10 beverage picks from Natural Products Expo West 2011

What's one easy way for parents to sneak more fruits and vegetables into their kids' diets? Hide them in the foods they love. Orgain Healthy Kids tastes just like and has the consistency of chocolate or vanilla milk, but is made with ten different fruits, veggies and complex carbohydrates to offer 25 essential vitamins and minerals plus eight grams of protein per serving. Additional bonus? It's gluten free.

"Pukka" translated from Hindi means "authentic," "genuine," or "top quality," which is exactly how this top-selling line is regarded in Europe. The herbal teas, which recently debuted on the U.S. market, are certified organic and include inventive blends such as "Three Ginger" (ginger, galangal and golden turmeric) and "After Dinner" (fennel, chicory and cardamom). If the unique flavor profiles don't entice customers, the company's stunning packaging surely will.

In light of the kombucha controversy in 2010, several beverage companies rolled out probiotic-fortified products that claimed to offer just as much beneficial flora as drinks that were pulled from store shelves. Kevita uses a proprietary kefir-derived culture, which the company guarantees at 20 billion during bottling. The newest flavors are made with coconut water for added electrolytes.

The throwback packaging used by Taylor's Tonics may remind some of a time when carbonated colas were prescribed medicinally. While the sparkling botanical sodas, available in Cola Azteca, Mate Mojito, Chai Cola and Chai Cola Light, aren't marketed today for their therapeutic benefits, they're certainly a step up from what's found in most vending machines. The line uses ingredients such as coconut water, aloe, yerba mate and Fair Trade Certified coffee and does not include artificial additives or high fructose corn syrup.

Infused with coffee fruit, the measure of antioxidants (ORAC Value) per serving of Bai is off the charts--4,000 units. Gram-for-gram, blueberries, pomegranate and acai all have ORAC values of less than 100 for the same serving size. The product is made with simple, clean ingredients: filtered water, juice concentrate and organic cane juice. The Low Calorie line has only 5 calories per serving and is sweetened with stevia.

Prometheus Springs beverages are infused with capsaicin, the antioxidant that makes chili peppers spicy. Capsaicin has been shown to boost metabolism, relieve congestion, strengthen immunity, aid circulation, detoxify the body and elevate mood. The certified USDA Organic line introduced three new flavors at the show: Mango Chili, Citrus Cayenne and Spicy Pear.

The sophisticated packaging of Q Ginger underscores this ginger ale's grown up flavor. Made with ginger, coriander, cardamom, rose oil, cayenne and orange peel, the product has depth, complexity and real ginger bite. It's sweetened with organic agave and has only 60 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrates per serving.

Cobá addresses the burgeoning Hispanic population with these aguas frescas, literally "refreshing waters." The product tastes similar to a lemonade or juice and is made with just three ingredients: purified water, fruit puree and agave nectar. They're available in four popular flavors: Guayaba (guava), Jamaica (hibiscus), Mango and Tamarindo (tamarind)

Zukay's line of Super Kvass beverages are raw and naturally probiotic. Using organic vegetables sourced from the Pennsylvania-Dutch countryside, the sugar-free drinks are available in Super Green (cabbage, kale, Swiss chard and wheatgrass) Super Root (beet, carrots, ginger turmeric, burdock and sarsaparilla) and Super Gold (carrot, ginger, turmeric, squash, yellow pepper).

Fair Trade and USDA Organic Certified, this instant coffee from Native is actually worth drinking. Arabica Brazilian coffee beans are frozen and dehydrated to keep the coffee's flavor intact. The beans dissolve in hot or cold water.