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flavoured drinks...got any suggestions? bored of plain water!

Hi everyone!

I'm at day 3 of my weight loss program and I'm doing well and feeling positive. A major challenge for me though, is finding things to drink that are NOT carbonated (I'm a diet coke junkie but haven't touched it in days), NOT coffee (I have never touched the stuff) and NOT tea (don't like it). This does not leave me with a lot of choice except for powdered drinks which I don't have access to (I live in Europe and I can't find Crystal Light, Sugar-Free Cool Aid etc. here).

Any other suggestions? I'm feeling desperate to find something. I've tried making lemonade with lemon juice and splenda which works fine. I know all of you are creative in this site though (especially those who have been on a program for a long time) so I'm up for any and all suggestions. Any kind of drink is welcome.

Thanks!


Fri. Jun 1, 12:12pm

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brew up some green tea, cool it and maybe add a bit of lemon.

Sometimes adding a bit of fruit juice will add a hint of flavor to water as well.

Friday, June 01, 2007, 12:26 PM

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This isn't non-carbonated, but, buy sparkling water and add just a splash of fruit juice to it. Yummy! Or, add actual fruit (blueberries work well b/c they're small enough to squish through the top, and if you squish them a little, the flavor comes out.)

I like adding a few slices of cucumber to my water (not sparkling, just regular) for a little something extra. I like it way better than lemon.

Friday, June 01, 2007, 12:28 PM

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crystal light energy in wild strawberry...its yummy

Friday, June 01, 2007, 9:44 PM

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FLAVORED DRINKS

HELLO , HAVE YOU TRIED FRUIT 2'O, IT IS WATER WITH ALL SORTS OF FLAVORS. OR PROPEL BY GATORADE, SAME IDEA.

I TOO , AM A 2 LITER A BOTTLE A DAY GIRL. But these two drinks have let me loose 4 lbs so far.


Friday, June 01, 2007, 10:34 PM

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Second the fruit juice flavored water. Lemon, lime, pomegranate, black current, cherry or any other intensely flavored juice would be great. Grate and squeeze some ginger into water. Fresh mint or other herbs. Hibiscus tea. All the various herb teas. I like green tea too and always have several chilled pitchers in the fridge. Flavoring the green tea w mint is refreshing in really hot weather.

Saturday, June 02, 2007, 5:02 AM

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What great suggestions here! I am getting out my pitcher and brewing some mint tea again for a summer drink. Love the idea of home-made ginger brew!! How do you make it?
I really like the idea of home made drinks too because it decreases all the plastic, cans etc that are going into the environment...and you save a lot of $$$....and I AM SURE it is a whole lot healthier.

Saturday, June 02, 2007, 7:26 AM

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Re: "Ginger Brew"

I don't actually do more than grate some fresh ginger and squeeze the grated stuff to get the juice and then put some in water, or mix with juice flavored water. My fav is some pomegranate juice and ginger juice with lots of water.

Saturday, June 02, 2007, 7:52 AM

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OP here...

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I think this is useful info for all of us so keep 'em coming! Will try some of these :)

Saturday, June 02, 2007, 10:22 AM

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Water with lots of ice and lemon is the most refereshing thing I've tried to quench my thirst and for something that tastes good.

Saturday, June 02, 2007, 5:33 PM

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I toss a couple of cucumber slices into my water. I call it "spa water" and can pretend I'm in a relaxing oasis.

Saturday, June 02, 2007, 7:13 PM

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One of my group members juices...and she blends up lemon, ginger and apple (you can mix it with water)...then puts in some spinach ....and calls is green lemonaid. Sounds intriguing. I'm dying to try it. Any other juicers out there?

Saturday, June 02, 2007, 9:56 PM

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lemonade sort of

Sometimes I can't get fresh lemons or they're too expensive. So I just have a whole container of crystal light lemonade in the fridge. I pour 8 oz of that into a big nalgene bottle and fill the rest w/ ice and water....about 34-36 oz total. I'm sure it would be great too if you used any kind of lemonade. Some people might think it tastes watered down, but I think it gives the water enough flavor to keep things interesting. I also cut up a fresh lime, squeeze it into a bottle, throw in the leftover pieces and fill up the rest of the bottle w/ ice and water.

I'll have to try the cucumber thing...never would have thought of that. Thanks!

Sunday, June 03, 2007, 1:38 PM

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GO ON EBAY.COM AND ORDER SOME CRYSTAL LIGHT. EBAY HAS EVERYTHING.

Sunday, June 03, 2007, 5:33 PM

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Don't be afraid of regular ol' iced tea or even coffee - a couple of months ago a big study came out that caffeine doesn't have the dehydrating effect that it's always been thought to. So now it "counts".

Sunday, June 03, 2007, 5:39 PM

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For something really different

In India they drink a variety of savory or sweet/sour and often spicy flavored cold drinks. Sounds weird to the average westerner, but considering the heat in India, this may be worth trying.

Flavorings used include lemons, limes, mangoes ripe and unripe, cumin, tamarind, sometimes salt, hot pepper, ginger, mint, spices like cardamom, fennel, etc in various combinations

Sunday, June 03, 2007, 6:34 PM

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i read a great book called 'the truth about beauty' by kat james and one of the 'beverage upgrades' she suggested was adding pure cranberry or pomegranate concentrate to perrier water or soda water to create a refreshing spritzer and i tried it -- it's fabulous. you can find the pure fruit concentrate at vitamin shoppes or gnc.

Sunday, June 03, 2007, 11:06 PM

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So many great ideas here especially the posting about India beverages. Actually chai tea has some of those spices...notably pepper which makes it yummy. I LOVE rosemary tea. You can buy bulk herbs at Whole foods at a decent price OR grow it yourself...and you just take a lttle rosemary and steep it in hot water. Tastes great either hot or cold.


Monday, June 04, 2007, 10:46 AM

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Another Favorite

Great herbal iced tea. Steep Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea (or Lemon Zinger) and add a splash of pineapple or orange juice. It's so refreshing and delicious..

Monday, June 04, 2007, 10:49 AM

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Organic blackiced tea from trader joes (already made and in a jug)
pomogranate juice

put a splash of the pomogranite juice in a tall glass of unsweetened organic black ice tea and then garnish with lemon. YUMMY!

Monday, June 04, 2007, 12:20 PM

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raspberry ice by crystal light is my favorite. even lemonade is good

Monday, June 04, 2007, 1:28 PM

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Indian beverage: Jal Jeera Cumin-Laced Tamarind and Mint Cooler

(I haven't tried this yet, so experiment at your own risk)

Jal Jeera Cumin-Laced Tamarind and Mint Cooler

1/4 lb tamarind pulp
5 cups hot water
2 tablespoons Sugar
1/2 tablespoon cumin seed; toasted
1 teaspoon black salt
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon red chile powder
1/8 teaspoon garam masala
10 large fresh mint leaves

Put tamarind pulp and the hot water into a bowl; let soak for 30
minutes,periodically mashing the tamarind with your fingers and
freeing as much as the pulp as possible from the fiber and seeds.
Working in batches, pour mixture into a strainer over a bowl. Press
down on mixture until nothing but seeds and fiber are left in
strainer. Discard solids.
To strained liquid, add sugar, toasted cumin seeds, black salt, lime
juice, red chile powder, garam masala and 10 large fresh mint leaves;
stir to combine.
Puree in a blender until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a
pitcher and chill.
Serve over crushed ice.

Link

Monday, June 04, 2007, 2:42 PM

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Cool...I love trying new things like this...now does anyone know what tamarind is? or what it is like?

Monday, June 04, 2007, 11:00 PM

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