This post is sponsored by the National Watermelon Board; however, all comments, opinions and enthusiasm are my own.
It’s finally spring (insert happy dance) and I’m ready for a new start thanks to my Refreshing Watermelon Veggie Reviver Drink!
I’ve started back up my outdoor fitness routine AND watermelon-a-week habit, both which last without waiver from March through November (sometimes longer if the weather is nice or a see a mighty-fine looking winter watermelon). To kick off my watermelon for runners recipes this season is a body and brain-boosting beverage that will get you up and at ‘em with a spicy-sweet -kick. Read on to get the healthy watermelon recipe:
The staring ingredient in this refreshing watermelon drink is watermelon, naturally. I love my watermelon for so many reasons, and NOT just because it’s tasty sweet and low-calorie with 90 calories per 2-cup serving. The other reasons why watermelon is a top produce pick to fuel my active lifestyle is because it’s hydrating, filled with water and electrolytes, and offers the amino acid L-citrulline, which reports say can relive post-exercise muscle soreness. Plus, those wholesome, clean carbs from the natural sugars found in watermelon give me quick energy for runs and workouts. Yay, watermelon on the rind, watermelon drinks, watermelon in my salads, and all sorts of healthy watermelon recipes. 
Refreshing Watermelon Veggie Reviver will also bring you back to life with nutrients from cucumber (a cousin to watermelon) and tomato juice. Like watermelon, tomatoes and tomato juice are excellent sources of the antioxidant lycopene. One awesome benefit that lycopene provides is that it is absorbed though the skin’s tissue to combat UV rays – a great thing for us runners enjoying the great outdoors.
I’ve also added a couple dashes of cayenne pepper to this watermelon tomato smoothie for a wake-up call, it’s slightly spicy contrast to the sweet that will rev you up – seriously. The capsaicin in cayenne peppers has metabolism-boosting properties that increase the heat your body produces, causing a few more calories to be burned and appetite to be curbed (info here).
So, are you ready to bust into spring powered by the amazingness of watermelon? Grab the healthy watermelon drink recipe below – a generous serving has 117 calories, 29 grams carbohydrate, virtually no fat and 3.6 grams protein. This watermelon for runners recipe also gives you all the vitamin C you need in a day, plus excellent amounts of vitamin A, vitamin B-6 and various electrolytes. Plus (surprise), you also get almost 9% of your DV for iron, and that’s a big benefit for female runners.
What are you looking forward to this Spring in terms of 1) produce to come in season and 2) outdoor activities? Please share in the comments – XOXO, Jennifer
Wake up and jump into spring with this healthy watermelon drink that hydrates, provides quick and natural energy, and has so many other benefits for a healthy lifestyle.
- 1 1/2 cups watermelon, chunked or balls
- 8 ounces low-sodium tomato juice
- 1/3 cup peeled, seeded and chopped cucumber
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
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Add all ingredients to smoothie and blend. Adjust cayenne pepper amount to suit your preference for spice heat. May be poured through a fine-mesh strainer if you want a pulp-free drink, but that is not necessary. Actually the "texture" is good for you!
