Summer Party Tips to Stay Social & Hydrated
Almost everyone looks forward to the summer social scene—pool parties, barbecues, block parties and more—but with all the fun, heat and alcohol, staying hydrated can easily be overlooked. You don’t want to wait until you’re dehydrated to come up with a plan, so we’ve got some easy party tips to help you prevent dehydration, whether you’re living alcohol-free or looking forward to some fruity cocktails or summer ales.
7 Tips to Stay Hydrated in Hot Weather
Choose foods with high water content
Summer parties often have an array of foods—from fruit, potato and pasta salads to grilled vegetables and meats—and, of course, all kinds of chips, dips, snacks and desserts. If the day is hot and you’re spending a lot of time in the sun or pool, be sure to focus on hydrating foods. You can still enjoy a burger, hot dog, and even desserts, just include salad vegetables like lettuce, spinach, cucumbers and celery, and fruits like watermelon, strawberries or orange slices on your plate.
Avoid or limit dehydrating drinks
Go to the party with a plan. If you’re drinking alcohol, plan to have a glass of water between each drink. Or even better, have a hydrating mocktail either as your drink of choice to stay alcohol free or in between cocktails. Our Strawberry Margarita and Cranberry Cosmo electrolyte mixes are just two of the classic cocktail flavors in our Mocktini Variety pack. You can even spice up our electrolyte mixes with a little alcohol.
When choosing drinks at an outdoor party, you also want to be wary of drinks high in sugar or caffeine. Consuming too much sugar can actually make dehydration worse as your body tries to expel sugar through urination. And caffeine is a diuretic, which means it increases the production of urine. The trick in all of this is to find balance.
Drink water before the party and throughout the day
If you bring your own water bottle to the party, you’ll always know which drink is yours plus you’ll have an easy way to keep track of your water consumption. An unbreakable water bottle is great for poolside and can be refilled anytime. Add your and some ice and you’ll have a cool, refreshing drink that helps your body replenish the vital minerals you’re losing in the heat.
If you’re hesitant about bringing your own water bottle to the party, maybe the fitness app you use can help. There are many fitness apps that allow you to track your hydration daily. You can set alerts or reminders on your smartphone or smartwatch so you barely even have to think about hydration.
Take shade breaks
While playing volleyball or splashing in the pool under the sun is part of the summer fun, it's important to take regular shade breaks to cool down and prevent overheating. Find a shady spot to sit, chat and relax or, if you’re able to go inside and enjoy some air conditioning, you can give your body a chance to cool off. This practice can help you prevent dehydration and reduce the risk of heat exhaustion—both of which would definitely make the party very unfun for you.
Pack a cooler with hydrating options
Many summer parties are ones in which guests bring a dish, so why not choose something hydrating. Whether you choose fruit, a salad, a veggie tray, sugar-free drinks, or individual electrolyte mix packets and water bottles to share with friends, you can be the hydrating hit of the party! You can even choose one or two of your favorite mocktail and cocktail Ultima recipes to give everyone’s drink a tasty electrolyte boost.
Choose the best alcoholic drink to stay hydrated
Every effort you make to stay hydrated is a good one even if that means choosing the least dehydrating alcohol instead of going alcohol free. The fewer cocktails and beers, the better, but if you’re going to drink alcohol, the best choices are a vodka water or vodka soda. Save the darker liquors for cooler weather or indoors since the alcohol in them can stay in your system longer. Also know that the higher the alcohol content, the more dehydrating the drink can be.
Keep in mind that how fast you drink matters too. While drinking beer can be more hydrating than drinking whiskey, consider first how many drinks you plan to have. If you’re just sipping one whiskey through the day, that can be less dehydrating than drinking multiple beers one after another.
Know the signs of dehydration
Before you even go to the party, become aware of the signs of dehydration. Even with the best intentions, staying hydrated in hot weather can be challenging, especially when surrounded by friends and family having fun. If you feel a headache coming on or feel a little dizzy or fatigued, go sit somewhere cool with a glass of water. You can even mix in some Peach Bellini or Piña Colada Mocktini electrolyte mix for an added hydrating boost.
Notice the color of your pee each time you go. If it’s getting darker, you need more fluids. Listening to your body is always key to maintaining optimal hydration so you can feel your best and enjoy your summer festivities to the fullest.
Even just remembering one or two of these tips can help you fully enjoy any summer party or barbecue you go to. When you make staying hydrated easy, you can truly focus on your family, friends and fun!
