“Summer in a Glass” Lemon Iced Green Tea

It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s swimsuit season. Groan.

Here’s how my yearly diet cycle breaks down:

1. January 1 – May 31. Think I should be doing something to get ready for swimsuit season. Do nothing.
2. June 1 – September 30. Wish I had done something to get ready for swimsuit season. Try to play catch up.
3. October 1 – December 31. Eat like I’m going to hibernate with the bears.

So this is the time of year when I’m looking for refreshing recipes that don’t inflict any more damage than necessary on my self esteem. Although I kissed the bikini-ready body goodbye after two pregnancies and c-sections (and don’t want to hear about all those women who bounced back from the same), I’m still trying to maintain some dignity when summer activities require a swimsuit, or at least shorts and a tank top.

This year, my go-to drink is iced green tea with lemon and honey, or as I like to call it, “Summer in a Glass.”

This is my easy recipe for perfect iced green tea. It’s not too sweet, and is full of flavorful antioxidants and de-toxifiers, that I’m sure are good for something. At the very least, it tastes great and won’t do any damage to your waistline.

For 4-6 large glasses, you only need:

• Green tea (I use decaf so I can share with my kids) – 2 bags
• Honey – 1 tablespoon
• Lemon – 1
• Sugar – 1 Tablespoon

Here’s what you do:

1. First, pour 4 cups of water in a large microwaveable container. Heat to almost boiling (about 7 minutes in my microwave).
2. While the water is heating, cut the lemon in two halves.
   

   I love the smell of lemons!

3. Remove the water from the microwave, toss in the tea bags, and cover to steep for about 8 minutes.
   

   Tea steeping, wearing a jaunty lemon hat!

4. Remove tea bags and stir in honey and sugar.
5. Squeeze both lemon halves into the tea, and stir.
   

   Squeeze lemon upside down so the seeds don’t fall in.

6. Pour over lots of ice. (Let it cool a bit first if you’re pouring it into a glass pitcher, so the temperature change between the ice and the hot tea doesn’t cause the pitcher to shatter.)
7. Enjoy, preferably by the pool, or even better, the beach!

I’d love to hear some of your favorite summer tips, tricks, or recipes for staying cool!