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Does a cleaner version of Miwadi exist?

  • 20-06-2025 06:49PM
    #1
    RoamAround
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1 ✭


    I have googled this a lot but yet to find something that fits the bill. We drink a lot of sugar free Miwadi in our house and I’m on a quest to find something similar with a lot less crap in it. I have a one year old and would love to transition to something better before she starts wanting to drink it too. I have found some alternatives but they are loaded with sugar. Anyone know of any good alternatives? Thanks a mill



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Comments

  • #2
    poppers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 685 ✭✭✭poppers


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058417280/does-a-cleaner-version-of-miwadi-exist

    get them used to drinking water nothing any cleaner,.



  • #3
    Guffy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,351 ✭✭✭Guffy


    Could always give the "air up" a go.



  • #4
    volchitsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,118 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058417280/does-a-cleaner-version-of-miwadi-exist

    Water. Seriously it's really important not to just replace sugar by sugar substitutes which have other disadvantages and still keep the desire for sugar turned up high.

    They will all get used to drinking water if that's what they get. If you give them sweet tasting things that's what they'll look for. But you can change it over a short period.

    If it's really difficult (because you all have the same bad habits) then you can start by getting real fruit juice (not syrups like Miwadi - dump those!) and cutting that down with water.

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



  • #5
    Ha Long Bay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,779 ✭✭✭✭Ha Long Bay


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058417280/does-a-cleaner-version-of-miwadi-exist

    You could just use a dash of not from concentrate orange juice in it.



  • #6
    PixelCrafter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 527 ✭✭✭PixelCrafter


    Most of those dilutables seem about as natural as washing up liquid. There are natural cordials but they’re basically sugar syrups.

    Buy a water filter and you’ll generally find the water tastes much better. A lot of ppl are just so used to drinks tasting of something they won’t drink water, which is ridiculous when you think about it and a relatively recent phenomenon too.

    Post edited by PixelCrafter on


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  • #7
    Speedsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,348 ✭✭✭Speedsie
    ¡arriba, arriba! ¡andale, andale!


    I tend to just keep a jug of water in the fridge with mint/basil/cucumber etc in it for flavouring of I want. Perhaps you could try slices of orange?

    Or you could make your own cordial, here's a recipe for blackcurrant cordial. Three ingredients, but it's basically sugar syrup.

    https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/blackcurrant-cordial



  • #8
    Dial Hard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,008 ✭✭✭✭Dial Hard


    As others have said, just get everyone used to drinking plain water. Even infused waters are incredibly bad for your teeth if you're sipping on water flavoured with citrus or sugary fruit all day. If you absolutely have to have something to flavour your water, cucumber is the best choice.

    Sometimes it's the mouthfeel rather than the taste (or lack thereof) of plain water that people find challenging. I find sparkling water waaaaay easier to drink than tap, but had weaned myself off it as the bottles were giving me the plastic guilt. Mr. DH got me a Drink Mate for Christmas and I love it. A Soda Stream, basically, only not Israeli.



  • #9
    squonk
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 11,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭squonk


    This all sounds fairly ridiculous imho. Maybe put the MiWadi out of reach but let the kids have a drink of it some times. That’s how my parents managed it when I was growing up. Also, it’s well diluted with water so it’s not like they’re drinking full fat 7up or Coke every moment of the day. There is sugar in literally anything related to fruit and you can’t avoid it. Teach them moderation rather than just deciding they’re not getting something otherwise they’ll choose for themselves when they are teens or in college and will likely gravitate towards the things they didn’t get growing up. Just emphasise moderation otherwise you’re putting a lot of needless effort on yourself.



  • #10
    volchitsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,118 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123569082#Comment_123569082

    Drinks full of sugar are addictive. The idea of teaching children not to be addicted by giving them small amounts of something addictive is a bit reckless: our bodies are made to drink water, not syrup, and not even really fruit juice either though if you'd said "Let them have some fruit juice occasionally" I'd have agreed. But Miwadi?? And why do you think coke or 7-up is worse?

    THose high sugar drinks are disastrous for children - Ireland has a massive problem with childhood obesity, and water is what's best for you from all points of view. I was lucky that we lived abroad when my children were small, in a country where it was unusual to drink much coke or other sweet things. Water was the norm for children, tea and coffee for adults. Mine still wouldn't thank you for fizzy or syrupy drinks. It's just about habit, nothing else.

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



  • #11
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 95,497 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Try 100% fruit juice. It's still got a lot of (natural) sugar though.

    Or carbonated water to stick in fridge.



