Here’s a method to create a revitalizing homemade Gatorade using coconut water and citrus for completely natural hydration! This nutritious beverage recipe is ideal for children and is free from artificial colors and preservatives.
My 8-year-old son is a huge fan of Gatorade. In our household, it’s generally a treat he enjoys from time to time. However, recently I thought, could I whip up a homemade variant that he would adore just as much?
It appears that coconut water and fresh citrus juice produce a remarkably effective substitute! I also had some blue spirulina left over from preparing my favorite blue smoothie, making it perfect for achieving that blue flavor. It only takes 5 minutes to assemble and is so invigorating that I might enjoy it even more than he does!
Why should you create your own Gatorade?
Commercial sports drinks like Gatorade frequently include artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives. When you craft your own, you can oversee every ingredient that enters your body!
Ingredients in homemade Gatorade
Here are the components for my homemade Gatorade recipe — I aimed to keep this healthy drink straightforward while achieving a delightfully balanced flavor:
– Coconut water: Coconut water is naturally rich in potassium, magnesium, and electrolytes. It offers natural hydration without extra sugars.
– Fresh lime juice: The citrus provides that zesty flavor that makes Gatorade so thirst-quenching. I always opt for fresh lime juice, never pre-bottled – the flavor is far more vibrant.
– Honey: Instead of using artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup, I prefer honey for natural sweetness. If you’re in search of honey alternatives, agave or maple syrup are great choices too.
– Blue spirulina: This gives our drink its stunning blue hue naturally! Spirulina is a superfood algae.
– Sea salt: Just a dash helps replenish the sodium lost through perspiration and accentuates the other flavors in the drink.
Ingredient spotlight: spirulina
The spirulina commonly available in stores is green, but there’s also a blue variant that creates a lovely color for this drink. Both can be used!
– Blue spirulina (phycocyanin) is an extract with a subtle taste and a bright color derived from the phycocyanin pigment that’s extracted and concentrated. We purchased this pack of blue spirulina—keep in mind you only need a teaspoon or so at once, so it should last quite a while! It’s also excellent for preparing my tropical blue smoothie.
– Green spirulina encompasses the complete algae; it has a more robust flavor, but when utilized in small amounts, it won’t impact the drink’s overall taste!
Other homemade Gatorade colors
You can incorporate other natural juices here: consider lemon juice for a more yellow color, tart cherry juice for red, orange juice for orange, or blueberry juice for purple.
Storage and make ahead tips
This homemade Gatorade is best enjoyed fresh, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep it in a sealed container or jar. It’s simple to prepare a double or triple batch for hydration throughout the week.
Homemade Gatorade
Here’s a way to prepare a revitalizing homemade Gatorade with coconut water and real citrus juice for entirely natural hydration! This nutritious sports drink recipe is wonderful for kids and contains no artificial colors or preservatives.
Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 cups
Category: Drink
Method: No Cook
Cuisine: Drink
Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients:
– 1 ½ cups coconut water
– ½ cup regular water
– 2 tablespoons lime juice
– 1 tablespoon honey
– ⅛ tsp blue spirulina
– 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a large jar with ice. Enjoy immediately.