Bottoms Up, Let's Hydrate!

Am I the only one that seems to make a goal for herself to drink more water week after week? I’ve never been one of those people that absolutely loves the “taste of plain water”…does water even have a taste?! So needless to say, staying hydrated has always been a struggle for me, BUT with a bit of experimentation and research I’ve found some ways to avoid drinking plain water, while still saying away from food coloring, sugars and all the other nonsense they put into hydration packs these days.

Here are some products and tricks that have allowed me to drink at least 120 oz of water a day and I sure hope they help you too!

1. Tea Bags:

Did you know tea bags work as well in cold water as in hot? They sure do! One of my favorite ways to ensure I drink more water is to add 1-2 tea bags into my water bottle. Although it does take a bit more time to steep in cold water compared to hot, you’ll have a fresh iced tea in no time at all. I love adding peppermint tea and lemon juice or the passion fruit TAZO flavor, which creates a perfect copy cat of the Starbucks version.

2. Ultima:

I know I shared this brand in the past, but Ultima makes a zero sugar, zero calorie, zero carb, gluten free, vegan, non gmo, paleo, keto friendly, clean electrolyte drink that’s the perfect addition to your daily water intake. My favorite flavors are the pink lemonade and watermelon, but you truly can’t go wrong with any of them. I usually purchase these right off their website, but I know they also sell them at places like Sprouts and Whole Foods.

3. Apple Juice:

Now I know that adding apple juice to water technically means you’re not drinking just water anymore, but hear me out. I love adding just a splash of apple juice to my water bottle to just give it that slight hint of apple and if you want to be really bold, try combining a bit of juice with a peppermint tea bag….oh boy, you’re in for a treat!

4. Fresh Fruit/Veggies/Herbs:

Have you ever been to one of those fancy hotels or spas where they offer spa water? Well, news flash, you don’t have to be such a high roller to enjoy that special water 😉 I love adding peppermint leaves, cucumber, strawberries, lemons, limes, oranges, etc to my water to give it that hint of taste without adding any sugars or other ingredients.

5. Add Bubbles:

When plain or slightly flavored water just won’t do, try adding some carbonation. We have a SodaStream machine at home and some days when water just isn’t cutting it for me, a glass of bubble water does the trick. You can definitely also go the canned bubble water route, in which case I love the AHA and Waterloo brands 😊

6. Vital Performance Recovery:

Vital Performance makes a ton of pre and post workout beverage powders, but the one I reach for daily is their recovery powder. Adding 1-2 scoops of this to your shaker cup, will not only make you drink it faster than if it were plain water, but it will also provide your body with all the nutrients and minerals it needs to replenish post workout. I love the passionfruit and guava lime flavors, while Rio votes for the blueberry watermelon.

7. True Lemon:

I've had mixed feelings about this one, but I do love the original lemonade flavor, as well as the peach, so thought it was worth mentioning, although I don't use them nearly as often as the other options listed above. I know a lot of you love the black cherry and raspberry lemonade versions, which just had a funky after taste for me.

If you have any tips and tricks that have helped you stay more hydrated I know we would all love to hear them, so please drop them in the comments on my Instagram post and let’s get this water party started 😉

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.