Choosing what drinks to pack for school can impact your kids' energy, mood, and focus. With so many beverage brands pushing sugary, caffeinated, and 'healthy' options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and opt for what you already know. WISEcode is here to empower you and your family with clarity. No judgment, just honest guidance based on what's important to you, so you can confidently select beverages for school that match your family's goals, tastes, and lifestyle.

Below are the results from scanning common school beverages with the WISEcode app. You can always see for yourself and download it for free.

Back to School Drinks

1. Soda vs. Alternatives

Popular Brands:

• Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Fanta, Mountain Dew, 7-UP

Healthier Brands:

• Spindrift (flavored with real fruit juice), La Croix, Waterloo, Polar Seltzer, San Pellegrino, Topo Chico, Aura Bora, Olipop, Poppi.

Why consider the swap?

Classic sodas are high in added sugars (and/or high fructose corn syrup) and offer little nutritional value. Sodas also contain significantly more calories compared to sparkling water, which is typically calorie-free or very low in calories. Sparkling water brands provide the same fizz, often with natural fruit flavor and without the added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

Use apps like WISEcode to find sodas like Olipop that are cleaner and have less sugar, if you're looking to avoid extra additives.

2. Sweet Tea vs. Iced Tea

Popular Brands:

• Arizona, TAZO (sweetened), Pure Leaf, Gold Peak

Healthier Brands:

• Tejava (unsweetened), Pure Leaf Unsweetened, homemade herbal or green tea

Why consider the swap?

Bottled sweet teas can contain more than 20g of sugar per bottle. Opting for unsweetened black or herbal teas helps reduce sugar intake and allows the natural flavors to shine. Serving your tea in a cup can help with portion control and enhance your enjoyment.

3. Energy Drinks vs. Coconut Water

Popular Brands:

• Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, 5-Hour Energy, Celsius, Prime, G-Fuel

Healthier Brands:

• Harmless Harvest, Vita Coco, ZICO, C2O, Coco Libre, Amy & Brian, Taste Nirvana

Why consider the swap?

Energy drinks have become a popular choice among teens and young adults, but they come with potential health risks, especially for children, according to scientists. These drinks are often loaded with caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants that can lead to energy crashes, poor concentration, and even increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association strongly advises that children and teens avoid energy drinks altogether, recommending water, plain milk, and 100% fruit juice instead. Beyond the immediate jolt, energy drinks can also contribute to tooth decay and other dental problems due to their high sugar content and acidity. For parents, understanding the dangers of energy drinks is key to helping kids make better beverage choices that support their health and well-being.

4. Sports Drinks

Popular Brands:

• Gatorade, Powerade, Body Armor

Healthier Brands:

• WTRMLN WTR (watermelon juice), homemade watermelon “agua fresca” (blend watermelon with water), Harmless Harvest

Why consider the swap?

Traditional sports drinks replenish electrolytes but contain high levels of sugar and artificial dyes and sweeteners. Watermelon juice is naturally hydrating, provides potassium, and contains no artificial dyes or flavors.

5. Bottled Lemonade vs. Fresh Lemon Water

Popular Brands:

• Minute Maid, Simply Lemonade, Country Time

Healthier Brands:

• Make your own: water with fresh lemon slices or try Spindrift or Lemon Perfect - use WISEcode to find lemonades that match your food values.

Why consider the swap?

Many store-bought lemonades are often loaded with added sugars. Choosing plain water with lemon slices offers a refreshing, calorie-free alternative that hydrates naturally. If you do want to bye bottled lemonade, you can choose versions without the ingredients you're trying to avoid.

6. Fruit Drinks vs. 100% Fruit Juice (in moderation)

Popular Brands:

• Hawaiian Punch, Capri Sun, Minute Maid

Healthier Brands:

• The Switch (100% juice, school-compliant), Tropicana 100%, Mott’s 100% Apple Juice, Welch’s 100% Grape Juice

Why consider the swap?

Many fruit drinks contain little actual juice and lots of sweeteners. 100% fruit juice brands deliver more vitamins and minerals, but you still need to watch portion sizes, as natural sugars add up in the fruit juices. Moderating the consumption of 100% fruit juice is important to avoid taking in too many calories from natural sugars.

7. Chocolate Milk vs. Low-Fat or Plant-Based Milk

Popular Brands:

• Nesquik, Hershey’s Chocolate Milk, TruMoo

Healthier Brands:

• Horizon Organic Low-Fat Milk, Silk Almond Milk, Califia Farms Oatmilk, Ripple Pea Milk

Why consider the swap?

Chocolate milk is a popular calcium source but often contains significant added sugar. Cow's milk and other dairy products provide essential nutrients like protein and vitamin D, which are important for growth and bone health. If there are dairy allergies to consider in your family, some fortified plant-based milks are nutritionally similar to cow's milk, especially when enriched with vitamin D and protein. For those with lactose intolerance or who are lactose intolerant, lactose-free dairy or plant-based alternatives such as oat or almond milk are good options.

8. Bottled Iced Coffee vs. Homemade Cold Brew or Ready-to-Drink Options

And for the parents…

Popular Brands:

• Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino, Dunkin’ Bottled Iced Coffee, High Brew

Healthier Brands:

• Stok Cold Brew (unsweetened), Califia Farms Cold Brew, homemade iced coffee with a splash of milk

Why consider the swap?
Most pre-bottled iced coffees are sweetened. Making your own or choosing unsweetened RTD cold brew allows more control over caffeine and sugar content.

9. Sweetened Juice Boxes vs. Diluted Juice or Infused Water

Popular Brands:

• Capri Sun (some varieties), Kool-Aid Jammers, Honest Kids

Healthier Brands:

• Honest Kids (lower sugar line), The Switch (100% juice), Hint Water (kid-sized bottles), infuse water with fresh fruit at home

Why consider the swap?

Sweetened juice boxes are easy, but their added sugars can be reduced by choosing lower-sugar versions or diluting 100% juice with water for a lighter, refreshing taste. Choosing diluted juice or infused water helps reduce sugar-sweetened beverages, promoting better nutrition and overall well-being.

Staying Hydrated On-the-Go

Busy school days make it easy to forget about hydration, but drinking enough fluids is essential for a healthy life, according to the health community. Parents can help their children stay hydrated by packing healthy drinks. For kids who want a little more flavor, oat milk, soy milk, or almond milk are excellent alternatives to sugary drinks like soda or fruit drinks. These options not only keep hydration levels up but also provide important nutrients for growing bodies. Be sure to scan them with WISEcode to ensure they don't contain ingredients you want to avoid like seed oil, emulsifiers, and more.

Practical Tips for Healthy Drinking

Helping kids choose healthy drinks doesn’t have to be a struggle. Start by limiting access to sugary drinks and artificially sweetened beverages, and instead stock the fridge with healthy drinks like water, plain milk, 100% fruit juice,and any other brands you scan with WISEcode that match your values. Parents can set a positive example by choosing these drinks themselves and making healthy hydration a family priority.

Your Empowered Choice

Whether you stick with a childhood favorite or explore new options, the joy is in having choices that match your family’s unique needs. Making smart drink choices for school can provide important health benefits and help prevent weight gain associated with sugary beverages. WISEcode stands for truth, clarity, and personalized guidance for you and your family. 

*We receive no compensation and hold no financial interest in the products mentioned; information is provided based solely on our app and database.