4 Refreshing Fruit and Herb Infused Water Recipes

Oh, the things preschoolers say.

“Mama, may I destroy this?” (At least he asked!)

Me: What color is this flower?
Preschooler: Four

My favorite lately is, “Mama, can I have some Perry-YAY?“

You see, my husband and I have recently been experimenting with intermittent fasting, and during our fasting period we’ve found that fruit-infused water is an enjoyable way to add some flavor to life.

My husband prefers infused sparkling mineral water, while I usually go with plain water. (Just to clarify, my son thinks all mineral water is called “Perry-YAY.” We actually buy the store brand at our local health food market.)

Anyway, these infused water recipes are delightfully refreshing after a workout, sauna session, long day, or as a burst of flavor while experimenting with weird things like fasting. They’re also beautiful, making them perfect for gatherings with friends.

How much water should I drink?

We’re often given lots of advice and/or formulas to calculate how much water we should be drinking per day, and some people make infused water to encourage themselves to drink more. If you’ve ever tried reach that “magic” number and just couldn’t keep it up, here’s some good news:

The “eight glasses a day” recommendation comes from a 1945 Food and Nutrition Board recommendation which concluded that most people need about 2.5 liters of water per day. However, according to their report, we get most of that recommended water from food. The eight glass recommendation was not intended to be in addition to the water in our food – it’s too much.

“There is no science behind it,” wrote Dr. Carroll of the recommendation. He co-authored a paper on medical myths that was published in the British Medical Journal, and in an article written for the New York Times he added that, “The human body is finely tuned to signal you to drink long before you are actually dehydrated.”

So how much water should we drink? Personally, I drink when I’m thirsty. Now, on to the recipes!

4 Refreshing Fruit and Herb Infused Water Recipes

Cucumber, Mint & Strawberry

• 6 large or 12 small cucumber slices
• 5 mint leaves
• 2-3 sliced strawberries
• 1 quart water or mineral water
• Pinch of salt (optional, supports hydration)

To make: Add everything to a quart-sized jar – if desired, use a wooden spoon to gently mash the cucumber, mint and strawberries to release their flavors. Allow to infuse for at least one hour, then serve.

Lemon Ginger

• 1 inch ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3-4 slices lemon
• 1 quart water or mineral water
• Pinch of salt (optional, supports hydration)

To make: Add everything to a quart-sized jar. Using a wooden spoon, mash the ginger well to release it’s flavor. Allow to infuse for at least one hour, then serve.

Berry, Orange & Mint

• Berries – I used 4 raspberries and 2 sliced strawberries
• 3-4 slices orange
• 4-5 mint leaves
• 1 quart water or mineral water
• Pinch of salt (optional, supports hydration)

To make: Add everything to a quart-sized jar – if desired, use a wooden spoon to gently mash the berries, orange and mint to release their flavors. Allow to infuse for at least one hour, then serve.

Strawberry, Lime & Basil (or Mint)

• 2-3 sliced strawberries
• 3-4 slices lime
• 2 fresh basil leaves or mint leaves
• 1 quart water or mineral water
• Pinch of salt (optional, supports hydration)

To make: Add everything to a quart-sized jar – if desired, use a wooden spoon to gently mash the strawberry, lime and basil (or mint) to release their flavors. Allow to infuse for at least one hour, then serve.