“Adding some fresh fruit, herbs, and other foods to water brings more flavor to water, so you’re more likely to keep drinking it,” says Lyssie Lakatos, R.D.N., co-founder of the Nutrition Twins in New York (nutritiontwins.com). “Plus, you’re getting added antioxidants and vitamins as the ingredients diffuse into the water but with very few calories.”
5 Fruit-Infused Waters and Cocktails to Beat Summer Heat
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Mint Cucumber Citrus Water
Cucumbers are not only incredibly refreshing, they are also packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. “I love to snack on the fruit after it’s been sitting in the water—it gets really plump and delicious,” says Lakatos.
Ingredients
¼ cucumber, thinly sliced¼ lemon,sliced1 lime, quartered¼ cup mint8 oz water
Directions
Place cucumber, lemon, lime, and mint into a glass and add water. 2. Allow ingredients to sit for 15 to 30 minutes before drinking. (The longer they sit, the more intense the flavor.)
Pineapple gives sweetness while adding only 13 calories and providing the digestion-improving enzyme bromelain, along with vitamin C. Lemon boosts vitamin C and flavor, while anti-inflammatory ginger rounds out the health-promoting benefits.
Ingredients
6 cubes pineapple, fresh or frozen1 cup waterIce to chill 2 slices lemon ¼ tsp fresh ginger, peeled and chopped or shaved
Directions
Place pineapple into a large glass. Gently press down on the fruit into sides of glass with a muddler or wooden spoon, being careful not to smash it into a pulp.Add water, ice, lemon, and ginger.
“This drink not only tastes great, it also helps to flush bloat, puffiness, and excess salt out of your system. Plus, it’s a good source of potassium. You can sub in any mint, but we like spearmint to help ease indigestion and calm the stomach. The apple-cider vinegar may help control blood sugar levels when you drink it before eating,” notes Lakatos.
Ingredients
¼ apple, any variety¼ pear, any variety1 sprig spearmint or other mint12 oz waterIce to chill1 tsp apple-cider vinegar
Directions
Cut apple and pear into thin slices, leaving skin on. Add to large glass. Use a wooden spoon to slightly mash and break down the fruit.Add mint to glass, lightly bruising leaves by gently mashing it to release extracts and oils.Add water and ice. Splash in apple-cider vinegar.
1 oz Patrón tequila½ oz lemon¼ oz pomegranate syrup¼oz honey2 dashes Peychaud’s bittersAbsintheProseccoFresh thyme sprig
Directions
Shake first five ingredients together with ice. Strain into an absinthe-rinsed coupe glass.Top with a float of Prosecco and garnish with thyme sprig.Created by Lucinda Sterling, partner at Middle Branch, in New York City, for a limited time.
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Goji-Berry-Infused Vodka
Ingredients
1 cup vodka½ cup dried goji berries
Directions
Combine vodka and goji berries in sealable glass jar and store in a cool, dark place for a week, shaking periodically.Remove berries. Strain and store.Excerpted from Zen and Tonic: Savory and Fresh Cocktails for the Enlightened Drinker, by Jules Aron. Copyright 2017. Used with permission of Countryman Press. All rights reserved.
Cucumbers are not only incredibly refreshing, they are also packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. “I love to snack on the fruit after it’s been sitting in the water—it gets really plump and delicious,” says Lakatos.
Ingredients
¼ cucumber, thinly sliced
¼ lemon,sliced
1 lime, quartered
¼ cup mint
8 oz water
Directions
Place cucumber, lemon, lime, and mint into a glass and add water. 2. Allow ingredients to sit for 15 to 30 minutes before drinking. (The longer they sit, the more intense the flavor.)
Pineapple gives sweetness while adding only 13 calories and providing the digestion-improving enzyme bromelain, along with vitamin C. Lemon boosts vitamin C and flavor, while anti-inflammatory ginger rounds out the health-promoting benefits.
Ingredients
6 cubes pineapple, fresh or frozen
1 cup water
Ice to chill
2 slices lemon
¼ tsp fresh ginger, peeled and chopped or shaved
Directions
Place pineapple into a large glass. Gently press down on the fruit into sides of glass with a muddler or wooden spoon, being careful not to smash it into a pulp.
“This drink not only tastes great, it also helps to flush bloat, puffiness, and excess salt out of your system. Plus, it’s a good source of potassium. You can sub in any mint, but we like spearmint to help ease indigestion and calm the stomach. The apple-cider vinegar may help control blood sugar levels when you drink it before eating,” notes Lakatos.
Ingredients
¼ apple, any variety
¼ pear, any variety
1 sprig spearmint or other mint
12 oz water
Ice to chill
1 tsp apple-cider vinegar
Directions
Cut apple and pear into thin slices, leaving skin on. Add to large glass. Use a wooden spoon to slightly mash and break down the fruit.
Add mint to glass, lightly bruising leaves by gently mashing it to release extracts and oils.
Shake first five ingredients together with ice. Strain into an absinthe-rinsed coupe glass.
Top with a float of Prosecco and garnish with thyme sprig.
Created by Lucinda Sterling, partner at Middle Branch, in New York City, for a limited time.
Goji-Berry-Infused Vodka
Ingredients
1 cup vodka
½ cup dried goji berries
Directions
Combine vodka and goji berries in sealable glass jar and store in a cool, dark place for a week, shaking periodically.
Remove berries. Strain and store.
Excerpted from Zen and Tonic: Savory and Fresh Cocktails for the Enlightened Drinker, by Jules Aron. Copyright 2017. Used with permission of Countryman Press. All rights reserved.
