I am a bit of a water snob. I can’t really help it. I love water! It is seriously my favourite beverage, which is an odd thing to say about something that is odourless and flavourless. But nothing beats that cool, refreshing gulp of water.
The brilliant thing about water is that it is good for you! Water keeps us hydrated, is great for our skin, provides an energy boost, and helps flush toxins from our body. Water has no fat or calories. A number of times I have set goals for myself to drink (at least) 8 cups of water a day, and when I do so, I always feel great!
I don’t like just any water though. Here is where my snobbery really shines. I like cold, filtered water. The colder, the better. And I do not, I repeat, I do not like bottled water.
Bottled water is the worst form of water, if you ask me. In my opinion, it tastes horrible – especially when it is served in flimsy, plastic containers. Bottled water just tastes plasticky. Yet, it isn’t just my personal taste that turns me away from spending a toonie on a 500mL bottle of mediocre water.
Bottled water is arrogant. I’m serious about this. You and I and almost everyone else in North America have homes that are hooked up to municipal water sources. When you turn on your tap, out flows regulated water that is actually more regulated than that crap you buy in a convenience store. And more often than not, that water you are buying in a bottle, which can cost up to 10,000 times more than your tap water, is just water from a different tap. Although this time, the tap water you are paying for has been shipped hundreds of miles and has been contained in unsustainable plastic bottles. “Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil – enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year – are used to make plastic water bottles, while transporting these bottles burns even more oil.” *
What really gets me is that here in the First World, where we have ample access to clean water and filtered pitchers, we still purchase these bottles of water when there are so many others who don’t have access to clean drinking water.
So, it really irks me that for the last few weeks, I’ve been drinking my daily water out of a re-used plastic water bottle which was, at one point, purchased from the Treats store in the basement of my office building. You see, I am all about regular water bottles. I fill my water bottles with filtered water at least three times during the day and I can track how much I have drank. But last month, while we were in the grocery store, my son grabbed my water bottle from my purse and threw it on the floor. The bottom cracked and all that beautiful water started flowing.
I haven’t had the chance yet to purchase another nice water bottle. Being a water snob, I am actually a bit of a water bottle snob too. It needs to be cute. It has to be easy to drink from. It has to be easy to carry. It has to have a wide enough mouth to fit ice and it needs to be big enough so that I can easily track how much water I am drinking (a litre is ideal, though not required).
Hopefully soon I’ll be able to post a picture of my new, gorgeous water bottle. Until then, I’ll be drinking filtered water at work from my cruddy old plastic bottle. At least I’m reusing, but who knows what chemicals are seeping into my system.
But, the point is, I am drinking water. Water is healthy, especially if you’re a conscious water consumer.
Cheers!
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Let’s encourage one another on to living healthier lives!
mmm. water.
I got awesome water bottles at Costco not that long ago ($20 for 3!) They are cute, have a wide mouth, and are easy to drink from….
Latitia recently posted..coming clean
Yes! I’ve been hoping to get to Costco since my water bottle broke! Those are the ones I think I really want. The one that broke was a Costco one we got a year or so ago. Dan had one of the others and I gave the third to my Mom. But if I get the 3 for 20$, I can keep one at home, one at work, and have one in case or breakage. Brilliant!
I am also considering getting a Camelbak one. They are quite nice and I can get it at a discount through work. So decisions, decision!
Your point that drinking bottled water is arrogant really struck me. I avoid it because it’s expensive and because I don’t like the chemicals, but you’re totally right. It makes a statement – and encourages the disposable mentality we all have (and struggle against!). Disposable diapers, paper towels, packaged food, paper plates, plastic bags and now disposable water? When I look around my house and see how much stuff I throw out on a daily basis it makes me blush.
But I’ve digressed from your original point that water is good for you. It’s certainly the beverage of choice at our house! I like the “Klean Kanteen” brand stainless steel water bottles because I feel confident nothing is leaching into my water. I’m glad we’re on a well, because I really don’t like the fact that city water is chlorinated. If we move somewhere that has municipal water I would get a filter to get that out.
Yes, yes, yes! We are SO blessed to have clean, potable water piped right into our homes. You bet I’m gonna drink that gift.
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We are particular about our water, too. We were buying bottled water for a while because the water out here on the island has a weird taste. We actually splurged on a big water filter that sits in our kitchen. We buy giant 5 gallon bottles from a company here on the island. They sell only fresh spring water and it. is. fabulous. The filter we bought has a hot water and cold water setting, so I can actually use this same water to cook with, too.
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Hey Laura!
I just bought a super cute water bottle from canadian tire that has a little twist dial at the top to keep track of your water intake! I love it! It is a wide mouth, flip top with a clip as well.
Great post! and I agree with you completely. I cant stand using a plastic water bottle. I usually wont unless I absolutely have to.
Happy shopping for a new water bottle.
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