Swap the Fizzy: 6 Healthy Drinks Recipes You Can Make at Home

Having Questions? Leave a comment and we will attend to it. Share this post to your friends on social media by using the share buttons below.

Healthy drinks recipes are common in most homes today and that’s such a beautiful thing. I know someone who scrapped fizzy drinks from her family’s diet years ago.

They only consume healthy alternatives like zobo. In fact, she goes as far as discarding drinks given to her kids in party packs. She also encourages people to scrap fizzy drinks from their diet.

I know you muttered ‘God forbid’ after reading that. But before you declare it an impossible feat, can you think about it for a bit?

 

The truth is there are a lot of healthy drinks that are better alternatives to fizzy drinks. I’m not asking you to stop taking drinks altogether. But to swap the fizzy for healthier options.

 

 

Not just because I said so, but because your health deserves it. There’s been a lot of ‘no soda challenge’ here and there which is good. But beyond a once in a while challenge, can you make it a lifestyle?

 

This blog post shows you reasons to swap fizzy drinks for healthy drinks as well as six healthy drink recipes you can start making at home.

Reasons to Consider Swapping Fizzy Drinks for Healthier Options

Fizzy drinks often contain high amounts of unhealthy sugars, which can lead to weight gain, dental issues, and increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes
Healthy drinks like fresh fruit juices provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support digestion, unlike fizzy drinks that might lead to bloating and discomfort
Swapping fizzy drinks for healthier alternatives can contribute to a lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic health conditions

Some Healthy Drinks Recipes You Can Make at Home

Like I said before, there are a lot of healthy drinks that you can replace fizzy drinks with. They might be more expensive in terms of money, time and labour, but it’s well worth it in the long run.

And you can find a way around it to prepare enough quantities per time. When it is well refrigerated, you won’t have to prepare them every day.

Here’s a list of some healthy drinks you can replace fizzy drinks with:

 

1. Zobo
2. Kunu
3. Soya milk
4. Tigernut milk
5. Coconut milk
6. Fruit juice

How to Make Zobo at Home

Zobo is that drink that can be said to be Nigeria’s national drink. It is very popular among people of every tribe and is served on occasions. It is also sold by food vendors in schools, offices and parks.

 

 

The leaves used for making zobo are from the Roselle plant, scientifically called Hibiscus sabdariffa. Here’s how to make zobo at home:

Ingredients for Making Zobo

10 liters of water
4 cups of zobo leaves
4 ripe pineapples
1/2 cup of dried ginger
2 fistful of lemongrass leaves
2 tablespoons of cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
20 sweet oranges

Procedure For Making Zobo

Wash and peel the pineapples
Juice the flesh and keep the peels aside
Juice the oranges
In a large pot, boil the water
Once boiled, add the pineapple peels, lemongrass, cloves, ginger and cinnamon sticks
Allow to boil for 10 minutes and add the zobo leaves
Allow to boil for another 15 minutes and turn off the heat
Leave to cool down completely
Using a mesh sieve or cloth, separate the liquid and discard the other ingredients
Add the pineapple and orange juice and mix well
Refrigerate and serve

You can infuse the zobo with slices of fruits like cucumber, lime or lemon when serving for extra flavor. This is optional.

How to Make Kunu at Home

Kunu, another popular healthy drink in Nigeria, originated from the north. There are different variations of kunu, which all depend on the ingredients used.

 

There’s kunu zaki, made from millet and potato, kunu aya, made from tigernut, coconut and date, and kunu gyada, made from groundnut and rice.

 

 

The most popular one is the one made from just millet, usually called kunu. Here’s how to make kunu:

Ingredients for Making Kunu

6 cups of millet
4 large fresh ginger
2 tablespoons of cloves
Sugar or preferred sweetener
Water

Procedure For Making Kunu

Wash the millet thoroughly to remove stones
Soak it for 24 hours or overnight
Wash the ginger and chop into small chunks
Strain the soaked millet and grind to a smooth paste with the ginger and cloves
Boil enough water and pour into the paste in a circular motion. Similar to the process of making pap or custard
Stir constantly until it starts to thicken then allow to cool
Using a sieve cloth, sieve to remove the chaff
Add your sweetener and mix well
Fill into containers and refrigerate

How to Make Soya Milk at Home

Soya milk is another healthy drink popular in Nigeria. It is made from soya beans and is a source of potassium,  calcium and vitamins.

