It's summer, it's hot, and it's swimsuit season. Groan.
Here's how my yearly diet cycle breaks down:
- January 1 - May 31. Think I should be doing something to get ready for swimsuit season. Do nothing.
- June 1 - September 30. Wish I had done something to get ready for swimsuit season. Try to play catch up.
- 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:
- First, pour 4 cups of water in a large microwaveable container. Heat to almost boiling (about 7 minutes in my microwave).
- While the water is heating, cut the lemon in two halves.
I love the smell of lemons! - 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! - Remove tea bags and stir in honey and sugar.
- Squeeze both lemon halves into the tea, and stir.
Squeeze lemon upside down so the seeds don't fall in. - 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.)
- 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!
Emily Mulder says
I like to simply put fruit in the bottom of a pitcher or punch bowl and add cold water on top. You have a slightly fruity taste, and the hydration of pure water. 🙂
http://silencepeace.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=200
http://silencepeace.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=199
(pictures of blueberries and strawberries in the water.)
Meredith says
Love the pics, Emily. Is this a new blog?
Emily Mulder says
Meredith, I closed my photo business, and didn't like the commercial aspect of trying to blog there. So yes, this is a new outlet for me. 🙂
Johanna says
Ha! I love October 1-December 31st!!
Your summer in a glass sounds delish! I've been brewing some vanilla roiboos and making a yummy iced tea out of it (as far as I know roiboos doesn't have caffeine, so it's also kid safe) 🙂
I love flowy dresses for staying cool in the heat of the summer--they just don't feel as constrictive as other types of clothing!
Meredith says
I love roiboos! I'll have to try that. I bet the kids would like it too. I've been trying to wear more dresses lately too, but how come the maxi dresses are all made for women that are 7 feet tall?!?
Jeri Walker-Bickett (@JeriWB) says
Sounds delicious! I mostly stick with water, but it's nice to whip of a nice drink like this every now and again... expect hubby will drink it all before I do!
Meredith says
I'm a water drinker too but every now and then it's nice to have something with a little flavor to it. Like your hubby, I have to fight my kids off now that they've discovered it.
Home Jobs by MOM (@HomeJobsbyMOM) says
Hehe I like your diet cycle. Sounds very familiar lol. The tea looks yummy so I'm pinning it 🙂
Meredith says
Thanks! Glad to know I'm not the only one. And thanks for pinning!
William Butler says
Hi Meredith,
Lemonade sure breaks the heat. Are you going to have your children set up a lemonade stand?
Meredith says
That's a great idea Bill - put 'em to work!
Tim says
Summer in Glass is the perfect name for a drink that sounds so refreshing. I am a big drinker of lemon water so this just ramps it up a notch. Love the heat of summer.
Meredith says
Me too! I just got back from a week in the heat and humidity of Southeast Texas, and I actually miss it!
Arleen says
Boy I can relate to bathing suit weather. YUK... I make ice tea and drink it all day long. I actually brew it in the sun so it steeps a long time and the flavor of the green tea is wonderful.
Meredith says
That sounds yummy Arleen. Do you just fill a glass pitcher with water, put tea bags in, and set it in the sun? For how long?
Chrystal says
Looooove lemon tea. Yum yum. Reminds me of back home in the south. Good times.
Meredith says
Me too! It just makes me happy!
jacquiegum says
Yummmmmmmyyyyyy! Love green tea to begin with, so this Summer in a Glass sounds fantastic! I'm a big water drinker, but there's something about summer that makes me want to add some flavor...looks perfect and thanks!
Meredith says
Thanks Jacquie! I'm a water drinker too, but you're right, sometimes you just want to kick it up a notch.
Erica says
That looks yummy! I've been making lots of berry iced tea but I want to try this. I've never used lemon in iced tea, just hot. So funny that we just get into patterns of using certain ingredients for one thing and not the other. Well, I love lemon so this sounds wonderful. Oh, and of course I love the extra bonus of getting all the antioxidants from the green tea!
