Hydration is so important, especially during the summer months when its hot and we are more active outside.  Personally, I drink a lot of water! I mean ALOT!  Plain water can get boring, so I like to infuse my water with fruits, vegetables and herbs.  Infused water is a great replacement for soda, tea, juice, and sports drinks.  Making your own infused water is very easy to do and the flavor combinations are endless!

What You Need

1. Fruit/Veggies

• Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries
• Citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, oranges, grapefruit
• Tropical fruits such as kiwi, pineapple, mango
• Melons such as cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon
• Cucumbers

2. Herbs

• Mint, sage, and basil are good herbs to use

3. Water

• You can use flat water or sparkling water (make sure it has no calories)

How To Make Infused Water

Rinse and clean the fruits, veggies, and herbs that you want to use to flavor your water.  If you are using lemons, watermelon or cherries, be sure to remove seeds and pits.  Another tip is to give the herbs a gentle squeeze to release the essential oils.  Then simply add your desired ingredients to your water.  I like to use a big pitcher and make my water the night before.  That way there is plenty of time for the flavors to blend together.  Simple!

Some Of My Favorite Infused Water Recipes

Cucumber, Lemon and Mint Detox Water

I love the combination of lemon, cucumber and mint. It’s so refreshing! Plus it is a great detox water.  Cucumbers are a natural diuretic and will help your body release water, while lemons curb cravings, aid in digestion and help to flush toxins from your body. Mint also helps with digestion and helps relax cramped stomach muscles.
-2 quarts or 8 cups of water
-2 lemons, rinsed and sliced
-1/2 of English cucumber, rinsed and sliced
-10 to 12 mint leaves

Add lemons, cucumber, and mint to pitcher. Cover with 2 quarts of water and refrigerate over night. Enjoy!

Strawberry, Watermelon and Mint

This is a great combination for a hot summer day! Not only is it refreshing, but the watermelon is a great source of vitamins and rehydration salts such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium that can help with hydration.

-2 quarts or 8 cups of water
-10 large strawberries, hulled and sliced
-3/4 cup cubed seedless watermelon
-10 to 12 mint leaves

Add strawberries, watermelon, and mint to pitcher. Cover with 2 quarts of water and refrigerate over night. Enjoy!

Strawberry and Cantaloupe 

This is my husbands favorite infused water.  I get a lot of requests for this one!

-2 quarts or 8 cups of water
-10 large strawberries, hulled and sliced
-3/4 cup cubed cantaloupe

Add strawberries and cantaloupe to pitcher. Cover with 2 quarts of water and refrigerate over night. Enjoy! ** This is also good with a few basil leaves added in***

Lemon, Cucumber & Blueberry

This combination of fruits and veggie helps to balance ph, boosts metabolism and helps to detoxify the body! Give it a try!

-2 quarts or 8 cups of water
-2 lemons, rinsed and sliced
-1/2 of English cucumber, rinsed and sliced
-1/2 cup blueberries

Add lemon, cucumber, and blueberries to your pitcher. Cover with 2 quarts of water and refrigerate over night. Enjoy!

These are just a few of my favorites! Play around with different flavor combinations to find the perfect flavored water recipe for you. If you already have a favorite infused water recipe I would love to hear about it!