I’m a professional chef, which means I’m on my feet all day every day, and staying hydrated is essential to staying healthy. Lately, I haven’t been taking as good care of my body that I should. It’s left me feeling tired, sluggish and weaker than usual. (Even though I drink my coffee at the right time!) With a hot New York City summer in full swing, I thought it was time to make a change.
Also, if you’re curious, here’s the reason why cold water tastes better.
Drinking more water has been said to have numerous health benefits, from weight loss to increased circulation and beyond. Adding an extra glass (or three) is an easy and healthy habit to get started, so why not? It took me a few days, but this tiny change in my schedule turned me into a hydration fanatic. After two weeks I was hydrated—and hooked. Here’s how!
Figuring Out How Much Water to Drink
You can use this chart to figure out exactly how much water to drink every day. But I followed the Mayo Clinic’s broad recommendations:
- Men need about 124 ounces of water every day
- Women need about 92 ounces of water every day
I bought a large 16 oz glass water bottle (like this one) that I could tote around and refill whenever I needed, which is much more sustainable than wasting $1 or $2 every day on a plastic bottle. I made sure to drink half the bottle right when I first woke up, the second half in the middle of the morning, a full bottle with my lunch, at least another half on my commute home, and a bottle with my dinner plus one glass as I got ready for bed. The more times I filled my 16 oz bottle up a day, the better!
Although I drank mostly tap water or cucumber-infused water, it doesn’t all have to be plain H2O. I also counted sparkling water toward my total when I was feeling the need to switch it up (which I did every few days). Fluids can also come from other beverages and food with a high water content.
Here’s What Happened
Remembering to drink water throughout the day is an adjustment. To keep me going, I set alarms on my cellphone, and even added calendar alerts for an extra reminder. After about a week, I started ignoring the alarms and was able to remember on my own. (Woo!)
Day 1
When I first started drinking roughly 8 glasses of water a day, not much happened. Sure, I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom more often than I would’ve liked. I couldn’t make it through my morning commute without a bathroom break, either! Aside from that, I didn’t notice much of a change. I started to wonder, “what’s all the fuss about?”
Day 2
But after Day 2, I noticed that not only did I feel like I had more energy throughout the day, I also wasn’t as hungry as I am usually. If I felt peckish during the day, a glass of water did the trick that a snack usually does. I started to notice that many of the times throughout the day that I would typically feel like snacking might’ve just been thirst all along. (Who knew?!)
With less snacking I started to feel lighter and less bloated. I also wasn’t bogged down by the sugar and sodium in my “go-to” snacks, so my energy levels were actually higher despite a lower calorie intake. Win-win!
Day 7
Better yet, after about a week my skin started to clear up and began looking smoother and more refreshed. It’s no secret that moisturizing is key for great skin, but I didn’t realize that hydrating from the inside could be equally beneficial.
Day 14
This habit made me look and feel great with relatively little effort. Any wellness routine that’s free, easy and convenient is one that I can get behind. With summer in full swing, you can be sure I’ll keep it up! (I might even add a healthy grab-and-go breakfast to my morning routine, too.)
Quick & Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Overnight Oatmeal
Start this breakfast the night before so you can get some extra sleep in the morning. My husband adds coconut to his, and I stir in dried fruit. —June Thomas, Chesterton, Indiana.
Also check these best breakfast recipes to sort your mornings!
Go to Recipe
Ultimate Breakfast BurritosI recently started eating healthier foods, and this is one of my
favorite items for breakfast. The peppery eggs and crunchy veggies are sure to wake you up. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Lemon Chia Seed ParfaitsThese bright and tangy parfaits start the day on a healthy note, but they're also sweet enough to double as dessert. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
Hash Brown Quiche CupsQuiche cups are my showstopper potluck dish. Hash browns and Asiago cheese make up the crusts. Eggs, spinach and bacon do the rest. —Nicole Stone, Gilbertville, Iowa.
Don’t feel like having eggs? Here’s our list of
breakfast ideas without eggs.
