Mocktails for Expectant Moms…and Everyone Else!
While pregnant, most days my one cup of morning coffee and water for the rest of the day is just fine, but there are evenings, especially on weekends, when I have to have a little something special to sip on. Over the past few months, I’ve learned a lot about which mocktails are really enjoyable and which are just more sugar than they’re worth, and I wanted to share this newfound wisdom with anyone else looking for non-alcoholic alternatives.
Bubbly Water
While not technically a true mocktail recipe, LaCroix over ice in a wine glass has been my most frequent go-to. To dress it up, I’ll cut up fruit to toss in, or add a splash of lime juice. For some reason, I’ve found that a little lime juice goes a long way to giving a mocktail a kick like a real cocktail.
Sparkling Grape Juice
I’ve tried several different sparkling grape juices, and my best recommendation is Martinelli’s Sparkling Blush. While there’s plenty of sugar, there’s at least no added sugar, and watering down a bit and/or pouring over ice tends tends to help even out the taste.
Shirley Temple
There’s no denying the sugar in this one, but I’ve found it a welcome occasional treat. I had these all the time growing up, but for anyone who isn’t familiar, it’s just ginger ale (or sprite) and a splash of grenadine over ice. While I’ve made it at home a few times, I’ve also found this is an easy one to ask for at weddings when you want to have a drink to hold like everyone else.
Drinking for Two: Mocktails for Pregnancy
This book, Drinking for Two, has been my go-to source for making mocktails at home this summer. I was finding it overwhelming to search the internet for mocktails because there were so many options, so this book came in handy, and I love that it focuses on healthy ingredients, some of which specifically treat pregnancy-related symptoms. So far I’ve tried:
No Way Rose: Not a perfect substitute for rose, because nothing is, but fun to make and sip on nonetheless!
Sour Mock-a-Rita: I went a little heavy on the salt with this one so beware of doing that, but otherwise it was a yummy alternative to what is typically one of my favorite drinks. This recipe also taught me to salt a rim which I’d never tried before!
Pina Col Nada: The cauliflower called for in the recipe was admittedly a little much for me, so I made a second version without, but everything else that went into it came out to a perfect virgin Pina Colada.
Watermelon Mock-a-rita: This was my favorite so far and probably the easiest to make, with just watermelon, lime juice, coconut water and ice. I skipped the salt and it was just fine without.
Drinking Out
When out to dinner, I’ve learned that many restaurants, especially the nicer ones, are willing to make cocktails into mocktails. I’ve learned to look for things that have multiple ingredients besides alcohol for the best bet they can be made into a mocktail, and when in doubt I’ve asked the server for a recommendation. Not everything can be made without alcohol because some things are pre-mixed, but my best advice is not to be shy about asking! If you’re local to Memphis, Catherine & Mary’s makes their Venetian Sunset into an awesome mocktail, and if you travel to 30A, Bud & Alley’s made their Blackberry Smash without alcohol for me.
Hopefully you found this little guide helpful! I’ve also linked all my favorite recipes and ingredients over on my Pinterest for quick reference. If you have a favorite mocktail yourself, drop it in the comments. I’d love to hear it and add it to my list to try!