Meredith says
Thanks Erica! I'm the same way, I get in a rut with the things I eat and drink. This was a good way to put a small and easy twist to an old favorite.
michelelobosco says
This is a great idea…love green tea (and you get a little boost of caffeine too!). The title Summer in a Glass is perfect as well…it looks so refreshing!
Michele
Meredith says
Thanks Michele! I love green tea too!
Lenie says
Never mind the bathing suit - I no longer can go sleeveless.
Anyway, summer in a glass looks delicious and I love your presentation of it. Must refer back to your blog more often when I'm adding pictures to my posts to see how you do it.
Lenie
Meredith says
Ha! Lenie, you crack me up! Oh well, iced tea is great for cooling you down, even when you have to wear sleeves. 🙂
William Rusho says
I like the lemon iced tea; I will try it this weekend. I will enjoy the honey in it too. I can feel the tea taking the feeling of heat away already.
Meredith says
Thanks William - enjoy!
jankedonna says
I like lemon water or water with fruit in it for refreshing. Your ice tea recipe sounds refreshing too.
Meredith says
Thanks Donna! I like the fruit-infused water too. And it's so easy!
Carie Spence says
We make iced tea weekly in our house, love it. Nothing like the real stuff especially with honey and lemon! Thank you for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board.
Meredith says
Thank you Carie! Bloggers Brags is one of my favorites!
Debra Yearwood says
Yum! So easy and so good. If you like a little nip, I imagine rum or vodka would easily blend with this tasty drink.
Meredith says
Ooh, I like the way you think Debra! 🙂
Laurie Schwarz Hurley says
Yum! You are so funny. And, I think you should have a TV or YouTube show with all of your great ideas - seriously! I love iced green tea, totally plain - no lemon, no sugar. That's my go-to drink. So refreshing. And, Ok, bragging for a minute. At 57 I still wear a bikini. Must be all the green tea, huh? *snicker, snicker*
Meredith says
Laurie, you go girl! I'm doubling my green tea intake, starting now! Maybe there's still hope for me...
aspectsgalore says
Sounds delicious. Rooibos is my favorite - it's from my homeland, South Africa. Did you know it is the only tea that isn't actually a tea? It is made from the branches, not the leaves.
Meredith says
I didn't know that about rooibos, which is one of my favorites too. Thanks for sharing!
sundancesocialmedia says
It's a cloudy and rather brisk day here in Colorado so I think i'd like a cup of warm coffee instead of iced tea. I do love green iced tea infused with spearmint and honey. It is my go to drink and it has some antioxidant benefits!
Meredith says
Mmmm, that sounds good. (Both the coffee and the spearmint tea!) Spearmint would be a great addition to this recipe too.
Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com says
I Love your yearly diet cycle. Too funny! Because truly, isn't that what we ALL do? lol. Green tea with honey is a favorite of mine. Can't wait to try and make it at home.
Meredith says
Glad to know I'm not the only one Susan! 🙂
patweber says
I'm a big water drinker. All - day - long. The lemonade sounds so refreshing. Usually for a switch up during warmer weather, I make some sun tea. Either chamomile or some sort of lighter herbal tea.
Meredith says
Me too, I almost never drink anything but water (except a cup of coffee, or three) but sometimes you just want something with a little flavor, but not a lot of sugar. I like the idea of sun tea with herbal tea!
Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas says
I drink lots of water, but like to add fruit too. I just bought an infuser to make it even easier to have the fruit in my water, without it hitting me in the nose when I take a drink. Usually lemons, limes or strawberries. Lemon and mint together is wonderful too. Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday LInk Party.
Meredith says
Thanks Kathleen! I've been seeing those infusers everywhere, and thinking of getting one, just for the nose factor as well. 🙂
Mina Joshi says
This sounds like a great drink to have in the summer. My husband and son love their green tea so I will make this for them.
