There are plenty of popular healthy beverages that cost more than I’m willing to pay for a single drink — even one that’s supposed to be good for you.
If I’m going to sip something daily, I’d rather skip the extra store run — and the added expense — and learn to make it myself. Below are my top three healthy drink trends and simple instructions to prepare them in your own kitchen.
1. Chia Seed Beverage
First up is this raspberry green tea lemonade with chia from Wife Mama Foodie. The recipe yields two servings and is straightforward, but it does require a bit of forethought to prepare the chia seeds. If you’ve tried a chia drink before, you know the seeds develop a gel-like texture in liquid.
To achieve that gelatinous texture, soak the seeds in water, ideally overnight. If you’re new to working with chia, see what Chia Queen recommends for making and storing chia gel.
- 4 ¼ cups water: free
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds: 87 cents
- 2 green tea bags: 22 cents
- 1 cup raspberries: $2.30
- ½ cup lemon juice: $1.12
Total cost: $4.51
Servings: 2
Price per serving: $2.26In-store price per serving: $3.06
Once you’ve mastered prepping the chia, you can experiment a lot with this base. I like the raspberry and green tea mix, but if those aren’t your favorites, swap them for another tea-and-berry pairing, such as black tea with strawberry.
2. Homemade Vegetable Juice
V8-style juice is a timeless healthful beverage and an easy DIY for anyone who enjoys vegetables. I often use this recipe as a way to clear out my produce drawer, so it’s naturally adaptable. Don’t hesitate to consult the ingredient list on V8 for ideas — carrots, celery, and parsley are common additions I didn’t include here.
- ½ cup water: free
- 1 ¾ cup chopped tomatoes: $1.17
- 1 tablespoon beets, chopped: 5 cents
- 1 tablespoon kale, chopped: 10 cents
- 1 tablespoon peppers, chopped: 9 cents
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice: 14 cents
Total cost: $1.55
Servings: 2
Price per serving: 78 cents
In-store price per serving: 80 cents
To prepare, combine everything in a pot and let it simmer about 20 minutes. Blend on medium speed until large pieces are gone and it reaches a smoothie-like texture. Strain the blended mix to remove remaining pulp. While many recipes recommend a food mill, a regular blender works fine unless you’re determined to buy specialized equipment.
You might notice I list only a small amount of each vegetable besides tomatoes. That’s because V8-style juice generally follows a 7-to-1 ratio — seven parts tomatoes to one part the rest. These proportions feel less awkward when you make larger batches. If you want tips on making and canning your own V8-style juice, see what Creative Homemaking suggests.
3. Kale-Banana Protein Smoothie
The protein-shake craze isn’t going anywhere, and this straightforward recipe is a go-to. Just toss all ingredients into a blender for about a minute on medium speed and you’ve got breakfast in a glass. This one-serving option is pricier, mostly due to the almond butter. If you’d like to reduce costs or tone down the nutty flavor, swap in peanut butter.
- 1 cup kale: $1.60
- 1 banana: 19 cents
- ½ cup almond butter: $2.53
- ½ cup water: free
Total cost: $4.32
In-store price: $5.29
You can replace the kale with another leafy green, like spinach, and add an apple or orange for more variety. The great thing about this recipe is it provides substantial protein without using powdered supplements, so experiment with more fresh ingredients to suit your taste.
Whether you’re hunting for a new beverage to sample or a daily staple, one of these three recipes should fit the bill. They’re simple, budget-friendly and versatile. Feel free to swap ingredients or introduce others to craft the drink you prefer at a price that’s easy to handle.
