We all know water is the best way to stay hydrated, but it’s certainly not the most refreshing or delicious option for a hot summer day. Here are some of the best beverages that you can grab from the store or whip up in a few minutes.
1.Orange-berry iced tea: Boil four cups of water and then pour into a pitcher. Throw in two berry tea bags and one orange or citrus tea bag (my favorite combination is Celestial Seasonings Wild Berry Zinger and Tangerine Orange Zinger herbal teas). Place in the refrigerator for a half hour and serve! The key is not adding ice until after you pour the tea into individual glasses. That way, the tea will be flavorful not watery. Also, let each person add the sweetener herself so she can control just how sweet it is.
2.Mango lemonade: All you need is some lemonade (homemade or pre-bottled), and some mango nectar, preferably Looza brand. Looza also makes a variety of other flavors, such as strawberry and pineapple juice. Also, if you’re going to use bottled lemonade, Newman’s Own or Simply Lemonade are definitely the way to go.
3.Hint water: I am actually obsessed with Hint. It’s basically water with just a hint of flavor without the sugar. You can find Hint water at Whole Foods or other higher end grocery stores.
4.Honest Tea green tea with honey: Honest Tea in general is one of my favorite brands of iced tea and other juice drinks, but their organic green tea with a touch of honey is so tasty and refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness. Over-sweetened bottled iced tea is a pet peeve of mine, and Honest Tea does a great job about not over-sweetening. Also, all their drinks are certified organic! It doesn’t get much better than that.
5.Peach smoothie: Peaches are definitely my favorite fruit in season during the summer. Just cut up a peach and blend it with half a cup of Chobani peach Greek yogurt and some ice. If you want to skip the ice, you can simply freeze the Chobani and/or use frozen peaches instead of fresh. By using Greek yogurt, you also get some protein!