In my quest to lead a more healthy lifestyle I am trying to drink more water. I like water, but get bored with it after a while, at which time I then turn to soda. So I'm looking for ideas to keep my taste buds interested in water. Does anyone add anything to their water for a bit of a different flavor, other than lemon wedges? Anything with artificial sweetners is out - they make my heart beat irregularly.
Lisa, I don't think anything you try is going to satisfy you. Heres a suggestion...since you enjoy soda, try watering it down. Use maybe 1/4 water then go to 1/2 then try 3/4. You will get used to the weakened flavor but it will still have the flavor you enjoy. Then as a treat, you have a full can. Its not pure water, but it'll get more water in you if you end up not drinking it at all. Good luck!
Yeah, if you can't do the artificial sweetners then there isn't much you can do. There is a product called "True Lemon" that isn't to bad. It is a powder and it comes in Lemon, Lime and Orange flavors. I got some samples one time and used them in my water. They were pretty good. You might try their website and see if you can get some samples. Also, if you slice up fresh fruit and just put them in a pitcher of water, the flavors steep into the water. You can use lemons, limes, oranges, probably even melons or pineapples. Just experiment (: Also...drinking enough water will help A LOT of health issues. We should drink half our body weight in oz's each day! Most people don't drink near that much. I hope you find something, because it will make a big difference in how well your body works. Good luck!
e.
Some times what I do when I order water with a meal is to use the lemon wedge and add a packet of Equal. Since you can't do the artificial sweeteners, what about a little raw sugar--like 1/2 packet?
They make lots of little packets to put in your water. I have recently tried the propel ones, they are not bad. There is also a tea that i have tried that was ok. I usually just shake a little in to give it taste....i hate water :( Another thing i like to do is keep the water bottles room temperature, i can drink them right down that way.
Oh...have you tried lipton cold brew? You can stick the tea bag right in there...
Wow, i need to do this too. thanks for the reminder.
just an idea, sometimes i like the flavor of water better if i change the container i'm drinking it out of. I HATE hard plastic non-see through promotional water bottles. But if i drink out of a wine glass or maybe add icecubes or a straw, i can get more down.
I've even rinsed out a Mcdonalds soda cup, filled it with water and drank that with the lid and straw on, sort of to fool myself into thinking i was drinking a pop.
i've never tried the flavored stuff. My aunt buys the Fruit 2O water and I really like that but won't pay for it myself.
Hope you find something out there that works for you.
Some herbal teas--especially the minty ones--make a wonderful decaf iced tea, which you could then sweeten with anything you like.
I've used the little packets of drink mix, but they all have artificial sweetners.
I've also added a "squirt" of lime juice.
Kudos for good intentions, we all need more water and less "junk drinks" these days!
Thanks for asking Lisa -- I'm answering cuz answering is the only way I know to get to the other answers !! I am addicted to soda, and I'd love to quit for health reasons and for $$ reasons. I don't like the flavored sodas -or flavored waters, and all of them have diet sweeteners in them, so what's the point ? When I was younger, my sister came up with an "iced tea drink" we used to do a lot of, but it's bitter. She'd take the unsweetened ice tea mix, and use half a serving, then add straight lemon juice. I used to drink it by the gallons, but not that I drink way too much soda, it's hard to go back to something and get used to its bitterness.
I've been drinking flavored ice tea right now, but it's horribly sweet. Unfortunately the only time I enjoy drinking water is when I'm mowing the lawn or after jogging or something. (Funny, but my 2 oldest girls drink water ALL THE TIME -- they love it. And I wish I were them !)
Good luck ! I suspect if you push on with it long enough, you'll prefer water to other drinks. I remember going on a no candy kick with my spouse for a few months, and I don't remember how long it took before I finally succombed at the grocery store and bought a candy bar --- only to discover that I didn't like it anymore. wow. What a surprise !!
