Make Water Tastier

We all know the importance of hydration for our skin, cell and joint health and how, with increased activity and hotter temperatures we need to be more vigilant about replacing the water we sweat out. And for a lot of us, it can be still be hard to get in the amount of water we need each day.

For some it’s a matter of remembering to drink water, and for others, it’s a matter of taste. Water can be boring for a lot of people. They want to enjoy something with flavor or the taste of water by itself isn’t appealing for them.

If you’re one of those people, don’t worry, there are many ways to stay hydrated with water and flavor that’s fun and healthful for you.

Infuse It

One of the easiest ways to add some flavor to your water is to infuse it with fresh fruit, herbs, cucumbers, ginger, jalapeno, and even spices (like cinnamon). Depending on your taste, you can add just fruit or mix and match with the other ingredients. You simply prep the ingredients you want and add them into a pitcher or water bottle and let them sit for an hour or so to get the flavor in the water.

You’ll prep your ingredients by chopping up the fruit and any veggies. You’re probably not eating the produce, so you don’t have to peel them, if they have peels. The herbs you can leave on their stalk and don’t require cutting, neither do any spices you add. If you’re adding ginger, make sure to peel it first so the water gets to the flavor.

Because these fruits, herbs, vegetables and spices are being soaked and you’re drinking them, go with organic options of all of these and make sure to rinse them before you add them into your water. For the most flavor, choose produce (including herbs) that are in season. You can see what fruits and vegetables are in season with our handy Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall produce guides.

Add Some Citrus

If you don’t have enough time to infuse your water, you can also add a drop of lemon or orange essential oils to your water. Essential oils are super concentrated, so one drop goes a long way. Again, try to use organic and therapeutic grade essential oils that state they’re safe for ingestion. Enjoy lemon water in moderation, lemon’s acidity can affect tooth enamel over time.

Just Freeze It

Another way you can add flavor to your water is to freeze your produce or herbs into ice cubes. Not only will it cool you off with warm weather, it will look appealing, which can help you drink more. You can simply pop chopped fruits, veggies, and herbs into your ice cube trays with some water and freeze them. You can also blend them up with a little bit of water (if needed) and pour that mixture into ice cube trays. These ice cubes can be a great aesthetic at any parties you have as well.

Just a Splash

If you’re at work, traveling, or not able to quickly infuse or make ice cubes, you can also add a small splash of a flavored drink into your water to give it some flavor. Depending on your taste, you can add cold pressed juice, coconut water, flavored sparkling water, or kombucha to your water. Check the nutrition facts of the flavored drink you choose to make sure it’s low on added sugars, especially when looking at cold pressed juices. Try to find a cold pressed juice that also has vegetables to keep your blood sugar from spiking. When you make your water concoction, fill the glass with at least three quarters water before adding any of your flavored drink.

Try a few of these water flavoring options and see which ones you like and which ones work best for you. Start off with one and try it out for a week before adding another way. If you like a few, rotate between the options and flavor combinations to keep it interesting. Drinking water and staying hydrated is important for your health and it can taste delicious.

Aimée Suen is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who shares nourishing, gluten-free recipes and nutrition wisdom at Small Eats. She is driven to help others enjoy whole foods and empower them to find their own healthy in all aspects of life, one small step at a time. When she’s not in the kitchen, she’s practicing yoga, in the gym, or learning something new. You can find Aimée on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Main Photo Credit: Africa Studio/shutterstock.com; Second Photo Credit: zarzamora/shutterstock.com; Third Photo Credit: Iriska_Ira/shutterstock.com; Fourth Photo Credit: Arina P Habich/shutterstock.com