My dad always said to drink water if you’re thirsty. But like most kids, we wanted something with flavor, and children today are the same way.

Grocery stores have entire aisles full of flavored drinks just for kids. Unfortunately, most of them are loaded with sugar and food coloring.

There have been attempts at making them healthy, including the latest beverage called Froose. It comes in a kid-friendly juice box, packaged with a drawing of a moose on the front. Froose is what the company calls “innovative beverages for the healthy growth and development of young children.” Not surprisingly, it was developed by a mother, Denise Devine, the CEO and president.

“Froose is a nutritious, no fuss-no-muss way,” Ms, Devine says, ”to satisfy the car seat passenger during the carpool marathons and throughout the busy day,”

Froose is not just juice. The patented drink is made with organic ingredients, provides 3 grams of fiber, vitamins, minerals and complex carbohydrates. It’s kosher certified, gluten-free and sweetened with brown rice syrup. The secret is inulin, considered a form of soluble fiber. According to a report by Phil Lempert, the “Supermarket Guru,” inulin is a plant-based polysaccharide used to replace sugar, fat and flour. Inulin also increases calcium absorption and promotes good intensional bacteria.

My favorite 2-year-old, Van Anderson, gave Playful Peach a try. Froose also comes in Perfect Pear and Cheerful Cherry. Van can be very picky, so I was prepared to bribe him. But there was no need for coaxing. Maybe it was the moose. The drinks have tiny, thin straws, but Van had no problem drinking out of them. He loved it, so I tried one. The drink is smooth and slightly thick, like apricot nectar with a natural peach flavor.

Bottom line: I felt a little silly drinking out of the tiny straw, but as long as nobody is watching, I would definitely drink one again. The lightweight boxes would be very handy for packing in a car or bag. The fact that Froose is both tasty and healthful, makes it a drink even my dad would approve. You can buy them on froose.com. A package of 12 sells for $9 and includes free shipping. Call (888) 338-4631 for more information.