Sugary drinks may be advertised as healthy, but don’t be fooled. Sports drinks, energy drinks and soda contain a lot of sugar – more than you might think! A 20 ounce bottle of soda has 65 grams of sugar – that is 1/3 of a cup! A 29 ounce sports drink has 31 grams of sugar – 8 teaspoons! 27 grams of sugar are packed into one 8 ounce energy drink – that’s 7 teaspoons of sugar!
All this sugar in beverages adds up fast! Instead, why not make your own delicious, thirst quenching drinks? As a healthier alternative to sugary beverages, try these healthy homemade drinks:
- Good Old Water – Our bodies are about 75% water. No drink is healthier or more natural than plain water. Even better, water is always available, cold and fresh from your kitchen faucet.
- Fruit Infused Water – Add whatever fruit you have! Tasty combinations are: orange, lime and lemon; mint and cucumber; strawberries and pineapple; ginger and lemon. Use seltzer water with these combinations for an extra kick.
- Smoothies – Try combinations of fruit, yogurt, low-fat milk, 100% juice, oats or peanut butter. Be creative! Flavorful combinations are: strawberry, banana, apple juice and yogurt; frozen berries, yogurt and milk; banana, peanut butter and milk.
- Homemade Ice Tea – Add some tea bags to a pitcher of fresh water and place in the refrigerator overnight; add lemon or other fruit for extra flavor!
Photo Credit: “FREE Refreshing Orange Slice Creative Commons” by Pink Sherbert Photography/ CC BY 4.0
