• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Whole New Mom
  • Resources
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Recipes
  • Natural Remedies
  • Healthy Home
  • Wellness
  • Clean Beauty
    • Beautycounter
  • Gardening
  • Essential Oils

Home » Homemade Sugar-Free Lemonade

Homemade Sugar-Free Lemonade

by Adrienne 135 Comments Published June 6, 2011 Updated: Aug 22, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
9.5Kshares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Sugar-Free Lemonade Recipe. Super Easy. Super Refreshing. This Homemade Lemonade is a great way to keep the heat and the munchies away :)
homemade sugar-free lemonade in glass with lemon garnish and straw

Do you love lemonade but would prefer a healthy alternative to what is typically a sugar-loaded drink? Or are you looking for a refreshing drink that is easy on your wallet?  If so, this versatile sugar-free lemonade recipe for you! 

sugar-free lemonade in glass with lemon slice garnish and straws with lemons

If you've been around my website a bit, you know that I don't like purchasing ready-made things when I can easily make them myself.

Here is another case in point and one of the easiest yet.

One of my readers recently asked if I had a healthy drink she could treat her kids to by offering them something besides water. I completely understand.

I don't let my kids drink any sodas or bottled juice drinks. One reason is due to the problems that they pose for health and the other is the cost.

My kids aren't always happy with me about this decision, but well, I wasn't put here to be their best buddy or to get the "Most Fun Mom of the Year Award" (though I admit that wouldn't be a bad thing).  My job is to help them to live a vibrant, healthy life, and part of that is encouraging them to have a healthy diet.

And sugar, artificial colors, and artificial flavors aren't much of a help in that arena.

sugar-free lemonade in glass with lemon slice garnish

Concerns with Store Bought Drinks

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup and Sugar

Have you seen the plethora of negative information coming out about high fructose corn syrup and sugar alone?  There has been mercury detected in high-fructose corn syrup due to the means of processing, and sugar is now being linked to all sorts of health issues.

If you make this homemade lemonade instead of buying store bought drinks, you can avoid much of your exposure to these not-so-great ingredients.

2. High Cost

Take a look at your grocery bill and see how much you are spending on drinks:  sodas, juices, etc.  And those "healthy waters"?

Don't get me started. Anyhow, here is a way that you can treat your whole family to a wonderful summery drink without breaking the bank.  And you can sweeten this homemade lemonade however you wish.

I must admit, that in recent days, there are more and more healthy alternatives on the market that I love.  We recently tested some delicious Bai drinks at Costco and we LOVE Zevia soda.  However, they really can put a dent in your budget, so they are just for very occasional purchases in our household.  We've really only bought the Bais once.

Actually, an update to this post will be following soon, hopefully.  We found a way to bring healthy, low carb soda into out home at a fraction of those cost.  Stay tuned for that!  It's one of our favorite new additions to our kitchen!

3.  Calories and Weight Gain

There is more to weight gain than just calories, but sodas and juices are pretty much empty, sugar-laden calories that have been implicated as part of the cause of our obesity epidemic.

It's probably a good idea to restrict this kind of beverage if you are hoping to control your weight.

And personally, I would rather splurge on a healthy dessert than drink a soda.  To quote my aunt, "I would rather eat my calories than drink them."

I concur.

sugar-free lemonade in glass with lemon slice garnish and straws with lemons

Tips and Savings Information

Before we get to the recipe, here are some tips related to the recipe and the ingredients in it.

1.  How much can you save?

If you purchase Costco's lemon juice, one 64 ounce (close to a 2-liter) will set you back only 24 cents, plus the cost of your sweetener.  And if you use stevia, this sugar-free lemonade really is a bargain drink!

Now that's a sweet deal :-P!)

So skip the specialty stevia-sweetened drinks on the market -- make your own homemade lemonade and do something more purposeful with your money!

2.  How to Use Stevia

If you're going to use stevia to sweetener your homemade lemonade, then here are some tips on how to use it.

This post on What Stevia Is has tips to help you use it if you aren't familiar with it.

But for starters, these mini stainless measuring scoops are pretty much a must have if you are going to use stevia extract. I only really use one or 2 of the scoops, but they are pretty reasonable so I was willing to buy the set.

Norpro Mini Measuring Spoons

The 2nd smallest scoop is 1/32 of a teaspoon (the standard "stevia scoop" size) and it fits nicely in my small stevia container.  Some of the extracts are of differing strengths, so you might need to use the mid-sized scoop as well.

