Mmmm… summer! Don’t you just love these warm, deliciously sunny days? As the temperature heats up and many of us are flock outside to our patios and porches to enjoy these last few rays before autumn sets in it’s extremely important to stay hydrated! You may have heard me mention this once or twice before… especially when the mercury is soaring above 30°C which can increase our own body temperature!
Although water is the best drink and we should make most of our fluid in a day, simple and refreshing water… my (current) favourite summer drink is lemonade. A little sweet and a little sour – it’s perfect! The lemonade you buy at the store, although quick and easy to have on hand, can be full of sugar and potential high FODMAP ingredients, so make sure you read the labels.
But it’s pretty quick and simple to create a fun twist to this low FODMAP drink that’ll be sure to be a hit with friends and family!
Although water is the best drink and we should make most of our fluid in a day, simple and refreshing water… my (current) favourite summer drink is lemonade. A little sweet and a little sour – it’s perfect! The lemonade you buy at the store, although quick and easy to have on hand, can be full of sugar and potential high FODMAP ingredients, so make sure you read the labels.
But it’s pretty quick and simple to create a fun twist to this low FODMAP drink that’ll be sure to be a hit with friends and family! As much as I love a cold glass of lemonade, some recipes call for large amounts of sugar. Staying hydrated is healthy and important, but with too much sugar in your drink, the health benefits are going down the drain. Try this very Canadian version of lemonade, which uses maple syrup instead of white sugar to help balance out the tartness of the lemons and adds some sweetness!
You can also check out this post for a homemade soda recipe. Beware that carbonated beverages aren’t always the best option for managing symptoms since they add air to your stomach, so if you struggle with gas and bloating in particular, it might be best to stick to the non-carbonated lemonades below.
Low FODMAP Recipe: Maple Lemonade
Makes: 4 servings
Time: 5 minutes prep
INGREDIENTS
6 lemons
½ cup maple syrup
4 cups water
INSTRUCTIONS
Juice lemons until you have approximately 1 cup of lemon juice. Pour through a sieve to remove any seeds. Add to a large pitcher.
Add maple syrup slowly while mixing with a big wooden spoon. *This is best in order to determine sweetness level. You may want more or less syrup depending on how sweet you want the lemonade.
Add 4 cups of cold water and 2 cups of ice and stir.
Enjoy!
Low FODMAP Recipe: Raspberry Lemonade
Makes: 4 servings
Time: 5 minutes prep
INGREDIENTS
Same as above but use white sugar instead of maple syrup
1 cup fresh raspberries, rinsed
Handful of fresh mint leaves, washed and minced
INSTRUCTIONS
Place ¾ cup of raspberries in a blender or food processor. Pulse until pureed and then separate the seeds using a mesh sieve.
Mix lemonade (made the same way as above with white sugar instead of maple syrup) with pureed raspberries, ¼ cup whole raspberries and mint leaves. Stir and let sit for 30 to 60 minutes.
Serve with ice!
If you feel like drinking something more on the cocktail side, check out our Low FODMAP cocktail recipes!
Much love & good eating,
Stephanie & The Team