Tips to Make Better Beverage Choices
What you drink is as important for your body as what you eat. When looking for a beverage, it is ideal to look for one that provides nutrients at no additional cost. Many beverages contain lots of added sugar or too much fat and too many calories. Here are some tips to help you make better beverage choices.
Drink Water
Regular soda, energy or sports drinks, and other sweet drinks usually contain a lot of added sugar, and even though you can probably get some nutrients out of those choices, the price you are paying for the extra calories is not worth the risk.
How much water is enough?
The elderly often experience diminished thirst, leading to reduced fluid intake. A good rule of thumb is to consume eight 8 ounces of water per day. Consult your doctor or dietitian if you are on a fluid restriction diet.
A thrifty option
With easy access to water, you can save money by drinking water instead of buying another beverage.
Manage your calories
When drinking another beverage besides water, you are, for the most part, also consuming too many calories. Adults and children take in about 400 calories per day from beverages. Drinking water will definitely help you to avoid those extra calories.
Adult-friendly drink zone
Make water an easy option in your home. Have ready-to-go containers filled with water available in the refrigerator. Reusable bottles are easy on the environment, and there are many options available at a low cost.
Enjoy your beverage
When you want something besides water, enjoy your beverage of choice in moderation. Look at the nutrition fact label and, when possible, choose a smaller size. If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation. That means up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. Consult your doctor or dietitian if you have more questions.
Don't like the taste of water?
If you are one of those people who doesn’t like the taste of water. Try one of these 3 infused water recipes.
- Cucumber Mint: Thinly slice one cucumber. Add the sliced cucumbers to a ½ gallon glass jar, add 8 fresh mint leaves, and fill with filtered water. Stir gently, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Citrus Blueberry: Slice two oranges into thin slices. Add sliced oranges and 1 cup of blueberries to a gallon-size glass jar. Add filtered water to fill the jar and stir gently. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Mango Pineapple: Peel and thinly slice one fresh mango. Add to ½ gallon glass jar. Add 1 cup of finely chopped pineapple and filtered water. Allow to infuse in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before drinking.
