Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #11: Make Your Own Flavored Water

It’s almost the end of Week 2 of our October Challenge.  Here is today’s Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #11: Make Your Own Flavored Water.

Homemade, flavored water is a great replacement for soda, drinks with diet sweeteners, commercial juice and high calorie drinks.  You also save money on beverages because all you need is filtered/purified water, fruit and other natural ingredients like ginger.  If you aren’t used to drinking a lot of water but know that you need to drink more water, this is a great idea for you.  Hydration is so important.

What do you need?  

Glass Container – I suggest you get a large container to mix up you water in.  A large glass mason jar is the top choice.   You don’t have to worry about any chemicals from plastics leeching into the water.  I use 1-2 quart mason jars that I got from Walmart (I also use them for my juicing)

Purified Water – Filtered or purified water is what I suggest that you use, but tap water works too.  Distilled water and spring water works as well.

Fruit – Anything goes for the most part when it comes to fruit.  Things like grapes, kiwi and citrus work better when they are cut up and the flavor can seep into the water.  You can use fresh or frozen fruits.  Here are the fruits I love to use:

• Strawberry
• Lime
• Lemon
• Apple
• Blueberries
• Kiwi
• Oranges
• Raspberry
• Pineapple
• Blackberry
• Peaches
• Watermelon
• Coconut

Other Ingredients – Tip: Buy fresh herbs, not dried.

• Mint
• Ginger
• Teas
• Cucumber
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Lavender
• Lemongrass

There are a few ways to make flavored, vitamin waters.  Check out these links for instructions and recipes.  You will find many more recipes on Pinterest or by searching online.

• The Yummy Life breaks down how to make 5 great flavored water recipes.
• Check out these 5 super food flavored water recipes from Zain
• 10 flavored water combinations from Farmacology Organics