Check your favorite beverage to see what it is sweetened with. If you find one of the use with caution or avoid sweeteners, consider making your own version. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Hot Apple Cider
2 bags Celestial Seasonings Cinnamon Apple Spice tea
1 lemon wedge, juiced or 1 teaspoon lemon juice
sweetener to taste
8 oz water
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Boil water and pour over 2 tea bags. Steep for a few minutes and then add sweetener and lemon juice. Stir with cinnamon stick if desired. Makes 1 serving.
Alpine Hot Spiced Cider is a wonderful drink to sip on a cool evening, but it’s sweetened with aspartame. This is an easy-to-prepare substitute that puts you in control of the sweetener you would like to use. Tastes great with liquid stevia or erythritol.
Nutrition information per serving: 1 calorie, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carbohydrate, 0 mg sodium.
Fruit Punch
4 tea bags fruit flavored decaffeinated tea
4 cups boiling water
4 cups cold water
Flavored or plain liquid stevia or other sweetener to taste
Place tea bags in a large mason jar or other heat resistant container. Pour hot water over tea bags and steep for 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and add cold water and sweetener. Stir and refrigerate. Makes 8 servings.
Nutrition information per serving: 0 calories, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat, 0 grams carbohydrate, 0 mg sodium.
Green Tea Lemonade
5 cups brewed green tea
3 cups water
Juice from 4 small lemons or ⅓ cup of lemon juice
15 drops of liquid stevia or other sweetener
Ice cubes
Brew tea according to instructions. Refrigerate to cool. Pour brewed green tea in a large pitcher and stir in water, lemon juice and stevia. Add ice cubes and serve. Optional: add lemon slices to garnish. Makes 8 servings.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 2 calories, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat, 1 gram carbohydrate, 0 mg sodium.
