Kitchen

Easy Recipes: Healthy and Refreshing Summer Drinks for the Lactose Intolerant

by Diane Go
May 21, 2024

Lactose intolerant? Don’t worry! There are just as many dairy-free drinks that are just as refreshing for those hot summer days.

There’s nothing like sipping on a cool, refreshing beverage to beat the heat. And while we Filipinos tend to default to milk teas—which have been dominating the beverage scene for so long—they aren’t the only drinks that can keep you cool this summer. Especially if you’re lactose intolerant.

After all, there are just as many dairy-free options that are just as satisfying for those hot summer days. Check out some of our summer drink recipes that you can make at home!

4 easy summer drink recipes for the family

1. Buko Juice Cooler

Refreshing, sweet, and hydrating, buko juice—or coconut water—is an absolute must for any hot day. More than satisfying your thirst, however, it’s low in calories and loaded with high levels of electrolytes like potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

While this drink is best enjoyed straight from the fruit, you can easily buy bottles of ready-to-drink buko juice from brands like Fruitas, Vita Coco, or Locally. This recipe is as straightforward as it gets, but it lets you get a clean taste of coconut in every sip!

What You Need: buko juice, chia seeds, ice, and mint leaves as garnish
How to Prepare: Add your chia seeds to a glass (but make sure not to add too much, since they expand!), then pour in your buko juice. Chia seeds are fiber-rich and healthy and mimic the texture of sago. Serve with ice and garnish with a mint leaf.

2. Pineapple Ginger Punch

Pineapple is a tropical fruit that can be found in abundance in your local market or grocery. It contains nutrients, antioxidants, and enzymes that can protect you against inflammation and disease. When paired with ginger (which is full of antioxidants) you’re guaranteed a healthy drink that will do wonders for your body—even your digestive health!

The drink may be an acquired taste for many, which is why it’ll take some adjusting to get the kiddos used to the mildly spicy taste. Start with small amounts of ginger first, then gradually ease your way up. You can also sweeten the drink naturally with a bit of honey or add some lemon juice for an extra zing.

Summer Drink Recipes Pineapple Ginger Punch

What You Need: pineapple chunks, grated ginger, ice cubes, sparkling water, and honey (or lemon juice)
How to Prepare: Blend pineapple chunks with ginger until smooth. Strain to remove the pulp, then pour the mixture over ice and top it off with sparkling water for a fizzy finish. Optionally, you may add honey and/or lemon juice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge to complete the look!

3. Watermelon Mint Slush

When you think of summer, watermelon comes to mind. It’s a cooling drink that is juicy and sweet, and when blended with some fresh mint, it becomes the ultimate thirst quencher! More than that, however, watermelon is an immunity booster that’s loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants like lycopene.

Summer Drink Recipes Watermelon Mint Slush

What You Need: watermelon chunks, fresh mint leaves, ice cubes, and lime juice
How to Prepare: Blend watermelon chunks with mint leaves and lime juice until smooth. Serve over ice cubes and garnish with mint leaves or a lime wedge.

4. Mango Yogurt

Yogurt is a hit-and-miss for lactose-intolerant folk, but more often than not, the fermentation kills off most of the lactose left in milk. For those who want something creamy but refreshing all the same, the mango yogurt drink hits the spot with its fruity sweetness and tart but rich base.

Bonus: yogurt is good for your overall gut and digestive health because it’s rich in probiotics. What’s more, mango is a fruit commonly available in the Philippines, which most people (and kids) are familiar with. By blending the two—literally!—together, you get a refreshing summer drink that your kids will definitely ask for, time and time again.

What You Need: mangoes, yogurt, water, and honey (optional)
How to Prepare: blend your mangoes and yogurt until well incorporated. If the mixture is too thick, you can add some water. Serve with ice and sweeten with honey as needed.

Drinking healthy drinks has never been so easy!

Whether you’re drinking a Buko Juice Cooler or indulging in a Watermelon Mint Slush, you’re not only satisfying your thirst with these fruity drinks, but you’re also taking in those much-needed health benefits!

The best part? The whole family can get in on the action and help make these easy summer drink recipes. Who says you need dairy to enjoy these delicious drinks?