Lisa,
There are some good suggestions here. I'll add a couple more if you don't mind. For me, I like tap water right out of the facet. I find that the only time I like it real cold is when I am overheated. See if it tastes better to you at different temps.
I too, can't use sweeters. I can use stevia though and it tastes just as good as sugar. I find that I can't use the flavor packets because of the ingredients so this is a great option for me.
If you are big on soda, you can always use half juice and half club soda for your soda fix.
I love adding fruit to my water. I do it to mix things up a bit and I can still eat the fruit, saving me money.
If you would like more health tips, check out my blog at http://www.exercise2dayinfo.blogspot.com
Laura
Hi, Lisa,
Here's a recipe you can try - it's a little elaborate, but totally healthy, refreshing and luxurious (it reminds me of the water they serve in the lounge area at Adolf Biecker, that fancy pants health spa on Rittenhouse Square):
2 liters (or 8 1/2 C) water
1 tsp freshly grated ginger root
1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium lemon, thinly sliced
12 mint leaves
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, chill in the refrigerator, and let flavors blend overnight.
Maybe not an every single day thing, but once in a while to treat yourself...
Good luck, and stay hydrated!
Hillary
Hi Lisa,
I never drink soda.So I got use to drinking flavored seltzer.It feels like a treat when I pop open a can.They have many flavors.No sugar ,no calories,
I personaly hate the flavored waters they sell.But I do like to put lemon slices in my water.You might want to fill a large container and add different citrus fruits. I also think apples added could be nice tasting.
In the winter I brew green tea and then drink it all day.(Ikeep it light so I dont get the jitters Ialso get heart beat irregularity.)It is a very healthy antioxidant and no calories!
Goodluck Lisa
After awhile your taste buds adjust and you realize that water is water--I believe that all these "flavored waters" are just big corporations cashing in our our perceived need to constantly stimulate our taste buds. Water is water and should have flavor; if you drink good stuff, it's not boring or exciting, it just IS. Where I live, the water has a distinct flavor (of chlorine and other heavy metals), so I add a little lemon or a splash of cranberry (or other) juice to it, but where I work the water is "cleaner" tasting and I just refill my waterbottle and sip all day. If the water in you area has a "taste" and you want pure water, buy large 2-gallon containers of spring water or distilled water, or consider getting a distiller, which will save you money in the long run.
Best of luck.
Hi Lisa, I know exactly what you mean. I buy a pomegranate or cranberry juice cocktail and add that to my water say 1 part juice to 9 parts water which gives a little color and flavour without adding a lot of calories
Hope you find a solution you are looking for.
Lisa
Congrats on making this switch! I also gave up everything else for water when I realized I just couldn't handle artificial sweeteners...they made me totally bloated. I got used to plain water after about a week or 2. Other than lemon, which I love...maybe cut it with a little real fruit juice like cranberry and soda water? Or better yet-make green iced tea.
-Aimee
I'm not sure on the specifics, but my mother mentioned the to me the other day about fruit slices in water, then you sit it in the sun like sun tea and is supposedly naturally flavors your water. I haven't tried it yet, but sounds simple enough.
You had mentioned something other than lemon but I used to have these little packets of powdered lemon and lime that were just perfect to add to a bottle of water. They were called Just Lemon and Just Lime. I think they were with the drink mixes in the store. They are nice because it was only lemon and lime nothing else.
Try mint leaves, any citrus or hibiscus. All add healthy flavor. Happy hydrating!
Dear Lisa,
I love to make iced tea from Stash Wild Raspberry tea. It's herbal so there is no caffeine issue and when you make it (9 tea bags) twenty minutes in 2 quarts of boiling water. After it sets for those twenty minutes it will taste like it is sweetened from the berries. There is a tea place that I go to in Pittsburgh that makes it and I really enjoy it. Any herbal tea will work.
Good luck I am suffering through the South Beach diet and I can definitely feel for you.
Gloria
Add some cucumbers...........they taste good too!