It has been proven that the sugar content in carbonated drinks is quite high, yet that does not discourage the general public from consuming them day in, day out. But instead of spending money on soft drinks, we can actually make nutritious, low-sugar and easy-to-prepare homemade drinks. The following are some suggestions you can try:
Zobo drink: This is an all time favorite probably because of its brilliant color and distinctive taste. It is made from hibiscus leaves boiled in water with or without certain spices. Zobo drink is made by bringing to boil dried hibiscus leaves with spices such as ginger and fruits like pineapple and floret for flavor. It is then sieved, can be sweetened with sugar or honey and best served chilled.
Soy milk drink: Making soy milk can require a bit of expertise and patience but it is not difficult to make. To make soy milk, you would need soya beans and some sugar to taste. The beans are first soaked in water for about ten minutes and then peeled to remove their skin just as you do for moi moi and akara, then they are grounded with plenty of water to give them a liquid consistency. The paste is then cooked for about forty minutes and afterwards sieved using a muslin cloth to remove the chaff. Sugar is added to the sieved drink and it is served chilled. Though it might take a while and some work, soy milk is a healthy meal and is especially recommended for people with low lactose tolerance.
Fruit juices: Why buy the artificially flavored drinks when you can easily make the real thing in your kitchen? Fruit juices are nutritious because they are actually from real fruits and you get the creative advantage of mixing things up in any way you like it. To make fruit juice, all you need is your choice of fruit, water, and sugar syrup (optional). Squeeze or mash as much fruit as you want into a bowl, sieve to get the juice and serve to your taste.