U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Make Better Beverage Choices

Make Better Beverage Choices

Download PDF

At every age, what you drink can be as important as what you eat. When deciding what to drink, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Start Simple with these tips today:


Drink water

Drink water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. Regular soda, energy or sports drinks, and other sweetened drinks usually contain a lot of added sugars.

Encourage kid-friendly drinks

Make water, low-fat or fat-free dairy milk, or unsweetened seltzer the go-to options for your kids. Serve 100% juice only on occasion.

Compare food labels

Use the Nutrition Facts label when shopping for beverages. Check and compare calories, amounts of added sugars, and servings per container.

Cut coffee calories

Skip the whipped cream and chocolate or caramel drizzle. Go with low-fat milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for a lower calorie coffee.

Grab a bottle and go

Carry a clean, reusable water bottle in your bag to fill up throughout the day. Tap water is usually easy to find.

Jazz up your drink

Perk up your plain water or seltzer water with lemon, lime, or orange slices. Maybe even try some fresh mint leaves or a few fresh or frozen berries.

The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite.

Image
Shop Simple home screen on a phone

Shop Simple with MyPlate

Find savings in your area and discover new ways to prepare budget-friendly foods.

Learn more

Image
Alexa Speakers and Devices

MyPlate on Alexa

Get MyPlate nutrition tips on Amazon Alexa devices or the free Alexa app.

Learn more

Image
Start Simple app on phone and watch

Start Simple with MyPlate App

Build healthy eating habits one goal at a time! Download the Start Simple with MyPlate app today.

Learn more

Image
logo for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

MyPlate.gov is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025