No Booze, No Problem: A Dietitian’s view on Mocktails

A mocktail or a non-alcoholic version of a cocktail can be special, tasty, and perfect to sip on at an event!  Now you might be asking who might benefit from a mocktail, why are they popular, are there any health benefits and what are some recipes to try?  We got you covered – Keep on reading!   

Who might benefit from a mocktail?

• Are you the D.D. (Designated driver) for the friend group going out on Friday night? If so, the mocktail is for you!  

• Individuals who are recovering from alcohol use disorder 

• Teens and kids who want to celebrate with the 21+ gang (anyone else used to order the shirley temple?) 

• Those following religious or cultural restrictions that prohibit or discourage alcohol intake 

• People taking medication that might interact with alcohol 

• • Ladies who are expecting a little one and missing their favorite alcoholic beverage (shout out to my two best friends!) 

• Those who just don’t like the taste or feeling associated with drinking alcohol 

• People who are trying to avoid extra calories or sugar 

• Those at a work event, who want to keep it professional (play it safe while chatting with the big boss) 

Why are mocktails so popular? 

You may have heard or even participated in “Dry January” and “Sober October”.  These are months of the year that people take on the challenge of not drinking alcohol or less alcohol.  Surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly) there has been a movement to keep alcohol out of their diet completely after completing one of these months.  Without the alcohol, physical and mental health improve- leaving hangovers, poor sleep, mood and productivity at the wayside.  

Mocktails allows everyone to participate in a celebration or social event without the negatives of alcohol.  You might have noticed “mocktails” now listed on drink menus or non-alcoholic wine or beer being sold.  The popularity continues to rise and we are here for it!  

Are there health benefits to mocktails? 

Yup, there sure are!  First, by removing alcohol from your regular routine, you are putting less stress on your liver, heart and reducing the risk of altering your brain function (stay sharp!) and sleep quality (I prefer those quality zzz’s). Mocktails also give us the opportunity to stay hydrated since many of the bases to mocktails are tea, sparkling water or even coconut water.  Lastly, mocktails tend to lean towards more natural flavors from herbs and fruits that can support our body.  For example citrus supports our immune system and herbs like basil, mint and ginger are anti-inflammatory and support our digestive system.  Overall, good stuff all around!

What are some mocktails I can try? 

Here is a mocktail to try each season!  Feel free to explore these links for even more options to try too. 

Summer: Virgin Mojito (my personal favorite) 

• This is a beautiful, fresh drink.  Combining mint leave (perhaps from your garden?) with lime, sugar, and some seltzer.  Take it up a notch with a non-alcoholic rum if you want the taste without the side effects!

Fall: Caramel Apple Pie Mocktail 

• I love the use of ginger beer in this one!  And rimming a glass in caramel (up the ante a little with some graham cracker crumbs) feels so special.  Try it in a martini glass and you’ll be loving the sweater weather with this classy drink.

Winter: Cinnamon Cranberry Punch 

• Drinks for all with this one!  Punch is great for a party (we made one for Thanksgiving) and this punch allows for everyone to enjoy it and make your house smell like cinnamon in the process- you’ll see.  Then people can add booze if they want.  Perfect for parties with littles!

Spring: Fizzy Fruit Punch 

• While this says “punch” it’s more like a pitcher.  Perfect for a girls night or smaller dinner party (serving 6-8) this reminds me of a sangria type drink with orange slices and cranberries in the pitcher making it as pretty as it is delicious.

So did I convince you to try a mocktail?  Or if you already are drinking mocktails, what is your favorite?  Let us know!  We love to hear from you.  

Cheers!

This blog was written by Amanda J. Stahl, RD, LDN, co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition.  For more blog posts and nutrition information follow @simplestartnutrition on Instagram and Facebook.  Also feel free to contact us, by visiting our website (simplestartnutrition.com) to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition related needs.