It is low in saturated fat and calories and is said to contain as much protein as cow’s milk.

Ingredients for Making Soya Milk

Soya beans
Water
Sugar or preferred sweetener
Ginger
Cloves
Nutmeg (optional)

Procedure For Making Soya Milk

Pick the beans to remove dirt
Rinse thoroughly and soak for a few minutes to soften the outer coat
Peel the beans to remove the outer coat, rinse and repeat   until all the coat is removed
Wash the ginger and cut into small pieces
Blend or grind the beans with the ginger and cloves to a smooth paste
Add water twice the quantity of the paste and mix till it is loose
Using a sieve cloth, sieve out the milk from the chaff
Add a little water to the chaff and squeeze to ensure you get out all the milk
In a large pot (you need a large enough pot because soya milk froths over when it boils), pour in the raw milk and boil for 30 mins
Watch it closely while boiling to prevent it from spilling over
Add the sweetener and nutmeg powder
Turn off the heat and allow to cool down completely
Sieve one more time, fill into airtight bottles and refrigerate immediately

How to Make Tigernut Milk at Home

Tigernut milk is another healthy drink alternative to fizzy drinks. It is made from blending tigernut with water and other ingredients.

 

Tigernut is locally called Ofio, Aya or Aki Hausa in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo languages respectively.

 

 

Tigernut is nutrient-rich, high in fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Here’s how to make tigernut milk at home:

 

Ingredients for Making Tigernut Milk

2 cups of tiger nuts
1 cup of dates (locally called Dabino in Hausa)
2 pieces of ginger
¼ tablespoon of clove (optional)

Procedure For Making Tigernut Milk

Soak tiger nuts in water for 24 – 48 hours
Pit the dates
Wash the ginger and cut into small pieces
Blend the tigernut, dates, ginger and clove with 4 cups of water
Sieve with a sieve cloth and discard the chaff
Pour the milk into containers and refrigerate

How to Make Coconut Milk at Home

Coconut is one very nutritious plant. All the products (oil, milk and water) are all beneficial to the body.

Coconut is rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin C. It contains minerals like manganese, copper, selenium, and potassium.

It also contains fibre, improves immunity and contributes to hair and skin health. Coconut milk is a healthy drink that can also be used to cook meals like rice and porridge or added to cereals.

 

Here’s how to prepare coconut milk;

Ingredients for Making Coconut Milk

6 big coconuts
2 cups of dates
4 pieces of ginger (optional)

Healthy Drinks Recipes

Procedure For Making Coconut Milk

Break the coconut and remove from the shell
Pit the dates
Wash the ginger and cut into small pieces
Blend the coconut, dates, and ginger with water
Sieve with a sieve cloth and discard the chaff
Pour the milk into containers and refrigerate

How to Make Fruit Juice at Home

Fruits are a necessary part of our diet. Asides from eating them, we can also drink their juices.

 

 

Practically every fruit can be juiced by simply blending it with water and extracting the fibre. Also, fruit juice can be made by combining two or more fruits for more flavor and taste.

Ingredients for Making Fruit Juice

Whole fruits e.g watermelon, pineapple, apple, mango etc)
Water

Procedure For Making Fruit Juice

Peel fruits and cut into small pieces
Blend the fleshy part with water
Sieve with a mesh to extract the juice
Discard the fibre
Fill the juice into containers and refrigerate

 

Healthy Drinks Recipes

These six healthy drinks will keep your refrigerator full and your body healthy. You can increase the measurements of the ingredients to suit your preference and quantity needed.

 

You can also experiment with different alternatives to the spices mentioned above as well as include other ingredients you want.

 

Finally, remember that though making these drinks at home might be time consuming, it’s a worthy investment in your health and that of your family in the long run.

 

Cheers to drinking healthy!

 

SEE ALSO:

Why You Need To Drink Lemon Water: 10 Health Benefits

Optimal Times for Water Consumption to Enhance Health

12 Lesser-Known Health Advantages of Bay Leaves

Get enough rest – Sleep better to stay healthy


Having Questions? Leave a comment and we will attend to it. Share this post to your friends on social media by using the share buttons below.