Summer Drink Recipes

Three Healthy Refreshments

When the days get hot, it can be easy to reach for a soda or other convenient beverage that is similarly full of sugar or artificial sweeteners, not to mention other artificial ingredients. Try these instead—not only are they healthier for you, but they’ll also do a much better job at quenching your thirst and providing you with much-needed rehydration.

• Sparkling fruit juice. An awesome substitute for soda. All of the fizz, none of the sweeteners or sugar found in a can of soda—well, there’s sugar, but it’s naturally occurring fruit sugar, which is better for you than added refined sugars. Plus you get the juice’s nutritional benefits, which soda is devoid of.
• Chocolate banana smoothie. Crush 6 to 8 ice cubes in the blender. Add 1 banana and 2 cups chocolate milk (or 2 cups low-fat white milk and a couple spoonfuls of chocolate drink mix) and blend together. Calcium, potassium, protein, energy and more.
• Ice water with fruit. Forget the instant drink mix. Fruit adds a splash of color and taste without the sugar or dyes, and you won’t believe what a few apple, orange or pear slices floating in the pitcher (and in their glass) will do for anyone’s enthusiasm to drink not-so-plain old water.