Staying hydrated doesn’t have to come only from drinking water. Many common foods contain a high percentage of water and can contribute to your daily fluid intake. These foods are practical, easy to prepare, and work well in meals you’re already making. They also come with added nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and electrolytes, which water alone doesn’t provide. If you’re looking for a way to stay hydrated through what you eat, these options are worth including in your routine.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are made up of about 94% water, which makes them one of the most hydrating vegetables you can eat. They’re easy to incorporate into meals and don’t require much prep. Just slice and add to a sandwich, salad, or grain bowl. You can also roast them or turn them into soup for a more filling option that still helps with hydration. Their water content works hard in the background while adding color and flavor to your plate.
Try this: Easy Roasted Tomato Soup
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is around 95% water and provides hydration with every crisp bite. It’s often overlooked as just a salad base, but it’s more useful than that. You can use it as a wrap, layer it into sandwiches, or serve it as a bed for protein-based meals like grilled chicken or burger bowls. Its light texture and high water content make it a smart choice when you want to stay hydrated through your food.
Try this: Burger Bowls over a bed of romaine lettuce.
Oranges
With about 87% water, oranges do more than provide vitamin C. They’re a practical snack that also contributes to your daily hydration without any extra effort. They can be eaten whole, juiced, or added to savory salads and grain dishes for a little sweetness. The water content combined with natural sugars and electrolytes makes them especially helpful for rehydration after exercise or time spent in the heat.
Try this: Chocolate Covered Orange Slices
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are about 95% water and one of the most hydrating vegetables you can eat raw. Their mild flavor works in everything from salads to chilled soups and even infused water. You don’t need to cook them or season them heavily to get the benefit. They’re refreshing, low in calories, and easy to keep in your fridge for when you want to hydrate without having another glass of water.
Try this: Cucumber Gazpacho recipe.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers, especially the green ones, are made up of around 92% water. They add hydration, crunch, and color to meals whether you eat them raw, roasted, or stir-fried. Their firm texture holds up well in all kinds of dishes, making them an easy choice for lunches and dinners that need a hydration boost. Slice them up for snacking or toss them into pasta and rice dishes to stretch your water intake through food.
Learn how: To cut bell peppers for easy snacking.
Strawberries
Strawberries come in at about 91% water, and they do a good job supporting hydration while also giving you fiber and vitamin C. You can eat them fresh, freeze them for smoothies, or cook them down into sauces or compotes. Their natural sweetness makes them easy to eat in larger quantities, which means more hydration without much effort. They’re a smart snack when you want something refreshing that also helps you meet your fluid needs.
Try this: Chilled Strawberry Soup
Zucchini
Zucchini is made of roughly 95% water and works in a wide variety of meals. It can be sautéed, grilled, spiralized into noodles, or shredded into baked goods. Because it’s so neutral in flavor, it picks up seasonings well and doesn’t require a lot of work to make it fit into a recipe. It’s a reliable option for getting more water into your diet without feeling like you’re forcing it.
Try this: Make zucchini pesto for a delicious sauce to toss with pasta
Watermelon
Watermelon is around 92% water and one of the easiest ways to stay hydrated through food. It’s naturally sweet, easy to cut into snackable pieces, and great for eating outside during hot weather. It also contains small amounts of electrolytes like potassium, which support hydration even further. You can eat it on its own or mix it into salads and drinks for variety.
Try this: Cut watermelon into sticks for fun snacks.
Cabbage
Cabbage contains about 92% water and holds up well in cooked and raw dishes. It can be sliced into slaws, added to stir-fries, or fermented into condiments like sauerkraut. Because it has a firmer texture, it retains water while still holding its shape, which makes it useful for adding hydration to meals that need some bulk.
Try this: Fermented Cabbage is a nutritious and hydrating condiment.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is surprisingly high in water, coming in at roughly 92%. It can be steamed, roasted, mashed, or turned into a rice substitute depending on the meal. Its mild flavor means it blends easily into recipes, and its water content helps keep meals moist without adding a lot of extra calories. It’s especially useful for meal prepping since it holds up well in the fridge.
Try this: 4-ingredient Cauliflower Turkey Skillet
Coconut Water
Coconut water is a natural liquid that’s rich in electrolytes and about 95% water. It’s often used for rehydration because of its potassium and sodium content, especially after sweating or intense activity. Unlike plain water, it provides minerals that help your body retain fluid. It’s easy to drink on its own or mix into smoothies and recovery drinks.
Try this: Adrenal Cocktails use coconut water for a hydrating boost.
10 Creative Ways to Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
Staying hydrated can sometimes feel like a chore, but it doesn’t have to be boring! With a little creativity, you can make drinking water a lot more fun. Turn hydration into a game or treat yourself to refreshing fruit-infused drinks. There are so many ways to keep your water intake up without it feeling like a task. Here are some of our favorites.
Read it Here: 10 Creative Ways to Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day
11 Probiotic-Rich Foods To Eat Instead of Taking a Pill
Tired of spending a fortune on probiotic supplements? It turns out, your kitchen might hold the key to boosting your gut health. This article unveils 11 everyday foods, from tangy yogurt to spicy kimchi, that are natural probiotic powerhouses. We’ll guide you through each one, showing you how to easily incorporate them into your meals. Say goodbye to pricey pills and hello to delicious, gut-friendly foods that do more than just taste good.
Read it here: Stop Wasting Money On Probiotics, Eat These 11 Foods Instead
*Select images provided by Depositphotos.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.