Tips for Dry July
By Sam Wood on
So many of us are ALL or NOTHING, so what better time than Dry July to get moving more, eating better and thinking straight?
Say goodbye to the booze (and hello to a Sunday morning).
It's not about never drinking again. It's about raising funds for people affected by cancer, all while being the much needed catalyst for your own health and wellbeing.
The number one reason people don't look after themselves is time. When we give up the booze, we tend to have an abundance of time! It's what we do with it that counts, so here are a few tips:
Start and finish each day with a big glass of… water.
Instead of being a little dehydrated this July, your body will can be a well-oiled (read: watered) machine and it’ll love you for it.
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Alcohol-free Drink Ideas
By Claire Turnbull on
I love a good glass of bubbles or a chilled glass of vino as much as anyone else over the festive season, but to ensure I look and feel good I always have plenty of alcohol free options, give some of these a try;
- Dilute Cranberry Juice with soda water or sparking water. One-third juice to two-thirds water is a good combo.
- Chilled iced teas – these are very easy to make.
- Homemade lemon or limeade – squeeze the juice of a lemon or lime into a glass and top up with sparkling or soda water. If you want a sweeter taste you can add a tiny amount of stevia, a natural sweetener.
- Coconut water.
- Mojo-hito (yes, that is a name I made up!) – lime juice, crushed mint leaves and soda water. If you want it a little sweeter you can add stevia...
Tropical Fizz
By Claire Turnbull on
Get a dose of this luscious fruit-filled mocktail, for a refereshing drink on warm/hot days.
Ingredients (Serves 6 – cost per serve 70 cents)
3/4 cup of strawberries, halved
1 kiwifruit, peeled, chopped
2 pieces (150g) fresh pineapple, chopped
12 plain or fruit/mint-filled ice-cubes
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 litre sparking soda water
How to make it:
1) Fill each glass with a mixture of fruits, add ice cubes.
2) Mix apple juice and soda water together then divide among glasses.
Nutritional Information
Energy 300Kj/71Kcal
Protein 2g
Total Fat 0g
Sat Fat 0g
Carbs 15g
Sugars 13g
Fibre 1g
Sodium 20mg
Calcium 10mg
Iron 0.5g
From Healthy Food Guide Magazine.
Pineapple and Mint Fizz
By Claire Turnbull on
This super tasty drink couldn’t be easier!
Ingredients
2 tbsps chopped pineapple
Sparkling water
Small handful of chopped mint
Ice cubes
Pinch of Stevia (optional)
How to make it:
1) Simply add chopped pineapple and a small handful of freshly chopped mint to sparkling water (I make mine with my SodaStream)
2) Leave to infuse for 1-2 hours then pour out through a sieve and serve with fresh pineapple and a sprig of mint with ice cubes.
Delicious and a super idea for an alcohol free drink. You can add a pinch of stevia to sweeten if you like too.
Enjoy!
Fruity Ice Cubes
By Claire Turnbull on
These are just perfect on a lazy sunny afternoon in the sun for a great refresher!
Make still or sparkling water look beautiful with these super easy fruity ice cubes.
Simply boil and cool some water (this means that when it freezes, it remains clear so you don’t get cloudy ice cubes), pour the water along with some chopped fruit and mint leaves into ice cube trays. Freeze and they are ready!
This super looking drink in the photo above, is simply made with Sparkling water, made in my SodaStream, with 2 large ice cubes added. They have slightly melted to reveal the fruit inside.
Give it a go!
Peach Melba Sparkles
By Claire Turnbull on
I made this drink last night when family came round for dinner and as we had all decided it was to be an alcohol free evening, it was a total hit!!
Blend together
2 peaches or 1 cup of canned peaches
3/4 cup frozen raspberries
Pinch of stevia (optional)
I did this in a blender super easy! Then, just take 2tbsp of the fruit mixture, put into a glass and top up with sparking water, I used my awesome SodaStream machine to get my bubbly water!
Serve with ice, extra peach slices and a few raspberries plus a sprig of mint. Sooooo good!
Sparkly Fruity Iced Tea
By Claire Turnbull on
Summer is coming and this drink is the perfect accompaniment to any sunny day!
Ingredients (serves 6)
3 hot/cold brew tea bags
1.5 cups boiling water
2 large bottles of soda stream sparkling water
Stevia (optional)
How to make:
1) Place 3 herbal tea bags into a mug or heat proof glass and add 1.5 cups of boiling water. Red seal and Bell do some great hot or cold brew teas which are ideal for this drink. You can use any tea you like though!
2) Leave the bags to brew for 10 minutes then remove and add (optional) stevia to taste.
3) Allow the tea to cool, then place a 6th of the brew into a glass and top up with sparkling water, I LOVE using my SodaStream here for instant sparkling water!!
4) Add a few ice cubes and there you go…...
Zesty Blueberry Fizz
By Claire Turnbull on
The perfect drink for a sunny afternoon!
Ingredients
1 cup blueberries (I love the orchard gold frozen variety when I don’t have fresh ones)
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp water
Optional: stevia
How to make:
1) Place blueberries, water and lemon juice into a pan, bring to the boil, turn the heat off and add a pinch of stevia if you are using. Then allow to cool.
2) Whizz the mixture up in a blender.
3) Divide the mix into 4 glasses and top up with sparkling water, I use my SodaStream for this…so easy!
4) Add ice, a slice of lemon and voilà.
Lime, Chilli and Mint Sparkles
By Claire Turnbull on
Looking for a way to add interest to your sparkling water?
Try this… simply add the juice of lime, 3-4 springs of mint and a slice of chilli (whatever you are brave enough to try, I find fresh jalapenos work well) to a glass of sparkling water. I use my SodaStream to make sparkling water, SUPER quick and easy.
Honestly, this one is a winner. So good!