I know so many people who avoid drinking water like it’s the plague. In fact, NPR reports that “one-quarter of a broad cross-section of children ages 6 to 19 apparently don’t drink any water as part of their fluid intake.” I’ve heard so many excuses as to why: It’s too cold. It’s too bland. I can’t drink it without a straw. Tap water is gross and dirty. Bottled water is not environmentally friendly. Blah blah blah. While water might not be the most exciting drink, consuming the necessary amount of this natural, delicious treasure has serious health benefits. If you drink at least 8 12-ounce glasses of water every day, you’ll have clearer skin, more energy and focused attention, increased metabolism and weight loss, reduced headaches and mood swings, and stronger kidneys, liver, and heart. If the taste and accessibility are the two main reasons why you’re not quenching that H2O thirst, I’ve provided a few refreshing fruit infused water recipes to spice things up and a list of affordable, reusable water bottles to carry your water with you wherever you go:
For each of these recipes, you’ll need a larger pitcher. Simply chop and add ingredients to a pitcher filled with 24-40 ounces of cold, purified water (you can add ice if you’d like). Let the ingredients sit and infuse overnight, then drink and enjoy!
Tip 1: Be sure to remove herbs and fruit after 12 hours.
Tip 2: Place pieces of fruit into ice cube trays, cover with water and freeze. You’ll get extra fruit and a colder drink!
- Strawberry-Mint Infused Water
- 6 – 8 fresh or frozen sliced strawberries
- 1 cup of mint leaves
- Berry-Sage Infusion
- 6-8 sliced fresh or frozen blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries
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- 1 cup of sage leaves
- Apple-Cinnamon Infusion
- 1 large apple (I love pink lady or honey crisp apples)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Strawberry-Mango Infusion
- 1 cup of sliced mango
- 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries
- Ginger-Lemon Infusion
- 1 tablespoon of grated ginger
- 1 sliced cucumber
- 1 sliced lemon
- 1/3 cup of mint leaves
- DIY Infusion
- Choose 1-2 of your favorite frozen or fresh fruits (strawberry, orange, apple, kiwi, watermelon, or lemon)
- Choose a fresh herb (mint, parsley, basil, or thyme)
- Add optional mixings (cucumber, cinnamon stick, chia seeds, honey, apple cider vinegar)
Need a place to store your water? Do you prefer glass or BPA-free plastic? Need a straw or wide mouth opening? I’ve got ’em all! Check out these awesome bottles in order of least to most expensive (note: price varies by size and color):
Klean Kanteen Wide Mouth Bottle with Stainless Loop Cap
Camelbak Eddy Insulated .6L Water Bottle
Great Gear Infuser Water Bottle Sport Flip-Top BPA-Free Tritan 25 Oz
Blogilates Never Give Up Jewel Timer Bottle
Lifefactory 22-Ounce BPA-Free Glass Water Bottle with Straw Cap and Silicone Sleeve
Kermit Says... 
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