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There’s nothing better than a summer day by the pool. But when the sun is really beating down, you need to make sure you and your family stay hydrated.
Keeping everyone refreshed and safe in the summer heat requires a bit of advance preparation. To guarantee that every pool gathering goes swimmingly, be sure you’ve got all of the ingredients you need, including one or two serving stations and a few easy-to-prepare drink recipes.
Before your pool gathering, stock up on warm-weather staples, such as iced tea, lemonade, natural fruit juice and something to add a little fizz. Cheryl Najafi, CEO of Cherylstyle, a lifestyle media company in Phoenix, Ariz., recommends natural sparkling juices flavored with pomegranate, Clementine, peach or lime. But you should also keep plenty of bottled water on hand for a quick sip on swim breaks.
You can add a little summer style to your pool refreshments by skewering fresh pineapple and strawberries with an umbrella or transforming grapes into fruit kabobs. “With pretty, summery garnishes, just about any drink can become a pool-themed drink,” Najafi says.
Because everyone is becoming more health-conscious, it’s a good idea to focus on lighter alternatives. Here are some great drink options for all of your swimmers:
For the adults: light and refreshing
Infused water: This is a simple and calorie-free way to enjoy the spa experience at home. “Put water in a jar with ingredients, such as red baby bell peppers, lavender or basil, and set it out in the sun for two hours,” Najafi says. Pour the concoction over ice, and you have the perfect summer drink. Cucumber, oranges and pineapples are other water-infusion options—just avoid fruit that doesn’t hold up well in water, such as kiwi or strawberries, Najafi says.
Lemonade with a twist: Pour lemonade into an ice cube tray, and add a small mint leaf, raspberry or blueberry to each cube. Then serve fresh lemonade and add the custom cubes, which will prevent your summery beverage from getting watered down.
Serving options: For a more festive feel, try an island theme. When Apryl Roberts, owner of Memorable Events by Apryl in Norfolk, Va., hosted a luau, she served the drinks in hollowed-out coconut shells. “It was different and cool for both the adults and kids,” she says.
For the kids: healthy and playful
Soda water and fruit juice: Kids enjoy drinks with a little added color. Why not cut down on calories by mixing soda water with fruit juice? Dress it up with a twist of lemon or lime and a few frozen fruit cubes (made by filling ice cube trays with juice).
Summertime smoothies: Fruit and yogurt smoothies are healthy kid-pleasers that provide a little more sustenance to famished swimmers. Use either crushed ice or freeze the fruit in advance.
Serving options: You should keep all beverages in plastic containers to avoid accidents by the pool, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mix things up a bit. Try serving drinks in small plastic bowls or fun novelty glasses.
Hassle-free alternative: Freeze fruity summer beverages and serve them as popsicles. It’s fun and there’s less clean up afterward!
Serve it up in style
Take the edge off the heat—and stay safe—by serving your delicious drinks in chilled acrylic or plastic cups. A fruit smoothie served in a frosted acrylic cup is a surefire way to get your pool party started right.
If your guests are serving themselves, convert a small table into a drink station. You can even add a grass skirt around the edge for a more festive look.
For blended drinks, have guests line up buffet-style to select the fruit combination of their choice. All it takes is an electric blender and a designated adult to be in charge of the station. Don’t forget to keep yogurt, frozen fruit and other cold ingredients on ice so they last throughout the day.
Then, just kick back, chill out and enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon by the pool.