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  • #12
    squonk
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 11,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭squonk


    Sure, water is fine but sugar isn’t crack cocaine. I don’t want to derail your thread but you are overreacting IMHO. Sugar will be in most foods and drinks (excepting water of course) but unless you want to live on a desert island you’re exposed to sugar and additives. You wondered why I singled out coke and 7up. 100ml of those will contain I think it’s 25% sugar. Contrast that with the sage volume of orange squash and uri be less. Water or milk is fine. You can’t just drink those all the time though. Kids will be exposed to other drinks, either visiting friends or other situations. You might as well control the narrative and teach them about restraint and moderation rather than pretending these things don’t exist and letting them find it by themselves and creating bad habits down the line.

    What might be of use to you is a drink I make. 1 orange abd 1 lemon. Slice both in 8 pieces pop in a blender with 500 ml water. Run at medium speed for a few secures. Enough to pukcerysevtge flesh but keep most of the rind intact. Strain into jug and top up with 500ml water



  • #13
    volchitsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,118 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123569582#Comment_123569582

    But that's the mistake you're making though, thinking that by giving them certain drinks they will learn moderation, when those drinks are designed to be addictive (not in the crack cocaine sense, sure but in the sense of always wanting more of the same, then yes).

    They don't need to be exposed to them, they need to know that other things than coke or miwadi actually taste better when you're thirsty - and that will only happen if water is their usual drink.

    That way, when they are exposed to them at other people's homes etc, they won't care about them. It's sad that so many people in Ireland are so addicted to these things themselves that they don't really believe that, and so they can't imagine that children can do perfectly well without developing a miwadi habit. But I promise you they can.

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



  • #14
    Orban6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 311 ✭✭Orban6


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123569521#Comment_123569521

    I drank as a child, and still do drink, cordials. Rarely drink fizzy bottled drinks. I'm not, nor have ever have been, obese.

    Childhood obesity has a lot to do with kids heading to the takeaway after school for their dinner. And a lack of exercise.



  • #15
    squonk
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 11,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭squonk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123569605#Comment_123569605

    I’ll agree to disagree with you. I’m conscious of sugar in my own diet and don’t mind drinking water but sometimes you need a change. My parents would have stepped in if we were going overboard on cordials as kids. We had a balance mainly geared towards water but cordial at times too and I’d still stick to that. I think a lot of kids will experiment with different fits as teens and in college years. You can’t police that. In my case it was only in doing that I realised my parents had the right approach. Water is fine but you need sharing the those tines you just simply aren’t in the mood for it.



  • #16
    volchitsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,118 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123569631#Comment_123569631

    Takeaways are a problem as well, but that's just whataboutery as nobody has said sugar is the ONLY cause of childhood obesity.

    Also, sugar is really bad for children's teeth. There are times when it can't be avoided, but sugary drinks are not one of them.

    As for needing a change, sure - but children are not adults and really don't feel the need for change in that way. Give them water as the default drink, and if they're having sweet drinks at the occasional party or whatever there won't be a problem. IME they'll care less about drinking those sweet drinks if they haven't been used to having them at home.

    As I say, I'm going from my own experience, so this is not just imaginary. Lots of friends and even family in Ireland used to be amazed that my children would ask for a drink of water, or be happy with it when that's what they got, but as I say, it's because that's what they got at home. TBF it was easy for me because that's what their friends mostly drank too. In school they weren't even allowed to bring sugary drinks. And as adults they still haven't developed some sort of thirst for soft drinks later. (Just beer!)

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



  • #17
    anewme
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,147 ✭✭✭✭anewme


    Everything in moderation. As kids we were given as an occasional treat own brand diluted orange (we called it polluted orange) as we could not afford Miwadi, and it has not resulted in sugar addiction.

    I drink water, but occasionally like to add a bit of flavour, so was interested in the thread, only for OP to get no answers to their question.

    I like Glenillen Farm blackcurrant . I also like Naturally Cordials from Wexford . They also make the Dunnes specially selected range. You don’t need much to flavour the water in any of these as a little goes a long way. I stick to blackcurrant

    Not sure if it’s any use to you OP, as I’d describe these as adult cordials and expensive, but a nice treat now and again.



  • #18
    Dial Hard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,008 ✭✭✭✭Dial Hard


    An occasional sugary/sweet drink isn't going to kill anyone, but in the OP's own words they drink "a lot" of it in his house, so I'm guessing it's the family's go-to rather than a once-a-day-with-dinner scenario. If that's the case then I don’t think suggestions for weaning everyone off it are necessarily the nuclear option they're being painted as here, tbh.



