We’re enjoying an unusually perfect winter on the Gold Coast right now: clear blue skies and daytime temperatures reaching the low 20s. This morning the boys and I headed out for an early walk to a nearby shop, a roughly 4 km outing with the double pram over a few hills. The little bakery was closed, so we popped into the local foodstore and picked up some bread. There were sweets everywhere, but the boys knew it was far too early to ask for lollies. Instead they spotted a farm animal toy pack for $4 and asked for that. I was happy to buy it, and they sat quietly in the pram sharing the toys for the 2 km walk back home.
Back at home they played with the farm set while I got ready. I poured some old buckwheat into a tin and they happily pretended to harvest the “seeds” while I had a quick shower. It’s small, everyday moments like these that make busy mornings feel calm and pleasant — imaginative play, a bit of outdoor time, and simple snacks.
| Farm animal fun with Buckwheat |
For morning tea I introduced the boys to a new drink I’d chilled in the fridge: Water Buddies. The colourful bottles and playful shapes immediately caught their attention. These drinks are lightly flavoured spring water with natural fruit essences. Each bottle contains just 1.8% sugar — roughly 5 grams per bottle — which makes them a much lower-sugar option compared with many mainstream fruit drinks that often contain 20 grams of sugar or more.
I tasted one myself. The drinks are essentially watered-down fruit flavours blended with spring water, and they contain no artificial additives or unnecessary junk. They offer a light, refreshing alternative for children who resist plain water but don’t need a sugary beverage. The boys enjoyed sipping theirs in the sunshine, and the packaging seems to help make drinking water feel fun.
These are drinks I would happily buy again. They make a handy option for parents looking to reduce sugar intake while still offering a child-friendly packaged drink. I noticed them recently on special at Aldi for 99 cents, which is a bargain compared with the usual recommended retail price of $1.99. They are also stocked at Woolworths. For more detailed product information, check the product packaging or in-store displays.
To celebrate, I’m giving away a pack valued at $40 that includes five bottles of Water Buddies and a fun children’s watch. The giveaway is open to Australian residents only. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter widget on this page — full terms and conditions are included in the widget. This pack is perfect for sampling the flavours and seeing which ones your kids prefer.
I was provided three bottles to review. No payment was received and all opinions expressed are my own.