SIP YOUR WAY TO WELLNESS WITH 'SUPER TONICS' BY MEREDITH YOUNGSON

as we get ready to kick off the summer, we continue to brainstorm easy ways to incorporate superfoods and functional herbs into our daily routines. luckily, we've found the perfect guide to help us achieve just that - "super tonics" by meredith youngson ( @meredith.youngson ). this cookbook is filled with 75 delicious and nutritious recipes for drinks and snacks that will nourish and energize us, such as the refreshing cucumber lime hydrator and the indulgent coconut mocha chia pudding.

not only does "super tonics" provide amazing recipes, but it also offers tips for mindful living and self-care, including a clever framework for designing the perfect morning routine and strategies for achieving a blissful bedtime. we're excited to share an excerpt from this book with you, so you can experience the benefits of these elixirs for yourself.

meredith youngson is a renowned holistic nutritionist, recipe developer, and founder of lake & oak tea co ( @lakeandoaktea ). her expertise has been featured on popular networks like the food network and global news, and her recipes have been featured on buzzfeed and thrive magazine, among others. we're grateful to meredith for sharing her knowledge and delicious recipes with us in "super tonics."

please enjoy this wonderful excerpt below, and happy sipping!

xo,

gaye

Photo Copyright: © Jules Lee

Photographs Copyright © 2023 by Jocelyn Flor

watermelon beauty slushie

hydrating watermelon, superfood goji, and juicy strawberries are a match made in adult slushie heaven. blend it up in 5 minutes or less and transport yourself poolside.

makes 2 slushies

• 1 cup water or coconut water

• 1 cup frozen diced seeded watermelon

• 1 cup frozen strawberries

• 2 teaspoons goji berries

• 1 teaspoon raw honey (optional)

in a high-speed blender, combine all the ingredients. blend for 30 to 60 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. pour into your favorite glass, slurp, and enjoy.

Photographs Copyright © 2023 by Jocelyn Flor

brownie batter chia pudding

what are your thoughts on dessert for breakfast? when it’s packed with gut-loving fiber and healthy fats and still manages to be delicious, i tend to be on board. this combination of creamy coconut milk and rich raw cacao makes for a super-craveable chia pudding that is, dare i say . . . almost like brownie batter. crown the pudding with granola and berries and you’ve become #brunchgoals. canned full-fat coconut milk produces the best flavor and mouthfeel for this chia pudding, but your favorite plant milk will also work just fine.

makes 2 servings

• 1 cup canned full-fat coconut milk, plus more as needed

• 1⁄2 cup water

• 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder

• 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup

• 3⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3⁄4 teaspoon chaga powder (optional)

• pinch of salt

• 3 tablespoons chia seeds

• granola, toasted coconut flakes, strawberries, and/ or raspberries, for serving (optional)

in a medium-sized jar or bowl, combine the coconut milk, water, cacao, 1 table- spoon of the maple syrup, the vanilla, chaga (if using), and salt. whisk well. stir in the chia seeds. taste and add the remaining 1 tablespoon maple syrup if necessary. cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight, until the chia seeds have absorbed the liquid and the mixture has a pudding-like consistency. (if the mixture is thicker than desired, stir in a splash of water or milk.) serve with any or all of the suggested toppings.

Photographs Copyright © 2023 by Jocelyn Flor

hibiscus beauty tonic

this gorgeously hued hydrator is a lake & oak community favorite, for good reason. not only is it radically refreshing, but it’s packed with antioxidants and nutrients that bolster immunity and protect your summer skin. any hibiscus tea blend will work great here, but you’ll find the hibiscus-rosehip combination available at most grocers and health-food stores. the collagen is optional but boosts the glow benefits and produces a pretty frothy effect when everything is shaken together.

makes 1 tonic

• 2 tea bags or 1 tablespoon loose-leaf hibiscus-rosehip tea

• 1 cup boiling water

• juice of 1⁄2 lime

• 2 teaspoons maple syrup or raw honey

• 1 tablespoon collagen powder (optional)

• sliced cucumber, fresh mint leaves, and/or rose petals, for topping (optional)

to a heatproof vessel, add the tea bags and pour the boiling water over them. let steep, covered, for 10 minutes (or as long as you can stand to wait). remove the tea bags (strain the tea leaves if using loose tea). in a jar or shaker, combine the steeped tea, lime juice, maple syrup, and collagen (if using). shake well for 10 to 20 seconds, until frothy and combined. fill a glass with ice and pour the tea mixture over the ice. garnish with any of the suggested toppings. sip and soak up the vibrant goodness.

reprinted from super tonics by meredith youngson. copyright © 2023 by meredith youngson. published by ten speed press, an imprint of random house, a division of penguin random house llc.

link to purchase: 

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/710985/super-tonics-by-meredith-youngson/