Water as it is can be tasteless and boring. Kids hate it, adults dislike it. You hardly hear anyone telling you how special drinking water is or how beautiful it is. Instead, you will hear nutritionists, sports enthusiasts, and parents constantly reminding their kids how important staying hydrated is.
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The benefits of drinking water are endless…
If I were to list all of them here, you will still be on my blog when the sun rises the next day. The Harvard Medical School Special Health Report states that these benefits include:
– Aiding Digestion
– Stabilizing heartbeat
– Protecting organs and joints
– Regulating body temperature
Some other benefits of drinking water include:
– Maximizing physical performance, especially during intense workouts
– Improves brain functions
– Prevent and treat headaches
– Relieves constipation
– Treats kidney stones
– Prevent hangovers (I can vouch for this!)
– Helps in weight loss
Can drinking water really be fun?
I work out at least 5 times a week at the gym, sometimes with the inclusion of swim laps in my work out routine. I used to drink a bottle (850ml) or two of water in the past and found that my energy depletes very quickly. On top of that, taking care of 3 young boys is no easy feat. By the end of the day, sometimes even before I tug them into bed, I am so drained that I fall asleep beside them.
As my boys are growing older, it is getting more difficult to get them to drink up. Drinking water is no longer interesting as they are exposed to more taste experiences. It reached a point where my reminders sounded like a broken recorder needing repair. To stop sounding like a naggy old granny, I cracked my head thinking of ways to make drinking water fun again. I came up with a reward system and games but found that the rules are being broken more than having to break a fight.
I got so exhausted that I decided to throw in a few lemon slices into my iced water. From then on, we have a newborn in our family named Infused Water.
If you are a mom and are feeling like a granny me, rest assured! My boys love experimenting with different combinations of fruits in their water. Also, with their new bottles I’ve just gotten for them, washing has never been easier!
With infused water, it may be difficult to clean. The fruits may stay at the bottom of the bottle, or the seeds are hard to remove. Sometimes they leave stubborn stains on the edges of the bottle or the rubber bottle cap. Leave your comment below to let me know I’m not the only one who’s frustrated and annoyed when the rubbers turn black!
Introducing 2 of my all-time favorite infused water bottles! After much sourcing and trying several bottles that look good but not so practical, I am so happy that I finally found these parent (and kid!) friendly bottles that are very convenient when it comes to cleaning at the end of the day. And best of all, I am very much in love with the ombre colored bottle!
This first bottle linked here is child friendly and leak proof. As parents, we are always concerned about bottle leaks because of the extra trouble to clean. The second bottle linked here comes with an insulative sleeve to prevent condensation.
Both bottles are colorful and come with a security lock. It also has marks to encourage your child to drink more. They are also practical and lightweight which is convenient to bring around. Moreover, they are BPA and toxin-free while being an eco-friendly bottle.
Most importantly, both bottles have infusion baskets that are easily removable. This makes it easy to clean and wash. Now that the bottles are settled, here’s how to naturally flavor your water to encourage better drinking habits!
Let’s get real, buying fruits in Singapore is not cheap. Especially if you are looking at berries and fruits like cherries. Even when they are on sale, they might not taste the best or is very sour. But, tropical, stone, and citrus fruits are more affordable, so let’s use that to our advantage!
5 Infused Water Ideas
In each recipe, to obtain full flavor, let the ingredients infuse for at least 2 hours or overnight. Additionally, avoid using hot water as it will cause the ingredients to disintegrate.
1. Watermelon, Lemon, and Mint.
Ratio:
- 150g (1 cup) watermelon, diced/sliced (Depending on preference)
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Handful of mint
This infusion helps to beat the heat especially with the hot weather in Singapore. Watermelon is high in lycopene and antioxidants keeping us hydrated as it has 92% water by weight! The lycopene supports eye and heart health and the lemon gives a boost to our immunity.
2. Frozen Raspberry and Lemon
Ratio:
- A handful of frozen raspberries (feel free to replace them with grapes or blueberries)
- 1 lemon, sliced
- Optional: Mint or Rosemary
Frozen raspberries can act as a replacement for ice cubes, and satisfy your child’s sweet tooth! They are healthy and refreshing while being low-fat and low-calorie. The frozen raspberries can also be consumed after the infusion.
3. Cucumber, Lemon, and Mint
Ratio:
- ÂĽ cucumber, sliced
- ½ lemon, sliced
- 950ml – 1L of water
This may sound very boring, but this combo is a major detox booster. This combination of cucumber and lemon is alkalizing. Hence, it aids digestion, removes toxins from your system, and suppresses your appetite. The mint in this combo provides more digestion support for greater effects.
4. Grapefruit, Lemon, and Lime
Ratio:
- ÂĽ grapefruit, sliced
- ½ lemon, sliced
- ½ lime, sliced
- 950ml – 1L of water
This citrus combo is packed with tons of Vitamin C, which is optimal in boosting your immune system. With the Covid virus, keeping our immune system in the top form helps to protect our social circle.
Tip: Peel the skin of the citrus fruit before infusing as leaving it in for too long will result in a bitter taste.
5. Peach, Blueberry, Strawberry, Mint, Lemon, Lime, Watermelon, Pineapple, and Orange.
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to go all out, try out this Fruit Sangria version! There is no fixed ratio for this one, so feel free to mix and match.
Needless to say, this drink is also packed with antioxidants and vitamins to fuel you through the day and charge up your immune system. On top of that, this fruit-infused water performs extremely well as ammunition against the heat!
Express your creativity and experiment with the endless possibilities of infused water! Not only does it encourage your kids to drink more water, but it also gives a boost in immunity and digestion!
Try your new concoctions out in your newly obtained bottles with the infusion column and you won’t ever look at water as dull and boring anymore!
Don’t forget to share your infused water ideas in the comment section below too 🙂
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