9 Fun Ways to Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated doesn’t have to be a chore. Here are signs of dehydration to look for and 9 fun ways to stay hydrated in this Florida heat!

Signs of dehydration:

• dark urine
• dizziness
• fatigue

“If you experience these symptoms, it’s essential to rehydrate promptly”, says Kim Shapira M.S., R.D.

Fun Tips for Summer Sippin’-  Stay Hydrated

1. Sip with Style: Get yourself a fun, colorful water bottle to make it easy to stay hydrated throughout the day. Whether it’s glittery, covered in cool stickers, or shaped like a fruit, having a stylish bottle makes drinking water more enjoyable. Bonus points if it has a built-in infuser for fruits and herbs! Or jazz up your water with fruit-infused ice cubes. Freeze pieces of berries, mint leaves, or cucumber slices in your ice tray and pop them into your drink for a colorful and flavorful twist.
2. Popsicles: Make your own hydrating popsicles using coconut water, fresh fruit, and a splash of lemon juice. These tasty treats are perfect for a refreshing cool-down on hot days. But be mindful of sugary beverages, such as sodas, sweetened teas, and sugary punches. These drinks can contribute to dehydration and add unnecessary calories.
3. Hydration Challenge: Turn staying hydrated into a friendly competition. Challenge friends or family to a daily water intake goal and track your progress together. The winner gets a fun prize!
4. Mocktail Magic: Create delicious mocktails using sparkling water, fresh fruit juices, and herbs. Think minty watermelon fizz or a citrusy orange spritzer. These refreshing drinks are a great way to up your water intake without the alcohol.
5. Water Break-Dance Break: Set an hourly alarm that not only reminds you to drink water but also to get up and dance for a minute. Shake it off and get your steps in at the same time. This keeps you hydrated and adds a fun burst of activity to your day.
6. Use Hydration Apps: Use fun hydration tracking apps like WaterMinder, that remind you to drink water. Some apps even come with games or virtual pets that thrive when you drink enough water.
7. Hydration Stations: Set up hydration stations around your home or office with pitchers of infused water, fun cups, and straws. This makes it easy and fun to grab a drink wherever you are.
8. Water-Rich Snacks: Enjoy water-rich snacks like watermelon slices, cucumber sticks, smoothies, yogurt, or juicy grapes. They’re not only hydrating but also a tasty way to cool down.
9. DIY Spa Water: Create your own “spa water” with a mix of cucumber, mint, and lemon. Pour it into a fancy pitcher and enjoy the feeling of being pampered while you hydrate.

Kim Shapira M.S., R.D. is a celebrity dietitian, nutritional therapist, and author, with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Tulane University and a Master’s degree in Human Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition from Boston University. When she’s not helping her clients take back their relationship with food, she is a wife and mother of three children and three pups.