SUMMER, FRUIT, INFUSED WATER, HERBS, FRESH, WATER
I know you’re probably sick of hearing it for me, but It’s my duty as a nutritionist and health advocate to remind you once again to DRINK MORE WATER. As it starts to get hotter outside we begin to get more sluggish and headachey, why? More often than not it’s because we are not properly hydrated. I know it’s not always easy to remember drink water, but if we take the proper steps we can turn the constant reminder into a seamless habit. If this sounds far fetched because water is just really not your thing, just listen please, because I think I have found the solution:
INFUSED WATER. Sounds simple, and it is! And you can bet that it’s really delicious as well. Infused water has dramatically helped me in my own quest to drink more water and I’m pretty darn sure it can help you too.
So let’s make a game plan and get you jumping on the INFUSED WATER bandwagon because trust me you won’t regret it. I mean clearer skin, faster metabolism, improved mood, boost in energy you’d have to be crazy to pass that up.
First Step: get yourself a water bottle that you can carry around with you all day, I personally prefer glass. This water bottle will be your new best friend and will be your constant reminder to drink, drink, drink.
Second Step: gather the supplies. I like to use big glass jars and keep them in the fridge. The water will go in these bad boys and then can be transferred to your portable new water bottle or simply poured into a glass.
Third Step: MAKE THE INFUSED WATER. You can infuse water with potentially anything you like, soooo mix it up and mash it up until you find what you like best, here are some things I like to add:
- Herbs: Rosemary, thyme, mint, basil, cilantro, parsley
- Spices: Cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, fresh ginger, cloves, vanilla bean
- Edible flowers: Rose, lavender, citrus blossoms, hibiscus, pansies, violets (or any that are 100% pesticide free)
- Fruit: Berries (fresh or frozen), melon, tropical fruits, citrus, apples, pears
- Vegetables: Cucumber, celery, fennel, carrots
- Water: Filtered water is great, but if you don’t have a filtration system, tap water is fine too.
- Fill up those jugs with water and any combination from above that you desire and let it sit in the fridge.
Fourth Step: Be patient. Some flavors take longer to infuse than others. Let the water sit for at least a couple hours or even overnight before serving it.
Fifth Step: Drink, Drink, Drink, Drink. And refill. You can refill the water in the same jug at least once more before the flavors are lost.
I promise these steps are so easy to follow and they make drinking water so so so much more fun. Sugary drinks, teas, and coffee are actually found to be dehydrating. Ditch them. Don’t trust labels that read “natural flavors,” that’s much too ambiguous, you should know exactly what natural foods and flavors are going into your body.
Infused Water is an awesome solution because you are not only reaping the benefits of good old H20, but you’re getting added nutritional value from all the neat stuff inside. Plus it looks really pretty, and who doesn’t like pretty things.
Here are some mixes I like to make:
1. Blueberry, Lemon, & Mint… oh my!
2.Citrus & Cilantro
3. Green Apple, Rasberry,Rosemary ….. isn’t she pretty!
4.Pineapple Cucumber Mint
5. Kiwi & Blackberry
10 More Fancy Flavors….
- Orange Chai Spice: sliced oranges, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, allspice
- Vanilla Basil Strawberry: vanilla bean (remove seeds first), handful fresh basil, 1 cup sliced strawberries
- Fennel Pear: thinly sliced fennel bulb plus a few green fronds, thin slices ripe, but firm pear
- Basil Melon: sliced or cubed melon, handful basil leaves
- Ginger Lime: sliced fresh ginger, sliced limes
- Blueberry Cucumber Basil: handful fresh blueberries, sliced cucumber, handful basil
- Lemon Lavender: slices of lemon, a few teaspoons lavender (tie in cheesecloth)
- Raspberry Rose: handful of raspberries, organic fresh rose petals
- Mango Pineapple Mint: sliced of firm-ripe mango, slices of pineapple, handful fresh mint
- Apple Cinnamon: slices green or red apple, a few cinnamon sticks