While many of us couldn’t imagine celebrating an occasion—or just ending a hard day—without a boozy beverage in hand, a recent uptick in non-drinking culture has paved the way for an alluring new trend of raising a glass without the alcohol … and having a good time while doing it.
Be it a permanent lifestyle change or just an in-the-moment decision, individuals have all kinds of reasons for abstinence, from beating addiction, to simply “feeling better” sans a drink now and then. In some cases, life may warrant temporary sobriety stretches too, such as while taking certain medications, undertaking a wellness detox program, or like I’ve recently experienced, while being pregnant. Regardless of your reason, avoiding alcohol need not mean a future of literally going dry, or a permanent “just water” situation!
Enter mocktails: flirty, fun drinks that are reminiscent of bar-side alchemy, but made without alcohol. Our mocktail recipes go far beyond just mimicking classic beverages, too. Lower in sugar and made with nutrient-dense ingredients, these drinks offer vitamins and antioxidants that actually invigorate and energize the body. No need to become a professional mixologist either: these mocktails are all special enough to toast with, while taking just minutes to make.
So go ahead, make a refreshing mocktail menu part of your next alcohol-free evening. But don’t stop there. Use this recipe roundup for anytime you want to prioritize your health goals while treating yourself to something a little “extra” … without any kind of compromise. Cheers to that!
WATCH HOW I MAKE MY TOP 3 PREGNANCY MOCKTAILS:
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HEALTHY MOCKTAIL PREP TIPS:
Set up your mocktail-making endeavors for success by using these quick tips.
Keep it fresh. Since there’s no alcohol to mask mediocre ingredients, choose fresh ingredients (produce) in place of jarred or powdered varieties wherever possible for the biggest, boldest flavors.
Use low-sugar (or sugar-free) options. Just because it’s free of alcohol doesn’t always mean it’s healthy! Avoid using high-sugar sodas, or sweetening with syrups here, which can destabilize blood sugar levels quickly. Instead, lean on flavored sparkling water, stevia-sweetened soda, and use stevia or monkfruit extracts when you need to bump up the flavor. Kombucha and kefir drinks make fine additions as well!
Add personalized superfoods. Not every mocktail needs a superfood boost, but certain blends can be a great place to incorporate certain superfoods that fit your health needs. For example, I used fresh ginger in my Moscow Mule recipe both for flavor and to help alleviate the notorious nausea that comes with pregnancy, and added berries (including acai) to my margarita for extra vitamin C and brain-boosting antioxidants.
Enjoy on the spot. Like cocktails, mocktails don’t sit very well, and are meant to be enjoyed directly after making. So whip them up on an as-needed basis!
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MORE INCREDIBLE ALCOHOL-FREE BEVERAGES:
Fresh Mimosa (Mocktail)
For the best flavor, use fresh-squeezed orange juice (yielded from just 1 large orange for the recipe below)—it makes a huge difference!
Prep Time: 1 minute | Cook Time: 0 | Total Time: 1 minute
Servings: 2
Author: Julie Morris Ingredients
1/3 cup orange juice
2/3 cup ginger ale (use stevia-sweetened sugar-free variety)
Fresh raspberries, for garnish
Directions
Fill two champagne glasses about a third of the way with orange juice. Top slowly with ginger ale, and add a couple raspberries for garnish.
SuperBerry Margarita (Mocktail)
Fresh and frosty, this margarita is full of anti-aging antixodants. You can also use other kinds of superfruit powders in place of the acai, such as pomegranate or elderberry.
Prep Time: 3 minutes | Cook Time: 0 | Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 2 Ingredients
3 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup ice
Zest and juice of 1 lime, plus 2 lime wheels for garnish
1 tablespoon acai powder (optional)
Pinch sea salt
½ cup apple juice
2 cups lime sparkling water
Alcohol-free liquid stevia, to taste (we use 14 drops), or monkfruit
Directions
To a blender, add the frozen strawberries, ice, zest and juice of 1 lime, acai powder, salt, apple juice, and lime sparkling water. Blend until thick and frosty. Taste, and add stevia or monkfruit to taste (we usually use around 14 drops of liquid stevia), and blend to incorporate. Pour into glasses and garnish with a lime wheel.
Moscow Mule (Mocktail)
While this version of a Moscow mule may not taste *exactly* like a traditional vodka-made variety, it doesn’t disappoint on gingery flavor and bubbly pep. Use as much fresh ginger as your taste buds demand.
Prep Time: 3 minutes | Cook Time: 0 | Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 2 Ingredients
6 ounces (¾ cup) ginger ale (use stevia-sweetened sugar-free variety)
2 ounces (¼ cup) apple juice
¼ - ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional)
Juice of ½ lime
Ice
Directions
Divide the ginger ale, apple juice, ginger, and lime juice between two Moscow mule copper cups. Load the cups with plenty of ice, and stir well to combine.
Did you make these recipes? Leave a comment below, or tag @luminberry on Instagram and hashtag it #luminberry