Water-Only Rules Trigger a Parenting Debate

A husband asks how to stop his wife from imposing a water-only diet for their two kids (ages 6 and 8), which has left them miserable. The column argues that while limiting juice, soda, and even milk can be reasonable if calcium and nutrients are covered elsewhere, the real fix is getting both parents on the same page, explaining the health reasons to the kids, and treating sugary drinks as occasional treats, not permanent rules.