Homemade lemonade

Fresh, zingy, and perfectly sweetened by nature, this sunshine-in-a-glass is the kind of drink that makes the whole family gather round the kitchen.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups / 350ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

4 cups / 1l sparkling water

4 tbsp agave nectar or softened raw honey

1 small bunch mint leaves

1 unwaxed lemon, thinly sliced

Directions

Combine the lemon juice, honey, and mint leaves in a large jug and stir to combine.

Pour in the sparkling water and taste the lemonade: add a little more lemon juice if you prefer it extra tangy, or more agave or honey if you like it sweeter.

Serve chilled in a long glass over ice, with a slice of lemon and a straw.

Tips for picky eaters

Use still water instead of sparkling if kids don't like fizz
Add frozen fruit cubes (frozen berries in ice cube trays) to make it colourful and fun
Let kids squeeze the lemons themselves - involvement builds excitement
Start with more honey and less lemon for sensitive palates, then adjust
Serve with a fun straw or umbrella - presentation matters!

Healthy swaps

Instead of...	Use...	Why?
Agave nectar	Stevia drops or monk fruit	Zero-calorie natural sweetener
Sparkling water	Still filtered water	Gentler on young tummies
Lemon only	Lemon + fresh orange juice	Naturally sweeter, less tart
Honey	Blended watermelon juice	Natural sweetness, no added sugars