense formulation. 

Taste: Mighties Wins With Lemonade-Like Taste

The best healthier drink option is the one that your kids will actually reach for. Motherful mom Britney tested all three with her son Max – and took a few sips herself. The results:

• Liquid IV for Kids Cotton Candy Flavor: Britney mixed one stick into Max’s water glass. After the first sip, Max scrunched his nose. He took a few more sips and gave it a thumbs down. Britney said the taste was “too artificial and overly sweetened.” 
• Honest Kids Berry Lemonade: Max drank one juice box. He gave it a half thumbs up, saying it tasted “watery.” That’s probably because the first ingredient in Honest Kids is water – diluting the sugar that comes from 100% fruit juice.
• Mighties Berry Lemonade Flavor: Britney mixed one stick into Max’s water. Max finished the glass quickly and gave it a thumbs up. Britney said it tasted like the lemonade that Max loves, but wasn’t too sweet.

Mighties won Max’s taste test and tasted impressively close to his favorite lemonade – even with zero sugar. 

Convenience: Mighties Wins With Easy Sticks Packs + Safety for Kids

For moms and kids on the go, Mighties and Liquid IV are the most convenient. Both come in individual sticks that are easy to pack and mix into water bottles anywhere. Both are easy to tear open and pour into Max’s water, and Britney could pack a few in her bag so they never ran out. Honest Kids’ juice box is unsurprisingly harder to pack and creates more waste (and hassle) with the box, plastic straw, and straw bag. 

However, Mighties proved the best option to replace Max’s sugary drinks throughout the day. Not only was it his favorite taste, but it’s the only brand that’s safe to give kids multiple times in a day. With zero sugar, Britney was able to replace every sugary drink craving with Mighties. Our Registered Dietitian Jethwa recommends limiting Liquid IV and Honest Kids to one serving per day due to their sugar content. 

The Overall Winner: Mighties

After evaluating Mighties, Liquid IV for Kids, and Honest Kids on ingredients + nutrition, taste, and convenience, we found one clear winner: Mighties. It was the only brand with zero sugar and featured the highest nutrient density and best taste. 

Our Registered Dietitian agrees: “I recommend Mighties because it reduces sugar intake while helping kids get the necessary vitamins and minerals – and satisfying the craving for a sweet drink.” 

Ready to try Mighties?

1. Heart.org
2. Harris County Medical Society
3. Canadian Medical Association Journal
4. American Academy of Pediatrics
5. BMC Public Health
6. American Academy of Pediatrics
7. Nutrients Journal
8. Nature
9. State of Childhood Obesity