3.  Sweetener tips

For sweetening your sugar-free lemonade, if you are able to eat sugar (more on that later), I recommend honey or sucanat.  If need/wish to avoid sugar, I recommend stevia.  If you have trouble with stevia, there are other options:

Vegetable glycerine is a more natural one.  NOW glycerine is a great brand.

They are not technically regarded as "whole foods" in the whole foodie arena, but xylitol and erythritol are the better choices among the alternative options. I recommend several brands, including Now Foods.

Prices on Iherb are great too for alternative sweeteners, and you get a discount on your!  Here's a link to NuNaturals erythritol there.

Recipe Notes and Substitutions

Lemon Juice

The lemon juice content of this sugar-free lemonade is variable. Use more or less as you would like.

Please us only real (truly real) lemon juice. That so-called "lemon juice" that is made under the name "ReaLemon®" and similar knockoffs just don't do it.

Why? Well, yuck taste and yuck ingredients.

Do you really want to be eating sodium benzoate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite if you don't have to? Me neither.

Besides, sodium benzoate has been implicated in issues related to it being combined with citric acid and creating benzene, so be very careful with this ingredient in both food and personal care products.

1/8 cup lemon juice is the equivalent of the juice from 1 lemon so use that approximation when shopping for fresh lemons should you choose to go that route.

Stevia

Pure stevia is incredibly sweet. 1 scoop = 1/32 tsp and either one or two scoops will sweeten an 8 oz drink. It's really important which stevia you choose. Some are just plain icky.

Our family's current favorite is NuNaturals as it is one of the only brands that uses only water to extract the stevia from the plant. But KAL is really nice as well.

See How to Use Stevia. You may substitute approximately 1/2 cup of a granulated or liquid sweetener to taste. This Keto Simple Syrup is a great option as it will dissolve easily!

Healthy Processed Food Alternatives

Before we get to the recipe, if you like making your own healthy alternatives to processed foods, you might be interested in checking out my recipe page for other Make Your Own Tips that can save you a bundle, including:

  • Homemade Protein Bars - a great breakfast or on the go treat
  • Easy Coconut Milk - we make this all the time
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning - better than the packets
  • Easiest Almond Milk Ever
  • Healthy Easy Strawberry Lemonade - super refreshing and low-carb

 

Sugar-Free Lemonade Recipe. Super Easy. Super Refreshing. This Homemade Lemonade is a great way to keep the heat and the munchies away :)

Homemade Sugar-Free Lemonade

Cool off this summer with Homemade Lemonade! This homemade sugar-free lemonade hits the spot after a hot day outside.
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Rate
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: AIP, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, THM, Vegan
Keyword: Sugar-free Lemonade
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 3kcal

Ingredients

  • 64 oz water (8 cups)
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed or bottled)
  • 1/4 tsp pure stevia extract (8 scoops; or to taste - see notes)

Instructions

  • Pour water into pitcher.
  • Add lemon juice and stevia.
  • If using a granulated sweetener, mix ½ cup water and the sweetener in a pot and heat until the sweetener is dissolved. Then, once dissolved, add sweetener and water mix to remaining water.
  • Stir and enjoy!
  • This sugar-free lemonade tastes great chilled with ice cubes. It really refreshed my husband and boys this past week when they were working on our raised beds in 90+ degree heat!

Nutrition

Calories: 3kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 7mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @wholenewmom or tag #wholenewmom!

What is your favorite drink?

Sugar-Free Lemonade Recipe. Super Easy. Super Refreshing. This Homemade Lemonade is a great way to keep the heat and the munchies away :)

SaveSave

9.5Kshares
Struggling to Eat Healthy?
Get My 5 Secrets to Make Healthy Eating EASIER
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Join our subscribers who get content directly to their inbox.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your inbox for an email from me!

Come join our Healthy Living Community on Facebook

Join our Facebook Group

Related Posts

I LOVE lasagna, but we're eating low carb more and more, so this low-carb grain-free lasagna is perfect! Zucchini lasagna with dairy & egg-free option.
Grain-Free Zucchini Lasagna Recipe - low carb with dairy and egg-free options
broccoli jicama salad with vegan avocado dressing
Crunchy Broccoli Jicama Salad
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
60+ Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

About Adrienne

Adrienne Urban is the Founder and Owner of Whole New Mom. She has a background in research, journalism, insurance, employee benefits, financial markets, frugal living, and nutrition. Seeking a better life for herself and her family, she uses research and consults with many physicians and other practitioners to find solutions to the variety of issues they have dealt with including life-threatening food allergies and thyroid and adrenal concerns. WholeNewMom.com is the result of her experiences and knowledge gained throughout the process. Posts are reviewed and verified by the Whole New Mom team.

