PalenQ

Orangina was always a top choice for my young French son when we were at restaurants - and yes at about $4 for a tiny tiny glass!

DeborahAnn

PalQ, since we have 3 boys traveling with us maybe we will need to adjust our trip food/beverage budget upward. I am looking forward to being along for the many "life lessons" they could learn from this trip. Deborah

BigRuss

Ciroc.

Grey Goose.

Both are French products.

;-)

annhig

Is Orange Pressee just as sour?>>

citron and orange presse are just freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice respectively. orange juice is generally less sharp than lemon, but in any event, they are both always served with water and sugar for the customer to add to taste.

but normally they would be drunk in a cafe, or perhaps as an aperitif, rather than at the restaurant table as a drink with a meal.

I would suggest getting them used to drinking water with meals before you go. Milk might be available at breakfast but again would be seen as a strange choice to drink with a meal in a restaurant. Sprite, coke, orangina and other such "sodas" are readily available but can be more expensive than beer or wine, so if you wish to control expenditure, you might limit them to one per day/meal, and offer tap water otherwise.

I hope that your boys do indeed benefit from the life lessons your trip can bring them. our DS had a very limited diet until a trip we took to Italy when he was about 10 - suddenly something clicked and he [and we] never looked back.

kerouac

The alcohol level of most ciders is very low -- usually around 2%.

AtlTravelr

Both my kids at that age liked the bottled water "avec gas" that we ordered with dinner. This is sparkling mineral water and it was a treat, something they didn't drink here and I was surprised they liked it. And yes, orangina was also a big hit as was hot chocolate in the morning.

DeborahAnn

kerouac, at 2% cider will be an option while the adults will enjoy the Grey Goose Deborah

annhig

The alcohol level of most ciders is very low -- usually around 2%.>>

in case the OP and her family [or other readers of this thread] venture across the channel, that is not the case in the UK where cider usually varies from 4-8%.

Gretchen

Well, Coke is even more!! I know that has been mentioned.

Cathinjoetown

An excellent brand of chilled fruit juices is Andros, particularly the apple juice and citron pressé, the latter has sugar added.

It's available in the Southwest, haven't checked in Paris supermarkets but very bice if you can buy it.

nytraveler

While older kids are often given wine in France - I don;t think they will do it when they're that young.

When our DDs were 14 and 17 they did have wine at dinner - but only 1/2 a glass - along with fizzy water. We found in France that teens eating with parents are automatically served when wine is ordered for the table.

kerouac

It is the absence of the "forbidden fruit" factor that has made binge drinking less of a problem in France than in many countries. Binge drinking among teens does exist, but it is often experienced by teens from North African families where there is no alcohol at home or else other families with very strict "values."

manda99

My son ordered limonade. It's not quite sprite and not quite lemonade. Since it's not something that you typically see at restaurants here, it's feels like a local specialty to him.

november_moon

"But surely drinking milk with some fat for a vacation wouldn't be the end of the world? Everything in moderation...right?"

Yeah, but fat milk is gross... And it leaves that filmy feeling on the tongue...

DeborahAnn

limonade sounds perfect for the boys and I can see it could become a favorite with them and also give them a "remember when" as they look back on our travels.

The comments are reminding me not to restrict the boys by my own likes and dislikes----I really dislike water with gas but possibly they will find it a good thirst quencher

I'm looking forward to taking them grocery shopping in Paris for beverages. I'll look for the Andros brand. Thanks again, Deborah

TPaxe

French kids don't drink milk with their meals, maybe for breakfast, but never seen kids drinking milk at brasseries with their meals

Tap water and juices are the usual thing. Orangina, Limonade too, Coca Cola (usually in a glass bottle) also there artisanle flavored drinks too. Gatorade and Crystal Light is un-heard of for kids to drink (poisonous stuff!!) so you won't see this on the menu.

Soda drinks are not "bottomless" THANK GOD!! Hope that trend NEVER comes to France!

For kids it's best brasseries, bistros (all day dining) creperies and also "picnic" food like baguette sandwiches, quiches, etc. June would be great weather for this.

Goldens

The same sodas they drink at home will have a different taste. I do like to have a Diet Coke at times and it tastes much sweeter.
You could also take the little flavor packets of Crystal Light powder to add to their water at the apartment.

kerouac

"Limonade" is just lemon-lime soda that has not had the name Sprite or 7-Up tacked on to it. If ever you go to the United Kingdom, you will find that "lemonade" is the same thing.

kerouac

Soda drinks are not "bottomless" THANK GOD!! Hope that trend NEVER comes to France!

KFC in France is doing it at some locations.

DeborahAnn

Goldens, that is a great idea---one of those duh, why didn't I think of that!! This trip for us will be "grandson centered" so I will need different travel tips than usual.

Before we get to the apartment we are staying at small B&B's so breakfast beverage choices will most likely be juice and milk for them. The boys have never stayed at a B&B before so that will be the start of the new experiences.

november moon, you are as bad as the boys I don't think they can get past the texture difference of full fat milk to enjoy all it has to offer the taste buds!! Deborah