Food and Drink

Practicalities Getting Organised Food and Drink What to Drink 

Water

Everyone, but particularly children should drink plenty of water in hot countries. Dehydration can lead to diarrhoea, vomiting, irritability and worse; water is the best antidote.

Encourage children to take some responsibility for carrying their own. Half a litre, in a leakproof container [Suppliers] in their backpack isn't too heavy. Remember that juices and artificially sweetened drinks can actually increase thirst rather than quenching it.

For details of purification systems see our Clean Water section.

Milk

If milk still forms a significant element of your children's diet you need to think about the quality of what you might find on the spot or what might work as a substitute.

If you have doubts about the purity of the local milk you could buy or take your own UHT milk cartons. These are heavy and take up space but will leave plenty for packing souvenirs on the way back. Many children really dislike the flavour so get them to try it before filling your suitcases with gallons of the stuff.

In southern Europe milk is generally homogenised. This again produces a flavour which does not appeal to all children. If your child normally drinks large amounts of milk but won't take what is on offer, you might like to make sure that he or she is getting enough liquid and alternative nutrients.

Yogurt is widely available even where milk is not (in India for example) and according to one yogurt producer, the bacteria found in yoghurt generally keep out any more harmful bacteria, so it is actually a safer alternative to milk.

If your child is still drinking formula milk, take enough to cover the whole trip, plus more. If you run out you are may be able to find the same brand. In an emergency, take an empty tin to the local pharmacy and ask for the nearest replacement. Don't just buy powdered milk which is not designed for babies, and does not have the same nutritional value as formula.

Other

If you don't have access to pure water, fizzy drinks are hard to imitate and should be safe. Even water is best drunk fizzy as this is harder to fake with contaminated alternatives.