Previous Post: « Dairy-Free Berry Chia Pudding
Next Post: Tuscan Bean Dip »

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




     

  1. Joanne

    July 19, 2020 at 1:32 pm

    You have no idea how happy you have made me. This may be a simple recipe for you but for someone who is recipe/measurement challenged this is a gift.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      July 21, 2020 at 8:52 pm

      Awwww this means so much to me! Did you try it? I really can't tell you how much this means. You really warmed my heart :).

      Reply
      • Joanne Mininger

        July 25, 2020 at 8:49 pm

        It is delicious! Even my "mom, not another healthy thing" kids liked it.
        I have already bought more lemons for a second batch.
        Thank you again!

        Reply
        • Adrienne

          July 25, 2020 at 8:54 pm

          Awwww that's so great!!! I hope you can find other things here that will encourage your kids that healthy can be delicious! 🙂 Victory!

          Reply
  2. Christine

    July 09, 2020 at 4:49 pm

    The recipe does not say how much water.

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      July 09, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      Hi there. It does in the recipe card -- can you not see it? Thanks for reading and so hope you like it! I have been thinking about redoing it a bit but we like it the way it is too!

      Reply
  3. Crystal Braddock

    June 19, 2020 at 2:45 am

    I have to find somewhere other than Costco to get lemon juice that tastes good. I agree with you 100% about the taste of ReaLemon. I have packets of Stevia with Monk Fruit and a little Erythritol. I got it off Amazon. I like my drinks sweeter than most people. I’ll probably use 3 packets in one glass of lemonade. Sixty-four ounces is too much since I’m the only one who will be drinking it. Your recipe makes it easy enough to convert to 8oz. I don’t believe it contains enough lemon juice to be considered much of a diuretic, which in my case, is a good thing. I have almost no kidney function. I’ll let you know how mine turns out. I may even sweeten it with a very syrupy medication I take. My liver is pretty much shot too.

    Reply
    • Adrienne

      June 21, 2020 at 5:47 pm

      I so hope you like it!! I hope you can find the lemon juice--do you avoid Costco or just don't have one near?

      Reply
      • Crystal Braddock

        July 23, 2020 at 5:18 pm

        It isn’t free to shop at Costco.

        Reply
        • Adrienne

          July 24, 2020 at 12:01 pm

          Yeah, it's not. We typically have more than gotten our fee back with savings. Depends on how you shop. We save on gas, and our staples are the lemon juice, olive oil, eggs (sometimes), frozen green beans, cauliflower rice, organic carrots, lettuce, Himalayan Salt, just to name a few. It's a shame they have no samples anymore right now - it was a big draw for a lot of people.

          Reply
« Older Comments
Please note: these comments do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Whole New Mom.

Primary Sidebar

adrienne author of whole new mom blog

Hi there! I'm Adrienne, your Healthy Living Doesn't Have to Be Hard Guide! Here, you'll find basically everything you need to make healthy living doable--healthy & easy flexible recipes, tips for clean beauty and a natural home, essential oils, beginner gardening tips, and more. Learn more about me here.

Struggling to Eat Healthy?Get My FREE EASIER Healthy Eating Tips!
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Join our subscribers who get content directly to their inbox.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Check your inbox for your guide!

POPULAR POSTS

Need a delicious, quick and healthy meal? Try this Easy Baked Homemade Chicken Nuggets Recipe. They taste like you spent a TON of time in the kitchen, but they come together in a flash. Grain & Egg Free (with AIP and THM:S options) and they freeze well too!

Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets {gluten free with paleo option}

healthy fudge on white parchment paper with knife in background

Adaptogenic Phat Fudge Remake

This Egg Roll in a Bowl has all of the great flavor of Egg Rolls, but it's an Easy One Pan Meal without the grain wrapper!

Egg Roll in a Bowl - low carb, whole30, keto, paleo, AIP

gluten free chili mac in white bowl with spoon

Gluten-free Chili Mac (dairy-free & keto option)

<script>

Disclaimer

Cookie Policy

HTML Sitemap

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 Whole New Mom on the Foodie Pro Theme

9.5Kshares
  • 1.4K
x
Get My Easier Healthy Eating Guide
No spam here (ick!). You can unsubscribe anytime (no hard feelings!)
Invalid email address
Welcome! Check your email for your Guide!
x
Struggling to Eat Healthy?
Try My EASY Healthy Eating Tips!
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Join our subscribers who get content directly to their inbox.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.