Four pick-you-up drinks

By: Sarah Coates
From: The Sugar Hit!
Photographer: Chris Middleton

I am a major believer in the food-as-medicine philosophy. When you love to eat as much as I do, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that what you eat directly affects how you feel. Sometimes it’s physiological and sometimes it’s psychological, but who cares? When I’m under the weather and in full self-pity mode over the flu, The flu shot is what I want – something warm to hunch over, that’s crammed full of ingredients to alleviate my symptoms. Watermelon and lime juice is ridiculously refreshing and perfect for hot-weather days. A Citrus and pomegranate sunrise is what I want to drink every morning. And the Date shake manages to be thick, caramelly, sweet and luxurious with only the power of DATES?! Food is magic. That’s the truth.

The flu shot

Ingredients

Quantity	Ingredient
1/2	orange, juiced
2	coin-sized slices fresh ginger
2 slices	lemon
	honey, to taste
pinch	ground turmeric, (optional)
125ml	water

Method

Put all the ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring to a simmer, turn off the heat and decant into a mug. Sip and feel better.

Watermelon and lime juice

Ingredients

Quantity	Ingredient
1/4	large watermelon, chopped and seeded
3	limes
	ice cubes
	mint leaves, (optional)

Method

Blend or process the watermelon until it is a slush. Pass the slush through a fine sieve and press with a spoon to get every last drop of juice through. Discard the flesh and any seeds left in the sieve. Squeeze in the juice of as many limes as you like (I like 3). Serve with lots of ice and a few leaves of mint in your glass, if desired.

Citrus and pomegranate sunrise

Ingredients

Quantity	Ingredient
2	oranges
2	mandarins or clementines
1/2	lemon
	pomegranate juice

Method

Use a juicer or citrus press to juice the oranges and mandarins. Squeeze in the lemon juice. Divide between two glasses, top up with pomegranate juice and serve.

Date shake

Ingredients

Quantity	Ingredient
4	medjool dates, pitted
250ml	low-fat milk or almond milk
1 teaspoon	vanilla bean paste
135g	ice cubes

Method

Put the dates and about a third of the milk in a blender and process until the dates are puréed. Add the remaining milk, the vanilla and ice and blend again. Serve while still frosty cold.