How to Make Healthy Flavored Water at Home

Sometimes plain old water just doesn’t cut it. The thirst-quenching solution? Fruit-infused H2O! Infused waters are easy to make, nutritious, and refreshing. Simply use any fresh fruit (except bananas—they don't work well), herbs, and spices to turn your once plain water into a refreshing, flavored drink.

Here's how to make four of my favorite combinations:

Minty Cucumber Lime

1/2 cucumber, sliced
1/2 lime, sliced
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Strawberry-Lemon with Basil

1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1/2 lemon, sliced
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

Watermelon Mint

1 cup cubed watermelon
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Pineapple-Orange with Ginger

1/2 cup cubed pineapple
1/2 orange, sliced
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

You’ll Need:

1-quart jars
Water
Wooden spoon
Agave or another sweetener (optional)

Directions:

1. Choose which recipe you're making—or come up with your own combination—and gather all of the ingredients.
2. Place fruit, herbs, and/or spices in bottom of a jars, and muddle with a wooden spoon. (That basically means mash up fruit to release some of the flavor-filled juices.)
3. Fill jar with water and give it a taste. (You can also fill jar with seltzer water for a fizzy treat.) If you'd like something a bit sweeter, add some agave and mix until dissolved.
4. Enjoy as-is or refrigerate overnight for maximum flavor.

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