Summer is almost here, finally! And with lots of time spent outdoors with family and friends, here are some unique, "better for you" and refreshing beverage ideas to drink for breakfast, while entertaining, working out, or with your meals.

1. Pop and Juice - Move over traditional pop and diet pop - try these instead. These beverage options do not contain chemical additives like artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup, and they taste great:

  • D-I-Y soda: Make your own soda from organic syrup. Only 40 calories per tablespoon, add one or two tablespoons to bubbly water and you have a great alternative to traditional sugar-laden pop.
  • Diet/low calorie pop without artificial sweeteners. There are many brands on the market today that use healthier sweeteners like stevia and/or erythritol. Look for them at your local health food store or Loblaws Natural Value stores.
  • Organic juices: Popular for kids, but many brands can contain high-fructose corn syrup (or glucose-fructose), which leads to obesity. Look for juices that contain 100% pure organic fruits.

 
2. Iced Tea & Lemonade - There is nothing like a great pitcher of fresh iced tea or ice-cold lemonade on a hot day, but not the boring kind! There are new tea flavours on the market that are sure to wow your crowd. Make them sugar-free using natural sweeteners like stevia and xylitol.
 
When looking for tea, look for tea bags that are unbleached or oxygen bleached, and are free from glues and other chemicals.  
 
3. Water Enhancers: Liquid Enhancers are currently a huge trend but many contain artificial ingredients like aspartame and artificial colors.  Here are natural water enhancers that also provide health benefits.

  • Chlorophyll: Mint or chocolate chlorophyll helps to add fun to plain ol' water. Great for cleansing and detoxing our bodies, helps you work our longer and recover quicker, and is a high source of vitamin K so it's great for our bones.
  • Lemon: Add ¼ lemon wedge to your water on a daily basis. It has many health benefits including digestion, elimination, detoxification, and alkalinity (balances PH).
  • Powdered water enhancers: Look for sugar free options sweetened with stevia or other natural sweeteners.

 
4. Coconut Water - A huge trend right now for good reason! It's hydrating and makes for a great replacement for sports drinks as it can replenish electrolytes including calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. I prefer coconut water to other popular electrolyte-replenishing beverages as they can contain artificial colours. Available in many flavours, be sure to choose a coconut water that low in sugar as it can add unwanted calories to your diet.
 
Learn more at www.NaturallySavvy.com