During my first summer in Dubai, I didn’t fully understand the importance of staying hydrated in this type of heat.
I drank water but not enough. Eventually, I fainted a few weeks after my arrival in Dubai somewhere in Bur Dubai. So embarrassing.
The doctor gave me a stern lecture on the difference between Dubai summer and the rest of the world summer.
I’ve taken hydration a tad seriously since that day.
Sometimes though, drinking water all the time can get boring and tedious. However, I’m not a fan of soda or other fizzy drinks.
For the days the water isn’t cutting it, I like to try one of the smoothies below. They’re refreshing, utilize local ingredients, and have low-calorie content.
They’re also great to have around during a barbeque.
3 Healthy & Delicious Smoothie Recipes to Get Through a Hot Summer
Date and Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ cup halved pitted dates
- ½ cup of cold water
- 4 – 5 ice cubes
- ½ a banana
- 2 tablespoons of Agave nectar (optional)
Instructions
- Place the cold water and dates in a blender. Set aside for about 10 minutes.
- Afterwards, add in the ice cubes, banana, and Agave nectar.
- Blend until smooth and frothy.
Kardake (Hibiscus) and Strawberry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of dried and crushed hibiscus flowers
- A handful of fresh strawberries
- ½ cup of cold water
- 4 – 5 ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons Agave nectar (optional)
Instructions
- Place the cold water in a blender like Nutribullet
- Rinse the hibiscus flowers thoroughly and add them to the blender. Pulse lightly 2 – 3 times.
- Add in the strawberries, ice cubes, and Agave nectar.
- Blend until smooth and frothy.
Magic Bullet NutriBullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender Mixer System
Lemon Mint and Parsley Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 – 2 handfuls of mint leaves
- 1 handful of parsley
- 1 lemon
- ½ cup of cold water
- 4 – 5 ice cubes
- 2 – 3 tablespoons of Agave nectar
Instructions
- Place the mint leaves, parsley, and cold water in a blender and pulse a few times.
- Peel the lemon and squeeze all the juice into the blender.
- Add in the ice cubes and Agave nectar.
- Blend until smooth and frothy.
- You can also replace the parsley with spinach and/or kale.
All of the above recipes should yield 2 – 3 cups. Increase the main ingredient amounts as necessary for larger quantities.
You can make the smoothies and freeze them for later but it doesn’t taste quite the same as when it’s freshly made.
For an additional boost, you can include chia seeds and ground flaxseed. Enjoy!