Meredith says
Thanks, Mina! Hope they enjoy it. I know my kids do.
Leia says
I love cool summer drinks! Thanks for linking up at On Display Thursday! 🙂
Meredith says
Thanks Leia!
Beth Niebuhr says
I usually just drink lots of ice water but sometimes enjoy a lemonade or lemonade/iced tea combination. Gotta stay lubricated.
Meredith says
Yes Beth, especially in the summer!
creativekkids says
Your post received a high number of clicks at the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party this last week, and it will be featured on Monday. Thanks for linking up!
Meredith says
Yay! I'll be sure to stop by. Thanks Tammy, and have a great weekend!
BinduDesigns (@Bindudesigns) says
i used to make warm green tea with honey and ginger added to it. It is very delicious to sip warm before going to sleep.
I have to try the cold version.
Meredith says
Mmm, that does sound good!
Lorraine Marie Reguly says
Meredith, I think you and I share the same diet plan - I mean, "cycle." Sigh. 😉
I tend to drink more water in the summer. I also eat Freezies.
Meredith says
Ha! Glad to know I'm not alone, Lorraine!
Maxwell Ivey says
Hi Meredith; That does sound yummy; Since having gastric surgery I'm off of cafine. I'm wondering if you have thought about making extra and freezing some of it in your ice trays? not a new idea, but with you being a busy mom; I thought I'd get your opinion. I have greek yogurt or sherbert instead of ice cream. And remember its not the ice cream or the frozen yogurt its the hot fudge, caramel sauce, whipped cream, etc that will get you. 🙂 just like its the butter sour cream bacon bits and chives on the baked potato. And sadly enough its the crutans bacon bits cheese and dressing in the salad. well enjoy the summer. at least you can still rock those shorts and tank top? take care, max
Meredith says
That's a great idea, Max, to freeze it in ice trays. And you're so right about the toppings! Sadly, in every example, I love the toppings more than whatever they are going on, with the exception of ice cream. We eat a lot of sorbet in our house, which somehow seems healthier than ice cream, but just as yummy.
TheRecipeHunter says
I drink a lot of water but like to vary it by adding cucumbers or lemons to my pitcher. I happen to like green tea too and was just thinking today of what else I could do with my pitcher as it's empty. I might have to give this a try. I'll omit the sugar as I loathe sweet tea (strange as I'm from Texas) but iced green lemon tea sounds like a plan!
Meredith says
Yes, give it a try! The first time I made it was just with honey because I was trying to avoid suger, but I found the lemon to be a little too acidic, so I added just a touch of sugar to even it out. It doesn't taste a thing like sweet tea, so I hope you like it!
Duke Stewart says
I really miss sweet tea and can't wait to enjoy that upon returning home. Throw Green Tea into the mix and you might have the perfect marriage. Your diet breakdown looks very similar to mine. There's always next year!
Meredith says
Yes, that's what I tell myself every year at the end of the summer... 🙂
Pauline Cabrera (@Twelveskip) says
Hey Meredith, this sounds really yum! I'm totally going to try this out especially there's a green tea in it. Thanks for sharing your idea 😉
Meredith says
Thanks Pauline! Hope you like it...
Eve Koivula says
I make smoothies of salads, cucumber, herbs and fruit, add some avocado or nuts for healthy fats, protein powder and ice cubes. Plus green tea which I make in a tiny cup of hot water so it doesn't need time to cool. Then I add cold water.
It's really more like a meal than just a drink.
Meredith says
That sounds super-healthy Eve. I like your idea of doing the green tea in a small cup to make it cool faster. Thanks for commenting!
Natasha In Oz says
Thanks so much for joining the Say G’Day Linky Party. We have pinned your post to the Say G’Day Saturday board!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Meredith says
Thank you so much Natasha! Have a great weekend...
Ilaria says
This is a great drink for summer! Summer in a glass is a cool name 🙂
Meredith says
Thanks Ilaria!