Yogurt & Honey Fruit CupsThis tasty combo of fresh fruit and creamy orange-kissed yogurt is guaranteed to disappear fast from your breakfast table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Almond-Chai GranolaWhether you snack on it by the handful or eat it with milk or yogurt, you’ll be happy that you found this granola recipe. —Rachel Preus, Marshall, Michigan
Microwave Egg SandwichIf you're looking for a grab-and-go breakfast for busy days, this
high-protein sandwich is low in fat and keeps me full all morning. Plus, it's only about 200 calories! —Brenda Otto, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Get-Up-and-Go GranolaMy family loves to have this soul-warming granola before hiking, biking or even when camping. It smells delicious while baking up and you can easily make in large batches for special occasions or to send in gift packages to family and friends. —Sabrina Olson, Otsego, Minnesota
Overnight Maple OatmealI tasted muesli on a trip to Switzerland, and when I came home, I made it my way. Keep things interesting (and avoid mid-morning munchies) by adding different fruits and nuts every day. —Maddie Kirk, Springfield, Pennsylvania
Rhubarb Compote with Yogurt & AlmondsMy Grandma Dot used to make rhubarb compote and always had some in the freezer when I came to visit. This breakfast is a tribute to her. No two stalks of rhubarb are exactly alike, so make sure to taste the compote before you chill it. It should be tart, but sometimes it needs a little extra sugar. —Michael Hoffman, Brooklyn, New York
Ham MuffinwichesI concocted this fun recipe when I was looking for something to pack for lunch. I had leftover ham but no bread, so I got creative with cornbread mix. They freeze well and are handy for an on-the-go breakfast or lunch. —Jenny Wiebe, Villa Hills, Kentucky
Apple Cinnamon Overnight OatsThis recipe for apple cinnamon overnight oats couldn't be easier to make. Prep takes only five minutes! —Sarah Farmer,
Taste of Home Executive Culinary Director
New Mexico Green Chile Breakfast BurritosBack when I lived in the Southwest, we wrapped everything up in a tortilla. Breakfast burritos in every possible combination are very popular in New Mexico. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida
Waffle SandwichBreakfast for lunch or dinner? Why not, when the recipe's this easy! I like to serve it with some crisp, juicy sweet apples. Sometimes I add raisins and nuts to the filling of the waffle sandwich for sweetness and crunch. —Michele McHenry, Bellingham, Washington
Cranberry-Walnut OatmealMy family loves cranberries but we can get them fresh only during the holiday season. This recipe lets us enjoy the tartness of cranberry with the comfort of oatmeal all year long. —Teena Petrus, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Rise and Shine ParfaitStart your day with a smile. This fruit, yogurt and granola parfait is so easy to make. If you like, use whatever favorite fresh fruits are in season and are looking best at the supermarket. —Diana Laskaris, Chicago, Illinois
Italian Sausage Breakfast WrapsMy husband leaves for work at 4 a.m., and I want him to have a healthy breakfast to start the day. I usually make half a dozen of these on Sunday and keep them in the fridge so he can grab one and go. —Dauna Harwood, Union, Michigan
Pigs in a PoolMy kids love sausages and pancakes but making them during the week was out of the question. I bought the frozen variety on a stick but wasn't keen on the calories, additives or price. This version of pigs-in-a-blanket is a tasty, thrifty alternative. —Lisa Dodd, Greenville, South Carolina
Blueberry Cantaloupe SaladThe simple citrus and poppy seed dressing in this fruit medley really dresses up the refreshing mix of berries and melon. —R. Jean Rand, Edina, Minnesota
Maple Apple Baked OatmealI've tried a number of different types of fruit for this recipe, but apple seems to be my family's favorite. I mix the dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls the night before and combine them the next morning when it's time to make breakfast.—Megan Brooks, Saint Lazare, Quebec.
Feta Scrambled Egg WrapsMy daughter jokes that I am so predictable when it comes to dining out. I always order chicken souvlaki. So I thought, why not incorporate my favorite Greek dish into a breakfast wrap? It's healthy, tasty and easy to make.—Mary Jo Kempf, West Seneca, New York
English Muffin Egg SandwichesYou can't beat the delicious combination of mushrooms, onions, peppers and cream cheese! Leave out the red pepper flakes for a less spicy taste.—Amy Lloyd, Madison, Wisconsin.
Sausage-Egg BurritosMy husband and I try to
eat healthy, but finding new meals for breakfast is a challenge. By adding tomatoes, spinach and garlic to traditional eggs and egg whites, we can have a dish that is both light and satisfying. —Wendy G. Ball, Battle Creek, Michigan.
Southwest Breakfast WrapsI always thought eating healthy wouldn't be as enjoyable as eating whatever I wanted. This recipe proved me wrong; healthy ingredients taste wonderful and are just as mouthwatering without the extra calories. —Nicole Hackley, Culbertson, Montana
Garlic-Herb Mini QuichesLooking for a wonderful way to impress guests? You’ve got it—and you need only five ingredients to make these tasty apps! —Josephine Piro, Easton, Pennsylvania
Slow-Cooker Honey GranolaIt's so simple to put this granola together, and it really helps with breakfast on busy mornings. Change up the fruits to fit your preferences or the seasons. —Arisa Cupp, Warren, Oregon
Fruit-Filled French Toast WrapsHere’s my go-to whenever we have brunch guests. If I have extra berries, I just make a fruit salad for later. —Dawn Jarvis, Breckenridge, Minnesota
