Even though the weather has been fairly weird in Vancouver this summer, some of you are probably enjoying scorching hot weather and coping by drinking gallons of water. Is it getting a bit boring?
As much as it pains me to say this, even the dietitian needs a break from plain water sometimes. So, I’m switching to watermelon (at least sometimes)!
One of the greatest things about watermelon is that it practically juices itself. Watermelon is a great hydrator without being loaded with sugar, like all the other ‘summer drinks’ out there.
This is a great drink for skin health too: watermelon is high in lycopene, which helps to combat UV damage while the omega 3 fatty acids in the chia seeds both help improve absorption of lycopene, fight inflammation and nourish the skin further.
This watermelon mint fresca is so refreshing when the ingredients come straight out of the fridge. You could even add a couple of ice cubes to slush it up (tequila optional). Cheers!
Serves Four
Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free
In a large mug, whisk chia seeds into one cup of cold water for one minute, let sit for ten minutes and whisk again for one minute. Use right away or let sit for up to 30 minutes. You are doing this to fully hydrate the chia seeds before adding it to the drink…otherwise, you would end up with watermelon chia pudding.
In a blender, blend remaining cup of water with watermelon chunks and mint. Blend until liquified. Stir in chia mixture and taste. Use maple syrup to adjust sweetness based on how sweet your melon was.
Note: If you want the fresca a more vibrant red like in the picture, don’t add the mint. Muddle it into the individual glasses and then top with watermelon fresca instead. But it will taste less minty.
Photo credit: Melissa Quantz
Desiree Nielsen is a registered dietitian based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She runs a nutrition consulting practice with a focus on inflammation, digestion and plant-centred diets. Desiree is the author of a book on anti-inflammatory nutrition called Un-Junk Your Diet: How to shop, cook and eat to fight inflammation and feel better, forever and Banish the Bloat, a digestive health program. She is also co-founder of My Healthy Gut, an innovative and research-backed iOS app for digestive health.