The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find I’m Using All Summer Long

I can’t help but cringe a little when my kids come home from playdates, their bright blue tongues wagging with stories of the sugary drinks and treats they enjoyed at their friends’ houses. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to win any “Health Mom of the Year” awards, but I try to—casually—balance their intake of excess sugar and processed foods. 

Our kids’ home beverage selection includes water, milk, and sparkling water. Juice boxes, pouches, and other special drinks only come out during birthday parties or other special occasions because they’re expensive and made with ingredients that I don’t want my kids to have regularly. 

When I spotted these reusable drink pouches at Dollar Tree for just $1.25, they were the happy medium I’d been looking for. These zippered pouches resemble the store-bought juice pouches my kids coveted, but with one significant difference—I can control what goes inside them.

Why I Love Dollar Tree’s Reusable Drink Pouches

Practically speaking, each pouch holds about 16 ounces of liquid and features a sturdy zip-top closure that hasn’t leaked on me yet, as long as I store them upright. They come in bright summer patterns, such as tropical fruits and drinks, lively florals, playful flamingos with hibiscus, and a cute retro beach scene featuring a surfboard-topped car that says “Endless Summer.” 

They include built-in straw holes with matching straws. A pack of five reusable pouches is $1.25, so they’re a great deal. I know they’re made of plastic, but I like that I can wash and reuse them several times before they’re worn out. And this plastic brush really helps!

I can fill them with flavorful drinks my kids enjoy and that I feel good about. Plus, they get the fun childhood experiences they want. I’ve already started using them to batch-prep and freeze smoothies, making mornings easier and more enjoyable. 

I’m most excited to use them this summer. They’ll be fantastic for taking to the park, the pool, and so much more. In the warmer months, I occasionally make big pitchers of lightly sweetened lemonade, Ina’s iced tea, or strawberry watermelon agua fresca that they could take to the park in these pouches. 

But they aren’t just for the kids. As much as I love drinking wine from a proper wine glass, the pouches will be a fun and discreet way to enjoy adult-only drinks like big-batch margaritas, rosé spritzers, Pimm’s cups, and Palomas in more public places like picnics, outdoor concerts, festivals, and BBQs. 

For $1.25, these pouches allow me to be the “fun drink mom” for once—a title I’m happy to embrace all summer long. Next time you’re at Dollar Tree, grab a few packs—your future summer self will thank you.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}