When the temperature rises, we often feel thirstier than normal. The urge to refresh and quench our thirst is strong. An iced cold pop or frozen coffee drink can look pretty tempting. But what could be better than a beverage that revitalizes and has the benefit of being good for you?

For delicious, healthy summer drinks, look no further than the produce section of your local grocer or farmer’s market. Choose from a bounty of summer-ripe fresh fruit. Homemade smoothies that blend yogurt with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or peaches are colourful, tasty and often lower in sugar than commercial varieties. (Fruit, being naturally sweet, doesn’t need sugar added to enhance the flavour.) Blending ice cubes into smoothies helps create more of a milkshake texture without needing to add heavy ingredients like ice cream.  If you absolutely must sweeten homemade smoothies, try a tiny drizzle of honey or maple syrup.

With such a variety of fruit available, you never have to have the same smoothie twice! Diversify by opting for bananas, pineapple, pears or blackberries.  I even stew rhubarb and add it to smoothies for extra tartness. For a protein boost in your smoothies, try different flavours of yogurt, peach or almond-flavoured soft tofu or soy protein powder.  Peanut butter adds tasty protein to banana or cocoa banana smoothies. For a little extra something, consider sprinkling on a spoonful or two of wheat germ or flax seeds which are rich in fibre and healthy fats

If you prefer a lighter, less creamy beverage, opt for a mix of carbonated water and natural fruit juice. It's fresh, hydrating, and low in calories. For example, puree super ripe peaches, apricots or raspberries and mix with soda water and ice. Refreshing – and WAY less sugar than traditional soda pop. Even homemade lemonade, to which you would add some sugar, will usually be lower in sugar than commercial versions.

If iced tea is your preferred cooler, try homemade.  All you have to do it steep hot tea (with a double portion of leaves) like you normally would.  When the tea is ready, take out the leaves and pour the liquid into a pitcher full of ice.  You can also add a little honey to give it a light sweet flavour. If preferred, you can use a cold water method by letting the tea soak (with a double portion of leaves) in the cold water for 8 to 12 hours in the fridge, and then straining it. This  method results in a more delicately flavoured beverage that’s less bitter.  Iced tea can also be made with any variety of herbal tea. Peppermint, raspberry and licorice are some of my favourites!

The options for making healthier refreshers are limitless.  With a little imagination, you can create different liquid treats every day of the summer! Another favourite summer beverage of mine is virgin watermelon daiquiris made by blending frozen chunks of watermelon and stirring in a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Do you have a favourite healthy summer drink idea to share with us? Let us know!

Cheers!

Patricia

PS. Don’t forget to jazz up any summer drink simply by serving in a colourful or funky shaped glass with a straw.

Keywords : beverages, fruits, refreshing beverages, smoothies, summer

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