BlogHer and Crystal Light Water Way Challenge
It is time to reveal the first flavor of Crystal Light that I received for my participation in the Water Way Challenge -- pomegranate lemonade!
Doesn't that sound delicious?
Last week I received four flavors in the mail - two are canisters that make entire pitchers of Crystal Light, and then two boxes contain individual packets that can be used "on the go." My original plan was to try one of the "canister" flavors first, because I wanted to travel from the flavor that I thought I'd like "fine to good" up to the flavor I thought I'd like "great to excellent" and also "use up" the canister flavors in favor of the little on-the-go packets.
I'll touch on "canister versus on-the-go" later during the Challenge as I actually try out both types, but my initial reaction to on-the-go is that it seems easier by a longshot (carry one or seven in your purse!) but of course the environmental impact of the packaging is greater, and likely the cost is higher. Meanwhile, the canister would be useful for a party, but maybe not as useful if I am preparing a single drink.
And so my plan was canister today - and then on-the-go a little later in the week. But, best laid plans tend to go awry. I had quite a challenging day today, so when I came home I wasn't in the mood to measure out the proper amount of canister-powder to complete my drink. I was craving a diet soda (or yes, maybe even something stronger) but definitely wanted to stay on-task with the Challenge. I went directly for the flavor I thought I'd like the most, the pomegranate lemonade. (Yes, I am an emotional eater, and thus, an emotional "drinker.")
You see, I was a parent volunteer today at "Vacation Bible Study" (VBS) and although we were allowed a few "water breaks" the only thing we ate was "burning bush salad." (In case you are dying to know, the "fire" was a single cherry tomato.) My tummy was grumbling mere minutes after our snack. Yes, I should have brought a water bottle with me with the Crystal Light inside, but I had one of "those mornings" and didn't prepare ahead of time. (Plus, adults don't seem to need to eat, drink or take bathroom breaks during these things. I felt really awkward leaving for the restroom at one point, but a gal has got to do what a gal's got to do...)
Fortunately my thirsty and hungry self didn't completely pig out at a fast-food joint the way I might have had I not remembered that I do not want to gain weight this summer and that I am on the Water Way Challenge and certainly wasn't going to give up at the starting gate.
Truth be told, I did not resist my beloved soda's call this morning. First thing I drank when I awakened was a diet soda. I had one more right after my son scraped up my van in an attempt to "help" me clean. (Carbonation makes my tummy happy!) All other drinks have been plain water (at church) and Crystal Light.
I was definitely eager to try out the pomegranate lemonade, so viewed it in itself as a "treat" for surviving VBS. Sure, I had that old jingle in my head "I believe in Crystal Light 'cause I believe in me!" with images of older women in the old commercials - as I realize I am now an "older woman" - but this is definitely not my mother's Crystal Light. (Okay, I should probably beg to look as good as Raquel Welch.)
First off, I was surprised at how dark the resulting liquid was after I added my two cups to the little powder stick. I expected a delicate pastel, not a magenta that actually looked like pomegranate juice. I tasted it, and decided I could fill the rest of my bottle up (another 3/4 of a cup or so of water) without significantly diluting the taste.
My first sip seemed much heavier than I anticipated, more like a fruit juice and less like a "flavored water." There was no heavy aftertaste, though, and so I determined that my perception of the beverage as being "heavier" was probably psychological based on the rich color. The taste is definitely more refreshing than fruit juice but definitely more flavorful than what one typically thinks of from a flavored water. And if I recall correctly, this version is much more flavorful than the "old" Crystal Light (which was more water enhancement.)
Each "on the go" packet is 5 calories and is meant to be added to at least 16oz of water. For those of you using the Water Way Challenge Widget like that displayed in my Challenge announcement post, the 16oz counts as two glasses of water.
I found that I could add another 8 oz to my bottle without significantly altering the taste. In fact, at one point I took my bottle when there was only perhaps 6 oz left of the mixed drink and refilled the rest of it with water. The result was still a very pleasurable flavor that didn't seem diluted at all. I could probably draw out that 5 calorie pack for much more than just 16oz of water! I've used 3 packs today for 64oz of water, and will probably do a few more "dilutions" as the evening progresses.
I usually don't like to drink heavily artificially-colored things, so I could have done without the dark color. I understand why it is colored as such, because it definitely looks "heavier" or "richer" with that deep magenta color, but I'd be perfectly happy with a pink pomegranate lemonade. Of course, the "true" color of the concoction might be orange (from the marigolds) or some other crazy color that they needed to correct a bit to look more like pomegranate.
Did she just say "marigolds?"
Yes, I did.
This particular type of Crystal Light is from the "Skin Essentials" series, which includes plant extracts and antioxidants for positive skin heath. Of course it is too early to tell if my efforts today are healing my skin just now, but of course any non-diuretic hydration is going to help with skin health. I'm all for adding the plant extracts in there to help the process whether I can personally quantify it. I wonder if my skin will be awesome by the end of the two week Challenge? After all, regardless of flavor - and whether it is part of "Skin Essentials" - I'll be drinking lots of water.
If you haven't already, check out the Crystal Light Water Way Challenge and the associated Blogher's Water Way Challenge Group.
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* My introductory post to the Water Way Challenge - which links all the posts I've done while doing the Challenge, and includes my Challenge Widget to show how much water I've been drinking.
* Crystal Light Water Way Challenge official site
* Blogher's Water Way Challenge Group
* Crystal Light official site
