A lemonade with no sweetener added, the fruit does the work

This is the lemonade you can make in 5 minutes flat, with no blender and no honey jar. You stir 4 things together in a pitcher and chill it. The pomegranate juice carries all the sweetness, so there is nothing added, no refined sugar and no sweetener of any kind. A bright glass that asks almost nothing of you is its own small pleasure.

Strawberries and lemon are both a source of vitamin C, involved in the everyday repair of connective tissue and in supporting immune function. Pomegranate brings polyphenols, the colorful plant compounds that feed a healthier gut community. The drink is mostly water and juice, so it hydrates while it refreshes, and steady hydration quietly helps everything run more smoothly.

Make it ahead and keep it cold. Float the sliced strawberries on top so the pitcher looks like something, and pour it over ice into a glass you like. Take a breath before you drink and notice the color. Even a 5-minute drink is worth meeting with a little care.

Ingredients

• 5 cups cold water
• 3 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• Fresh mint, optional

All ingredients are AIP Core compliant as written. No swaps needed. Use a 100 percent pomegranate juice with no added sugar.

Method

Stir the water, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and sliced strawberries together in a pitcher. Add mint if you are using it.

Chill until cold, then serve over ice.

*Adapted from a-clean-plate*