Lemonade, fruit juice drink, light
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a light, refreshing fruit juice drink with a bright, tangy lemon flavor and a clean, watery texture. It delivers a modest 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams, offering a sweet-tart taste with minimal caloric impact at just 21 kcal.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 100% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its classic, thirst-quenching flavor that cuts through heat and pairs well with salty foods. It's a versatile base for cocktails, mocktails, and marinades, and carries a nostalgic, summery appeal across many cultures.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary downside is its sugar content (5g per 100g), which can contribute to blood-sugar spikes if consumed in large quantities, especially for those managing diabetes. To counteract this, practice portion control and consider pairing it with a source of protein or healthy fat (like nuts or cheese) to slow sugar absorption.
Key benefits
- Low in calories (21 kcal per 100g)
- Fat-free and cholesterol-free
- Provides quick hydration
- Contains a small amount of natural fruit sugar for energy
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The powdered mix for instant lemonade was invented in the 1950s and was a key flavor in the first Kool-Aid variety pack.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 95.0 g |
| Energy | 21.0 kcal |
| Protein | 0.00 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.00 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.0 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.0 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 2.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.00 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 2.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 1.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 10.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 5.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.01 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.02 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 25.0 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 1.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 1.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 1.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 0.50 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.56 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.56 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is this the same as fresh-squeezed lemonade?
No, this is a commercial fruit juice drink, typically made from water, sugar, citric acid, and lemon flavoring. Fresh-squeezed lemonade is made from actual lemon juice, water, and sugar, and has a more complex, fresh flavor.
Does it contain any actual lemon juice?
The ingredient list varies by brand. Some 'light' versions may contain a small percentage of lemon juice concentrate, while others rely solely on natural and artificial flavors for taste.
Why is it called 'light'?
The term 'light' generally indicates a reduced calorie or sugar content compared to the regular version. In this case, it has 21 kcal and 5g of sugar per 100g, which is significantly less than traditional lemonade which can have double that sugar.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.21 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 5.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.50 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.