You may be already aware of the fact that a shortage of fluid can lead to dehydration in your body. People who do not consume enough liquid in a day are likely to experience poor skin conditions, joint pain, loss of concentration, and headaches. Doctors advise drinking almost 2 liters of fluid a day; the quantity can be more when you spend time on exercises or live in very hot weather.
Soft drinks are one of the best choices to maintain the routine liquid requirement of the body. As we often get bored drinking plain water, the unique flavors of soft drinks can help to achieve the daily targets with ease. The best part is that you can easily find many sugar-free, low-calorie soft drink recipes to maintain your overall health.
For most people, one of the biggest concerns is to find the best pairing of drinks with the meal. As doctors often alert people to avoid wrong combinations of drink and meal; it is a matter of debate for health-conscious people. Well, if you go ahead with a thoughtful pairing of drinks and meals, it can enhance the flavor of your meals. Moreover, your guests will definitely appreciate your creativity to present a healthy and delicious solution at the dinner table.
Tips to pick the right drink with your meals:
Before we talk about the best drinks that you can pair with meals, let us first go through some tips from experts to choose the right drink with meals:
Tip 1: Contrast and complement
The first thing that demands your attention is the contrast and complement of the meal and drink. When we talk about contrast, it means choosing a drink that possesses the same characteristics as that of the flavor of the food being served. Although too much contrast can overpower one element over another; it is good to maintain a little bit of contrast to make everything appear good on the tongue. The widely used method for this selection is mirroring where we choose a drink that maintains continuity with food so that they both can shine together. For instance, you would love to have smoky flavored meat with a woody and smoky flavored spirit.
Tip 2: Strength and acidity
As per the medical health experts, acidity and strength are two important factors that must be taken care of while pairing drinks and food. In ideal conditions, the acid level in drinks and meals must be comparable. None of these should overpower others. Acidity is capable enough to contrast food richness. For instance, a few drops of lemon can help you digest a plate of delicious fried shrimp. Similarly, you should look after the strength of the drink and meal to ensure a balancing effect on the body. This is why experts warn people from drinking harsh cold drinks with food.
Tip 3: Consider body
When you are planning to pair beverages with a meal, it is important to care for the flavor as well as mouthfeel. Note that apple juice leads to a completely different impact than tomato juice, which further has a different body than seltzer. When you are looking for a good dinner, full-bodied drinks must be kept for the end. Although the flavor and pairing preferences are completely personal, it is important to ensure that they both share a good relationship because it will have a direct effect on your body.
Now you have gone through the essential tips to select the best meal-drink pairing, it is the right time to talk about the best beverage choices that you can enjoy at the dinner table.
Best Drinks to Have with your Meal:
When you are looking for some attractive ideas to create the best meal-drink pairing, the list below may help you better. Here we have provided some alcohol-free, healthy and delicious beverage options to help you create perfect vibes in the upcoming get-together:
- Fruit coolers
When you are looking for something refreshing and simple for the first party of the summer season, the raspberry and goji berry cooler can serve your needs better. It contains the perfect mixture of goji berries, raspberries along with the sharp tangy flavor of ginger and a little pinch of sweet honey. You can also create a citrus peach cooler as per your choice by mixing some seasonal fruits like clementines, pomelo, grapefruit, and oranges.
- Elderflower cordial
Why not create a simple blend of elderflower cordial with fresh mint, apple juice, and soda at home. You can even mix different types of soda in this beverage to create unique flavors. Other than this, people also like some seasonal cordial flavors such as raspberry cordial, rosehip cordial, blackcurrant cordial, and rhubarb cordial. The homemade cordial can be a perfect choice for your family dinner.
- Iced tea
It is possible to add amazing versatility to tea; that is why it is a timeless and most admired solution for all parties. Here we are going to talk about iced tea which is the coolest choice to beat the summer heat. You can prepare this tea with a subtle mixture of mint, lemons, and oranges. Many people even experiment with the flavor with some other seasonal fruits. You can also think of preparing peach iced tea, vanilla iced tea, golden pineapple tea, or mango iced tea at home.
- Smoothies
When you are willing to improve your vitamin intake, it is the right time to prepare a fruit-based smoothie. You can check the recipes from some expert chefs online to prepare a healthy smoothie with ingredients that are already available at your home. Don’t forget to add the unique flavoring of spice and peanut butter into it. If you have virtuous preferences, try to add some vegetables such as kale to achieve the desired taste. You may also love the delicious flavors of pineapple juice, creamy avocado, and lime with a meal.
Now you have gone through some trusted tricks and techniques to pair up beverages with a meal, without even causing harm to your body. It is the right time to throw a party at home and impress the guests with your creative flavoring ideas.