How to Make Fun Non-Alcoholic Drinks (Really!)

We love drinks up in here — wine, cocktails, beer, all of it! But what happens when you don’t drink or are knocked up and need to take nine months off, like me? Does that mean you have to be left out of all the fun? No way! Non-alcoholic drinks can be awesome. You just gotta know how to make ’em and then unleash your creativity!

I’ll be the first to admit that going out isn’t quite as fun as it used to be when I wasn’t in my “delicate condition.” I’ve found a few bars here locally that make a nice mocktail, and I recently had a great mojito here that was refreshing and fun without being a total sugar bomb. But, really, I’ve found that the best and most fun non-alcoholic drinks I’ve had have been at home — and I’m obsessed with making them!
I recently reviewed the book Momosas for Fit Bottomed Mamas, and it taught me a few things about making non-alcoholic drinks — six tips I thought were worth sharing!

• Pair a sweeter fruit juice (like orange juice or apple juice) with a more tart one (like grapefruit juice or fresh lemon or lime juice) for a fuller, complex flavor that is pleasantly sweet without being too sweet.
• Bust out your martini shaker and fun glasses — the more of the experience of a real cocktail, the better.
• Love wine? Consider mixing tea with pomegranate juice and some fresh juice, club soda and fresh cut-up fruit for a non-alcoholic twist on sangria that is pretty darn good and festive.
• Drizzle a little grenadine in your cocktail for a fun sunset effect.
• Even the most basic of drinks — say a bottle of ginger beer or sparkling water — can be “cocktailed up” with a splash of fresh lime juice and a maraschino cherry.
• Don’t stop at just strawberry daquiris and piña coladas for blender drinks. Try mixing frozen berries, mango or pineapple with lemon juice, a little honey, club soda and ice for a delicious icy drink that feels extra beach-y and special.

Check out more of my non-alcoholic drink adventures — AKA “Momosas” — here (plus two recipes!). Then tell me: what’s your favorite non-alcoholic drink? —Jenn