  • #19
    squonk
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 11,130 Mod ✭✭✭✭squonk


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123570190#Comment_123570190

    I’d counter that that’s one of the jobs of being a parent, amongst many more. Kids will reach for the least healthy options at every opportunity unless there’s a bit of reigning in happening. If they’re drinking miwadi every opportunity then lay down some files that it’s only for a treat at weekends or whatever. It’s unfair to expect kids to make sound decisions all on their own.



  • #20
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 26,098 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    Just go for water, done for my second and he drinks nothing but water with no interest in sugary drinks. My first we didn't, not a big issue but the second will drink water to beat the band and the first, like myself, will be partially under hydrated without realizing.



  • #21
    volchitsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,118 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123570362#Comment_123570362

    Thanks. That's exactly my experience too.

    It's strange that people seem to find it so hard to just give water to children - they love it when that's what they're used to. Why would you not??

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



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  • #22
    Kimiko 75
    Site Banned Posts: 37 ✭Kimiko 75


    I'd like to know if there is an answer to the OPs question, personally I dislike drinking water (I am a grown up and unlikely to change my mind) I used to drink sparkling water but got sick of holding onto the big bottles to bring back, so I have gone back to putting cordial into the water. I don't drink fizzy drinks and would use something else, if there is a decent alternative to cordial.



  • #23
    volchitsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,118 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123570509#Comment_123570509

    Isn't sparkling water a fizzy drink? If you mean you don't like soft drinks like Coke or Fanta, you could try a Soda Stream. It's a good alternative to sparkling water, and of course you can also add flavours if you like.

    (I wouldn't encourage children to develop much of a habit for it, but as an occasional treat it would still be a lot better than syrup.)

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



  • #24
    odyssey06
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,740 ✭✭✭✭odyssey06


    A carafe of water in the fridge with a lemon and lime wedge gives a hint of flavour. In summer, being chilled is a big advantage.

    "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..." (Tennyson's Ulysses)



  • #25
    Guffy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,351 ✭✭✭Guffy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123570509#Comment_123570509

    https://shop.air-up.com/ie/en?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=l-en_c-ir_f-sea_n-go_a-search_s-brand_k-brand&utm_term=air%20up&utm_content=738565669834&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17877559407&gclid=Cj0KCQjw097CBhDIARIsAJ3-nxcZBKGNKW3h5xHjC3Bdl9POMxCV--OqIuK62AfuQXvc7Dmb17FU4JoaAvBZEALw_wcB



  • #26
    Jim_Hodge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,328 ✭✭✭✭Jim_Hodge


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123570696#Comment_123570696

    Care to explain what it is, rather than posting what could be a dodgy site reference?



  • #27
    Rubberchikken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,259 ✭✭✭Rubberchikken


    We've a chilled water dispenser on our fridge so great in this weather.

    I buy Tesco dilute.Concentrate so is fairly well watered down. I'll admit I.hate water still or sparkling so have to be absolutely gasping to drink.any plain but I have a glass with a tiny drop of dilute to add a little flavour.

    I agree plain water us the best fir a small child. It's a good habit. As they get older they'll decide what to drink they want be policed 24/7.

    One thing I notice is a large % of the generation I would class as having been reared with water only/sugar awareness are now the ones plugging cans of regular coke and monster drinks.



  • #28
    Guffy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,351 ✭✭✭Guffy


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123570725#Comment_123570725

    I posted it earlier in the thread. It's the answer to the ops question. Air up. Uses scent instead flavourings.



  • #29
    volchitsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,118 ✭✭✭✭volchitsa


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123570757#Comment_123570757

    The OP seems to have posted that one single post on the site and then disappeared. Luckily other people have been interested in the discussion though. 😃

    "If a woman cannot stand in a public space and say, without fear of consequences, that men cannot be women, then women have no rights at all." Helen Joyce



  • #30
    greasepalm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,041 ✭✭✭greasepalm


    funny when you click on 1 add they all turn up for you , another one i was looking at was waterdrop and can be got on Amazon in different flavours and all you do is drop 1 cube into a flask of water and wait for it to dissolve.

    Dare i say i like coke zero and 7up zero and pepsi max and do wonder if they are affecting my throat.

    Also use them Mi Wadi minis to shoot some flavour into my water bottles.

    Somewhere in house i have a jug that i could put into the fridge or a Brita



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  • #31
    Kimbot
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 18,928 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kimbot


    Try volvic - touch of fruit or similar :)



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