I get that water may not be everyone's drink of choice. Some people love it and crave it, but many people prefer something with a specific flavor. They use that as their excuse for not drinking enough water on a daily basis.
Well, there are plenty of things you can do to your water to make it more interesting and enjoyable. That way, drinking as much of it as you need to on a daily basis won’t be a chore. It will be something you want to do.
Everybody Loves Fizz
Many people fall into the habit of drinking soda not for the taste, but for the fizz. After all, fizz is fun. So why not drink water that fizzes? I personally find sparkling water, or seltzer water to be the most refreshing drink on Earth. I even keep a glass of sparkling water on my nightstand while I sleep. I simply love it.
My mother is a health nut, and I grew up in a very healthy household. All meals were cooked from scratch from real, whole foods, and there was rarely junk food in the house. Our “junk food” was popcorn or pretzels, and we loved to snack on fresh fruit and raw veggies. There was never soda in our fridge. We saved soda for a special treat when we went out to eat. Our “soda” was seltzer or “fizzy juice” (seltzer with a splash of fruit juice). Today, my kids love seltzer and fizzy juice as much as I did.
If plain seltzer is too plain, you can try the fizzy juice (just a splash…don’t overdo it), or add a twist of lemon or lime. Most sparkling water companies sell flavored versions like cherry, lime, berry, orange, etc. You just have to be careful about artificial sweeteners, so read your labels. If you are on the go, plenty of stores carry bottled fizzy juices and flavored sparkling waters that do not contain artificial sweeteners.
No Fizz for You?
OK, so not everybody likes carbonation. That’s fine. There are plenty of things you can do to flat water to make it more fun. There is the standard twist of lemon and lime, or you can get really creative and add other fresh ingredients. There is a recipe for “Sassy Water” in the book Flat Belly Diet, by Liz Vaccariello with Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD.
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Article comments
1 - Jerome Wetzel
I never got why some people don't taste anything when they drink water, or how they can't crave it. I love juice, soda, alcohol, etc, but when I'm thirsty, the first thing I want is water. I may even go for it immediately before drinking something else, just because nothing quenches like it does.
If you don't like it, perhaps the water you are drinking is bad. Plenty of bottled and tap water is. Have you tried a Brita pitcher? It's the best!
2 - Rachael Pontillo
I like flat water when it is filtered (I agree...Brita is great. Pur is good too) and ICE COLD. I personally really love sparkling water the best though. And yes, there is definitely a difference in taste depending on the source. So many people believe that bottled water is the best, but that is not the case, as has been recently discussed.
3 - Boeke
Tap water often tastes 'dry' or flat simply because of the chlorine. It's better to make your drinks from the hot water tap because the hot water heater has driven off most of the chlorine. The tea kettle and coffee maker also drive off chlorine.
Brook water tastes good because it's highly oxygenated from running over stones and rocks and babbling a lot.
Cold water dulls the taste buds so it disguises bad tastes.
So the way to make good water for household drinks is to fill a 2 quart container about 3/4 full from the hot water tap then shake it vigorously and put it in the fridge. Works every time.
Another way is to put 2 bags of herb tea in that 2 quart container along with 2 quarts of hot water from the tea kettle and put that in the fridge. Delicious. Add a packet of your favorite sweetener if you like. Better than coke, pepsi, 7up or any other pop. Or you can add a touch of club soda, seltzer, etc.
4 - Cathy Moskal
I was always told that the water from a hot water heater is not the best because it sits and gets heated over and over. The heater gets crusty and possibly rusty inside. If you read directions on how to make excellent coffee for example, they will always tell you to use cold, filtered water. I think filtered water is the best unless you get your water from a natural ground well as we do in the country. Even then you may find that naturally occuring sulfurs and heavy minerals give it a funky taste. In that case, I let mine sit for about a half hour in the fridge and I am good to go.
5 - Rachael Pontillo
Natural ground wells are not immune to pollution. Rural areas may not have as much industrial and pharmaceutical pollution as urban or suburban areas, but there is plenty of pollution caused by agricultural runoff. Wells should be tested frequently, and in my opinion, faucet filters should always be used.
6 - Janice Manilow
Plain cold water is hard on the stomach. There are a lot of wonderful herbal teas on the market that are a great way to increase your water intake. Drinking Crystal Light type drinks and lemonade are good too!
7 - Boeke
Why is cold water 'hard on the stomach'? What's 'crystal light', and why would it be good for you?
Lemonade contains much sugar, and may lead to diabetes, just like coke, etc. A few years ago I was making lemonade by squeezing one lemon from my meyer lemon tree into a quart of water and refrigerating. After three months a visit to the dentist revealed an unprecedented number of cavities, so I quit.
8 - Chris
I crave for it all the time... the more I drink it.... the more it wants me.. :)
Nice article.
9 - Christopher Rose
I'm with Rachel, sparkling water is the best! Probably cos most of my other favourite drinks, barring tea and coffee, are fizzy too.
10 - Rachael Pontillo
Thanks for all the comments everyone! Keep 'em coming.
11 - maskay
I quit my 2 can a day pop habit on Novemeber 1st. I replaced it with water. I have lost 10lbs since then without changing any of my other bad eating habits, or increasing my exercise. It this isn't reason enough to drink more water, I don't know what is.
12 - Rachael Pontillo
@Maskay that is awesome! Good for you.