Summer is here! And your child must be super excited for his much-awaited break from school. But before he basks in the sun, you better make sure he’s well hydrated. You see, dehydration happens when the fluids our bodies lose when sweating or urinating are not replaced. It can cause chills, fever, nausea, and in extreme cases, death.

To make drinking lots of fluids irresistible for your child, here are some recipes that my family enjoys. They are not only yummy, they also help boost children’s immunity. Enjoy!

Calamansi Madness

Calamansi or  calamondin is a great source of vitamin c. Juice it to help your child fight off summer diseases.

1. Squeeze enough calamansi to fill half a cup. Remember to use a strainer to remove the seeds.
2. In a pitcher, mix the calamansi extract with four cups of water.
3. Add sugar to taste.
4. Serve chilled.

Melon Magic  

Melon or cantaloupe is not only rich in vitamin A, it also has very minimal amount of calories. It’s a deliciously healthy fruit!

1. Halve a ripe melon and remove the seeds.
2. Scrape the meat off the skin. Mix melon meat with a pitcher of water.
3. Add sugar to taste.
4. Serve chilled.

Super Santol

This Pinoy favorite is also known as sandorica or wild mangosteen. It is believed to be rich in vitamin B.

1. Peel the skin off at least four big ripe santol.
2. Halve the santol. Remove the seeds.
3. Chop the santol meat.
4. Mix the santol meat in a pitcher of water. Add sugar to taste.
5. Serve chilled.

Coco Loco

Not only is the coconut’s white meat rich in protein, its delicious juice is also good for urinary or bladder problems.

1. Remove the outer husk of a coconut.
2. Crack the coconut open and pour coconut juice into a pitcher.
3.  Halve the coconut and scrape the meat of the inner shell.
4. Add the coconut meat to the juice.
5. Add water or sugar if you wish.
6. Serve chilled.

Chilled Salabat

Did you know that ginger is also used as a potent pain killer and cough and colds fighter?

1. Slice an inch of ginger.
2. Place the ginger in a kettle of water and boil.
3. After boiling, set kettle aside to cool.
4. Put salabat in the fridge or just add ice.

Green Mango Shake

Green mangoes are very rich in vitamin C.

1. Make a simple sugar syrup: In a small sauce pan, boil water and sugar. Set aside to cool.
2. Peel the skin off two green mangoes. Remove the meat from the seed.
3. Put the syrup and green mango meat into the blender.
4. Blend until smooth.

Watermelon Shake

Although composed of 92% percent water, watermelon is also a source of vitamin A and C.

1. Slice watermelon and remove seeds.
2. Place the watermelon inside blender. Add sugar or honey and a little water.
3. Add ice.

Strawberry banana shake
Strawberries contain lots of vitamin C. Bananas have potassium for muscular strength. Yogurt has good bacteria to balance out the bad bacteria in the gut.

1. Pour a cup of milk, a cut up banana, plain yogurt and about four strawberries into the blender.
2. Blend for a minute.
3. Serve chilled.

Remember mom, these are just some suggestions to make rehydration more exciting for your child. However, drinking eight to ten glasses of water throughout the day is still recommended.

Dr. Rhiza Valdes
Pedia

• Chair, Philippine Ambulatory Pediatric Association Committee(PAPA) on Child Health Care Delivery,2001 – present Coordinator, TB Dotch project
• Vice-President, PAPA,2008-present
• Head, Center for Patient Partnership, The Medical City Hospital,2000-present
• Member, Quality Improvement Council, The Medical City Hospital, 2005 – present
• Section Head, Ambulatory Pediatrics, Department Of Pediatrics, The Medical City, 2007-present
• Staff, Section of Ambulatory Pediatrics, St. Luke's Medical Center,1999-present
• Lecturer, Ateneo School Of Medicine and Public Health,2nd and 3rd year levels,2008-present

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