Make Drinking Water Fun with SodaStream + Giveaway

Brought to you by SodaStream

Make Drinking Water Fun with SodaStream

Water is the drink of choice in our household. We use a filter which means our family enjoys lovely water straight from the tap. If I’m craving something different, I like to carbonate the water. I’ve used a SodaStream for many years now, and it makes drinking water fun because you can flavour it however you like to individual tastes. The kids love it too, and I can control the flavours and sugar content in the drink which is important to me.

Pictured below is the new SodaStream Power; its sleek and modern design allows the machine to fit nicely on our kitchen bench and it’s easy to turn tap water into sparkling water with the press of a button.

Each SodaStream comes with a reusable BPA Free bottle that lasts three years. The average Australian family uses over 2,000 bottles and cans over a three-year period, and this can be minimised by making drinks at home, saving both money and environmental impacts. I also appreciate how SodaStream have thought about the refillable gas cylinders (which creates the bubbles) and offer an easy exchange process at various retailers around Australia at a discounted price. It’s similar to the exchange process of LPG gas cylinders for the BBQ.

These are fabulous benefits, but what I enjoy most about having the machine sitting on my kitchen bench is it’s simple and fun. The machine makes it easy to keep my family hydrated with a lemon twist sparkling water or for special occasions, celebrating with a special sweet drink. Below are some other ways to use the SodaStream to add value to family life:

• Create a mocktail menu for a Family Fun Night and the kids can ‘order’ what they like.
• Experiment with cocktail recipes for adults.
• Add lemon and a sprig of mint to a drink bottle. This is great for the gym.
• If you struggle to drink enough water during the day, have a bottle of sparkling water ready in the fridge. It’s enjoyable to drink so you tend to drink more.
• Do a Make-Your-Own-Mix activity. Provide a variety of ingredients and everyone in the family can make their own. Kids love this and can come up with some crazy combinations! Just make sure you add the ingredients to the glass and the sparkling water on top (don’t add fruit to your soda stream bottle!). Below are some ingredient ideas:
  • Sparkling water
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Cordial (different flavours)
  • Tinned fruit salad
  • Crushed watermelon
  • Spices/Herbs (mint, lavender, fresh ginger, vanilla)
  • Honey
  • Coconut
  • Flavoured drink syrups
  • Puree (mango, strawberry, peach, passionfruit)
  • Tea
  • Crushed ice

Make Your Own Mix Activity

Set up with a variety of different ingredients and kids can create their own special drink. Simply add ingredients desired to a glass, add sparkling water and mix! This is inspired by a Halo-halo (which mean mix-mix) drink Kelly enjoyed in the Philippines and you can read more about it here.

I’ll share two of my recent recipe creations if you want somewhere to start; part of the fun of having a SodaStream is experimenting yourself and coming up with new combinations the family loves.

1. Lime and Raspberry Refresher

The first recipe is a hydrating lime and raspberry sparkling water which looks oh-so-festive and fun. My girls love this drink because the mix of lime and raspberries creates a sweet citrus flavour and there’s no added sugar in this mix.

Lime and Raspberry Refresher

Serves 2-4

• Juice of 3 Limes (extra for a garnish)
• 1 cup of raspberries
• 1 Bottle SodaStream Sparkling Water
• Ice

1. Carbonate chilled still water using the SodaStream Sparking Water Maker.
2. Squeeze the juice from 3 limes.
3. Add the juice to 1 Bottle of SodaStream Sparkling Water.
4. Prepare glasses and add ice and 4-5 raspberries. It’s ok if they break apart.
5. Pour the lime infused SodaStream Sparkling water over the ice and raspberries.
6. Add more raspberries for a garnish.

Note: You can also serve this drink in a jug.

2. Ginger Ninja Mocktail – With Chilli, Mint and Lime

My second recipe is a mocktail that is better suited to adult tastes, but my girls didn’t mind taking a sip. This drink has a hint of heat which adds to the flavour. Make sure all seeds are removed from the chilies before placing them in the water. It’s a great drink to serve during the colder autumn and winter months.

Ginger Ninja Mocktail – With Chilli, Mint and Lime

Serves 2 – 4

• 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger, diced
• ½ Red Chilli, chopped with seeds removed
• 1/3 Cup Ginger Cordial ( I used Bickfords)
• Sprigs of mint for garnish
• 1 lime
• 1 Bottle SodaStream Sparkling Water
• Ice

1. Carbonate chilled still water using a SodaStream Sparkling Water maker.
2. Add ginger cordial, fresh ginger, chilli and mint to bottle of SodaStream Sparkling Water.
   1. Place in the fridge to chill for 2 hours so the flavours can infuse.
3. When ready to serve, add ice to the glasses.
4. Squeeze half a lime to the infused soda water as this will bring out the extra flavours.
5. Pour the infused soda water over the ice and garnish with lime and mint.

Creating naturally flavoured sparkling water at home makes entertaining a breeze and gives our family a healthy drink, that doesn’t make us feel like we’re missing out. If your family would enjoy a SodaStream too, enter the giveaway; more details below.

Giveaway

SodaStream is offering one Be a Fun Mum family a Sparkling Water Maker worth $249. All you need to do to enter is write in the comments below what flavour you would add to your sparkling water. 

Giveaway Terms and Conditions

**Giveaway Ended – Congratulations Anni Graham**

1. To enter, comment on this post answering the question.
2. You must be an Australian resident older than 18 years of age to enter.
3. You must provide a valid email address and entries are limited to one per household.
4. Entries close Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 11:59pm Australian EST.
5. Entries will be judged on merit and creativity.
6. One winner will each receive a SodaStream machine valued at approximately $249.
7. The winner will be contacted by email and announced on this post when confirmed.
8. The winner must claim the prize within two days or the prize will be re-drawn.
9. The winner agrees to have their contact details passed on to the appropriate agency or brand representative to organise the prize postage.