Here we are, solidly in the fall and the weather is getting colder (which means the air is getting drier). So our bodies, our skin, everything needs more hydration -- especially since this time of year is also the start of cold and flu season. But what’s great about this time of year is that it’s easy to make your water festive and delicious, for yourself or your Thanksgiving table, which helps make hydration easier too!
Our favorite festive water for Thanksgiving is cranberry water. Cranberries aren’t just a staple of the holiday but they boast a range of health benefits that’ll make you happy you’re drinking them up. Low in calories but high in vitamins C, A, and K, they contain an antioxidant that will help your body battle disease (particularly UTIs!) and they are low in sugar. So, here’s what you do: add a handful of whole fresh cranberries to every 1 ½ liters of water, and steep overnight.
Feel free to add orange and lemon slices if you’re keen to give it a bit more oomph (you already know the benefits of citrus in water, it’s a cultural staple for many of us!). Remember to remove your lemons or oranges after the overnight steep, sometimes the water flavor can go bitter if they’re left too long. You can also separate the ring and the fruit if you’d rather leave the fruit since it’s the rind that is the source of bitterness.
If you’re keen to share your festive water with your guests, the Soma Carafe (our 6-cup glass water vessel) makes a beautiful centerpiece on the table. It’s also a symbolic reminder of what we can be thankful for: that we have access to clean drinking water and that we thoughtfully support companies who take an ethical stance on the important issues (like the fact that everyone in the world should have equal access to clean drinking water AND that we need to reduce waste and live more sustainable lives in order to save our planet and our oceans). Taking the reservoir out for dinner also makes it a bit fancier!
We have many things to be thankful for -- and we love that November starts off the giving season so that we can actively focus on what those things are.