Prior to the teenage years our children are fine drinking fruit punch, milk, apple juice and maybe even soda.  As they enter adolescence their nutritional needs change, becoming influenced more through pop culture and media outlets. 

First there are the milk varieties.  There is an array of options just in this category alone.  An eight ounce glass of whole milk is 150 calories compared to just 90 calories for a glass of skim milk. Two percent milk is for children between the ages of one and two.  Low fat milk is 1% and a better option for teens.

My thirteen year old has always liked skim milk and tries to get three glasses a day.  My twelve year old on the other hand alternates between soy milk, rice drink and almond milk.  These three alternative milk options come in vanilla flavor, which is preferred by my son.  The caloric content ranges from 90 to 140 for a cup of these creamy beverages.  There is a chocolate option for almond and soy that has yet to be experimented in my home.

They come in three pack containers that are handy for bringing to school for the teen that follows a special diet or is lactose intolerant.  They are sold at Whole Foods stores and Trader Joes.  It would be nice to see these milk opitons available at schools in the near future.

Almond milk is gluten and casein free, but does contain soy.  Rice drink has no preservatives or artificial flavors or coloring.  Rice drink and Soy milk are 100% vegetarian.

Orange Juice comes with many options depending on the vitamins added and whether you prefer you want pulp free, some pulp or all the pulp.  I keep my eye on the sugar content when making Orange Juice choices.  We utilize the half gallon containers versus the frozen cans where you have to add water.  Sunny Delight is another product to check for sugar content and note what vitamins are included.

Another aspect besides calories and sugar content is the taste factor.  If your teen does not like it, there is no way you are going to coax them into drinking the latest concoction aimed to be healthy for their age range. 

You also don't want your teenager to get the bulk of their calories from drinks, so introducing them to coffee may not be a great idea just yet.  There is tea, hot cocoa and bottled water to stock up on during the winter season for your teen to enjoy and consume.

My son likes Gatorade in many different flavors.  They come in neat colors with names that appeal to teens.  If you combine them together in one container you get better results.  This is what my son does and shakes it to get a fizz.  I have successfully weaned him from two glasses of Gatorade to one at lunchtime. 

I am lucky that my teens are not privvy to soda in the home.  I stopped drinking it years ago so it is not readily available.  One of the perks of homeschooling my oldest teen is that he is not around other influences that would impede his nutritional decisions at lunch.  Their first exposure to soda was in the Elementary School during birthday parties when other parents would bring it on campus.

My son also likes lemonade and iced tea during the summer months.  These are good choices for teens to drink instead of energy drinks.  It is best to keep tabs on what beverages your teen is drinking.  Try to keep healthy choices on hand for when they return from school and tend to overdo it on the munchies.

Bonnie is a freelance writer/editor that has many Autism Family Adventures and writes about Autism Spectrum Disorders