Skip to content

Top Navigation

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Recipes
  • Cooking 101
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
SUBSCRIBE
Pin FB

Explore Cooking Light

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 31-Day Healthy Meal Plan

      Our 31-day calendar of meals and tips shows you how to cook more and love it with fun, family-friendly meals that come together quickly and deliciously. Read More
    • Dinner Tonight: Quick and Healthy Menus in 45 Minutes (or Less)

      Hundreds of delicious recipes, paired with simple sides, that can be on your table in 45 minutes or less. Read More
    • Our Favorite Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

      Who ever said that chicken wings, doughnuts, and pizza couldn't be healthy? Read More
  • Recipes

    Recipes

    See All Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Recipe Makeovers
    • Quick & Healthy
    • Diabetic
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Cooking Light Live
  • Cooking 101

    Cooking 101

    See All Cooking 101
    • Essential Ingredients
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Meet the Chef
    • Cooking Resources
    • Budget Friendly
    • Smart Choices
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living

    Healthy Living

    See All Healthy Living
    • Weight-Loss
    • Health
    • Fitness
    • Home
    • Travel
    • Nutrition 101
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Health News
  3. Tired of Water? 5 Healthy Alternatives That Won’t Break Your Diet

Tired of Water? 5 Healthy Alternatives That Won’t Break Your Diet

April 28, 2015
Skip gallery slides
Pin
You know you need to stay hydrated, and that water is the optimal calorie-free choice. But there may be times when you need a break from plain H2O. Check out these low-calorie hydrating options that won’t halt your weight loss. By: Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., R.D.
Start Slideshow

1 of 6

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Juice Spritzer

Credit: Photo: Fran Gealer/Getty Images

Mix seltzer water with cranberry, or pomegranate juice to create a bubbly, fruit spritzer. To keep calories low, make sure you choose a 100 percent juice variety and try to stick with using just ¼ to ½ cup of juice. Count each ½ cup of juice used in place of a fruit serving in your daily meal plan to keep calories from adding up.  

1 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 6

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Green Tea

If you want a health boost along with hydration, give green tea a try. Green tea contains compounds called phytochemicals that research has shown to have disease preventing qualities. In fact, green tea has been linked with reducing blood pressure and cholesterol and improving blood flow. Sweeten with a 1 to 2 tablespoons of 100 percent fruit juice or 1 teaspoon honey if desired. Not a fan of green tea? Any tea you brew is a good low-calorie option.

2 of 6

3 of 6

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coffee

Coffee isn’t off-limits when dieting. It’s the calories from the cream and sugar—not the coffee—that add up and derail your diet. If you’re craving a cup of coffee midday, it’s fine to have as long as you limit the cream and sweetener to around 1 teaspoon each. Or, brew a flavored coffee such as hazelnut or mocha where you get the flavor and aroma of creamy sweetness but no calories. Make sure to opt for decaffeinated if you don’t usually consume caffeine or if you’ve already had a caffeinated beverage or two that day. 

3 of 6

Advertisement

4 of 6

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Milk

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
A glass of skim milk contains only 90 calories and is packed full of calcium, Vitamin D, and protein, which fills you up and counts toward your daily hydration. If you’re craving a sweet fix, low-fat chocolate milk is also a great option that’s only 140 to 160 calories per cup. Swap a yogurt or cheese serving in your menu plan for a glass of skim or 1% milk or replace a 150 calorie snack with a cup of low-fat chocolate milk.

4 of 6

5 of 6

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Iced Fruit Tea

Credit: Photo: Westend61/Getty Images

Bottled fruit teas are popular, but many are full of added sugar and extra calories you don’t need. Make your own fruity blend iced tea to sip on by brewing and then chilling one of the many varieties of tea available. For extra flavor and a touch of sweetness, stir in freshly squeezed lemon, lime or orange juice and slices of the citrus. Or serve over ice cubes made of part juice and part water. If you plan to sip several glasses, make sure you choose a decaffeinated tea variety.

5 of 6

6 of 6

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Vegetable Juice

Canned tomato and vegetable juices are great, low-calorie ways to get extra veggies. They also count toward your daily hydration, but they can be high in sodium. If you have a juicer or high-quality blender, try making your own fresh vegetable juice by juicing raw vegetables along with a little fresh fruit for sweetness. You’ll get the natural water and nutrients in the produce all in one glass. Check out Cucumber, Apple, and Mint Cooler to start.

6 of 6

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 6 Juice Spritzer
    2 of 6 Green Tea
    3 of 6 Coffee
    4 of 6 Milk
    5 of 6 Iced Fruit Tea
    6 of 6 Vegetable Juice

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Cooking Light

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    MeredithCooking Light is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Cooking Light may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Cooking Light. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.cookinglight.com

    View image

    Tired of Water? 5 Healthy Alternatives That Won’t Break Your Diet
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.