Nature's Gatorade (Homemade Electrolyte Drink)

This Nature's Gatorade is my favorite homemade electrolyte drink. It's made with fresh watermelon, coconut water and a pinch of sea salt and it blends up in about 5 minutes. I drank Gatorade all of the time as a kid (my favorite flavor was whatever the blue one was). I wanted to make a refreshing drink without the long ingredient list and artificial dyes. This recipe is sweet, tangy and easy to drink. I love it on hot days or after a work out! It's naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and easy to customize.

If you love easy, refreshing drinks, try my fruit ice cubes or loaded water next!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It takes 5 minutes. Just toss everything in the blender, blend and pour over ice. That's it!
• It's naturally sweetened. Ripe watermelon does most of the work, with just a touch of honey. You can even skip the honey if your watermelon is extra sweet.
• Simple, real ingredients. No artificial colors or flavors,and nothing you can't pronounce.
• It's allergy-friendly. This drink is gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and paleo and there's an easy low histamine version below.
• So many flavors. Once you've made the original, try my strawberry lime, pineapple coconut or blueberry versions.
• Kids love it too. It's a fun, fruity swap for store bought sports drinks and juice boxes.
• Make it a treat. Pour leftovers into popsicle molds for frozen pops on hot days.

Ingredients Needed

Watermelon: Choose the ripest watermelon you can find, for the best color and flavor.

Sea salt: Adds natural electrolytes.

Coconut water: Add this as the base for Nature's Gatorade.

Honey: Sweetens everything up a little. You could also use maple syrup or agave but keep in mind they all have different levels of sweetness.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Cube the watermelon and add all the ingredients to your blender.

Step 2: Blend until smooth. Strain (optional) and serve!

Storage

This Nature's Gatorade recipe is absolutely best enjoyed fresh. It can keep in a glass jar in the fridge for about 2 days. You'll need to store it with a lid on the container.

Freeze leftovers in ice trays and add those to a glass of chilled water.

Variations

Once you've tried the original, switch it up with one of these. They all use the same simple method: blend, pour over ice and enjoy.

Strawberry Lime Nature's Gatorade
Sweet, tart and so refreshing.

• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 bottle (16 oz) coconut water
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 tbsp honey
• Pinch of sea salt

Blend everything until smooth. Strain it through a fine mesh strainer if you like it extra smooth.

Pineapple Coconut Nature's Gatorade
Tastes like a tropical vacation in a glass.

• 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
• 1 bottle (16 oz) coconut water
• Juice of ½ lime
• 1 tsp honey (pineapple is already sweet)
• Pinch of sea salt

Blend until smooth and serve over lots of ice.

Low Histamine Blueberry Nature's Gatorade
My go-to when I'm keeping things lower histamine.

• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 bottle (16 oz) coconut water
• 1 tbsp honey
• Pinch of sea salt

Blend until smooth. I skip the citrus in this one, but everyone's tolerance is different, so use what works for you. Find more ideas in my low histamine recipes collection.

More Easy Add-Ins

• Fresh mint: blend in a few leaves for an extra cool, refreshing sip.
• Fresh ginger: add a few thin slices of peeled ginger for a little zing.
• Coconut cream: blend in a spoonful for a creamier, more tropical version.
• Cucumber: swap half the fruit for cucumber for a lighter, spa-style drink.

Recipe FAQ

Is there a natural version of gatorade?

Yes! This version of Gatorade is made with all ingredients that are rich in electrolytes and magnesium.

What brand of coconut water should I use? 

Any brand is fine. I recommend using unsweetened coconut water.

Can this be frozen to last longer before drinking?

Yes, it can, but I recommend making it fresh for best results. If you do freeze it, consider thawing it out and then reblending it.

Is this kid-friendly?

Yes! Kids will love this sweet, fruity Nature's Gatorade.

What other fruit flavors can I use in this recipe?

Try making this recipe with fresh, ripe strawberries, pineapple or cucumber.

Can I leave out the honey in this natural Gatorade?

Yes! The watermelon is sweet enough.

Can I strain it after blending?

Definitely. If you prefer a smoother drink, pour it through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any pulp.

Can I make this low histamine?

Yes! Use a low histamine fruit to make this low histamine and skip the lime.

Related Recipes

If you love making homemade drinks, be sure to try these fun drink ideas next:

Watermelon Lime Slushie

Strawberry Cloud Smoothie

Blueberry Vanilla Smoothie

Dirty Matcha Latte

Apple Crisp Macchiato

If you make this Nature's Gatorade recipe and love it, I would really appreciate a 5 star review! I also love seeing your creations so please tag me on Instagram or TikTok.