It’s hot. You’re thirsty. But another glass of boring water is the last thing that sounds appetizing right now. What’s a girl—or a boy—to do?
Some experts say we need eight, 8-ounce glasses of water every day. Some say that we need half our body weight. Meaning, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need 75 ounces each day. Either way, you’re probably not drinking enough. If you workout on a regular basis, you need even more than that. But let’s admit it: Water is boring.
If you’re looking for ways to jazz up your water or even get that all-important hydration into your body in other ways, consider the following:
1. Dress up your ice cubes. When you next freeze a tray of ice cubes, drop a raspberry in each little square with the water. Maybe a mint leaf or a slice of lemon. As the ice cubes melt in your water, you’ll get a faint new flavor with each sip.
2. Grab a piece of fruit. Did you know that an aptly named watermelon is 92 percent water by weight? The rest is natural sugar, fiber and vitamin C. A slice of watermelon after a workout or as an afternoon snack will add some much needed hydration—and crunch—to your day.
3. Nosh on some vegetables. If the sweet taste of fruit isn’t appealing to you, there are many vegetables with high water content as well. Celery, cucumber, iceberg lettuce and even tomatoes provide a drink of water with each bite.
4. Try a water enhancer. Look on the juice aisle of your grocery store for water enhancers. Companies like Ocean Spray, Mio and Crystal Light all make them now. Open a packet and add it to 16 ounces of water. Most come in at only around 5 calories. The lemonade flavor always takes me back to childhood in my grandparents’ backyard. Delicious.
Now you have no excuses. And neither do I. Proper hydration—especially during the heat of summer or when we’re working out—is vital to our health. So drink up!