1)Red, White, and Blueberry Lemonade Ingredients 1 can frozen white grape juice concentrate, organic preferred 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 gallon cold water, or water and ice 2 apples, cut across into round slices 1 pint blueberries, washed 1 pint strawberries, stems removed and halved Directions Combine the grape juice concentrate, lemon juice, and water. If you have a star shaped cookie cutter, use it to cut shapes out of the apples. Otherwise cut the sliced apple rounds into halves and add. Add all of the fruit into the lemonade. Serve with a ladle as you would a punch.
2)Strawberry-Basil Water This is another drink option combining high-fiber strawberries which are low on the glycemic index with vitamin C-rich lemon juice. This recipe also calls for basil, which adds a fresh, herbaceous pop to the water. Basil has anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants to protect your cells. Ingredients 1 pint strawberries, sliced 10 fresh basil leaves, torn 1 lemon, sliced 2 quarts water Directions Combine strawberries, basil and lemon in a large pitcher. Add 2 quarts water. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or up to 2 days. Infused waters are an easy way to add flavor and interest without a lot of extra calories. Try different fruit and herb combinations, like cucumber-mint or lemon-lime.
3. The New Southern Style Sweet Tea Combining lime or lemon juice with fiber-rich raspberries or blueberries, this healthy version of sweet tea gives you options. It also calls for green tea, which stimulates the nervous system to burn more calories (along with delivering a hearty dose of antioxidants), and mint, which is both immensely refreshing and high in vitamin C.
Ingredients
1/2 gallon (8 cups) chilled water
6 (small) green tea bags
1/2 cup agave
1 lime or lemon, sliced
1/2 cup fresh raspberries (blueberries are also yummy)
8 fresh mint leaves, (add to pitcher or individual glasses)
Directions
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring 2 cups water to the point of steaming, remove from heat and add tea bags. Allow tea bags to steep for 8 minutes.
Remove and discard tea bags, add agave, stir to combine. Add 6 cups chilled water to a half gallon pitcher, next add the tea and stir. Add sliced limes or lemons along with raspberries and fresh mint leaves. Sever over ice and enjoy!
Note: Never boil tea bags as it makes the tea bitter. You may steep tea up to 12 minutes in steaming water as this allows more antioxidants to be released but will also make the tea stronger.
4. Lemon Ginger Detox Drink Ginger opens blood vessels, reduces inflammation, relieves nausea, and increases metabolism. It can help not only with burning fat, but with combatting the symptoms of spring and summer allergies. This spicy drink will keep you feeling lively all day.
Ingredients
1 12-ounce glass water, at room temperature
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 inch knob of ginger root
Directions
Add the lemon juice to the glass of water. Finely grate the ginger by using a zester, add to the glass of water. This drink is a perfect way to start your day!
5. Orange-Pomegranate Green Tea You’d be hard-pressed to find a drink recipe that packs in more fat-melting vitamin C than this recipe, which combines orange juice and pomegranate juice. Pomegranate is also a low-glycemic fruit. Add in green tea, and you’ve got a mean fat-burning beverage with a very nice taste.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup chilled green tea, no added sweeteners (home brewed is best)
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (O.J. in a carton will work if fresh oranges aren't available)
- 1/2 cup 100% pure pomegranate juice
- 1 lemon wedge
- 1 orange slice, garnish
- ice
Directions
Combine chilled tea and pomegranate juice in one glass, add a few cubes ice and pour in orange juice. Squeeze lemon into drink. This drink is especially pretty if you do not stir when pouring the orange juice. Add an orange slice to the side of the glass for garnish and pop in a straw!
This is a perfect dinner drink and a great replacement for sodas.
Note: To make this recipe for several, add to a half gallon pitcher:
2 cups chilled green tea, no added sweeteners (home brewed)
3 cups 100% pure pomegranate juice
3 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
6 orange or lemon slices, or 3 of each
6. Strawberry Lemonade Want to keep it simple? Strawberry, lemon, water, and a natural sweetener. That’s it! (Note: This recipe calls for agave, a sweetener that, like all sweeteners, should be used in moderation. Though it may have a low glycemic index, the syrup is high in fructose, which may be associated with weight gain. Also, it’s higher in calories than table sugar. Use lightly, or consider using honey instead, which has greater nutritional value.)
Ingredients
2 cups fresh strawberries
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 5 lemons
1/2 cup agave
Chilled Water (we used distilled)
1 extra lemon, thinly sliced
Directions
Slice tops from strawberries, discard. Add strawberries, agave and lemon juice to a blender and pulse until strawberries are liquid. Strain juice through a sieve if you prefer most of the pulp be removed.
Pour juice into a 1/2 gallon pitcher, add slices of lemon, fill with chilled water. Don't over fill pitcher with water, add just enough to make 1/2 gallon. Pour over ice and enjoy!
Garnish sides of glasses with lemon slice and half of a strawberry. Also, try adding a few sliced strawberries to the pitcher. This is such a pretty drink!
7. Mean Green Juice If you’re in the mood for something a little less sweet, try out this juice version of a green smoothie. Harnessing the fiber, vitamin and mineral content of kale and apples, the metabolism-boosting capacity of ginger, and celery, which takes more calories to chew than it provides, this green juice is great for weight management.
Yields: 12 oz. | Serving Size: 12 oz. |Calories: 310 | Previous Points: 6 | Points Plus: 7 | Total Fat: 2 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium:260 mg | Carbohydrates: 57 g | Dietary Fiber: 2 g | Sugars: 0 g | Protein: 10 g |
Ingredients
6 kale leaves
1 cucumber
4 celery stalks, leaves removed
2 green apples, (optional, apple of choice)
1/2 lemon, peeled
1-inch knob ginger root
Directions
If using a juicer: Add all the above ingredients and juice.
If using a blender: Add all the above ingredients along with 1 1/2 cups water and a few ice cubes. Blend until smooth.
