Cool Down with these Healthy Quenchers

NOURISH Cool Down WITH THESE Healthy Quenchers

Summer leaves us thirsty for new adventures — and for drinks, too! We all agree that cool, pure water is the easiest and healthiest choice for warm-weather hydration, but we’re always open to mixing it up with refreshing twists.

Here are a few light and healthy options to stir up your summer palate:

INFUSED ICE WATER The easiest, and quite possibly tastiest, way to ease yourself into summer refreshers is the infused water route you see taken in many hotel lobbies and summer parties — and it should be just as common in the home! Just slice up some fruits or vegetables, drop them in some ice water, let them chill for a couple of hours if you have the time, and voila!

Some ideas to get you started:

*Cucumber, mint, and lime *Raspberries and blackberries

*Lemon and lime wedges

*Mango, papaya and pineapple

ACAI SPARKLER Acai berries, picked from palm trees native to Central and South America, are jammed with antioxidants. They’ve been tied to weight loss, brain boosts and fighting cancer in limited studies, but the taste and antioxidant levels alone are more than enough to recommend them for a healthy, robust concoction.

All you need is 6 ounces of frozen acai juice, 3 ounces of sparkling water, squeezes of fresh lemon and/or lime juice. Simply pour the defrosted juice and sparkling water over ice and add a spritz of lemon or lime. Stir in a bit of honey if the result is a little too tart for your taste.

SKINNY FRUITY COCKTAIL Anybody looking for just a bit of a buzz on a summer night can enjoy this light cocktail with any healthy fruit they choose! Put just 2 ounces of vodka and one tablespoon of stevia in a pitcher with 1 liter of sparkling water or seltzer, then pile on the freshest fruit you can find! This is enough for four servings, so have some friends over!