Holiday Mocktails

A few of our non-alcoholic favorites!

We’ve all heard of “Dry January” and “Sober October,” but there is also a new movement that is gaining traction – “Sober Curious.”

Sober curious means that you've chosen to avoid alcohol for personal or wellness reasons. It involves curiosity about the reasons fueling your desire to drink and the way alcohol affects your life.

With the holidays upon us and drinks around every corner, it's helpful to take a step back and think about why you’re drinking and how it makes you feel.

For me personally, I decide to drink based on how I want to feel the next day. Long gone are the nights with several drinks. I’m turning 40 next year (shout out to 1984!), and two drinks is my max, or I don’t feel my best the next day ( and if I’m honest, one drink is preferable).

Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy a good glass of red wine, but I don’t drink just for the sake of drinking or because everyone else is doing it.

I thought it would be helpful to round up a few of our favorite mocktails if you want to cut back on the alcohol yourself in the next few weeks. I promise you won’t even miss it! Plus, I’ve added our famous healthy hot cocoa recipe because who doesn’t love a good mug of hot cocoa on a cold Winter day? (My kids beg me for it daily in the Winter months, and this recipe allows me to say yes more often!)

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Sparkling Pomegranate Kombucha Mocktail

Serves 4

Ingredients

1-inch thin slice of fresh ginger, plus more for garnish

1 large sprig of rosemary, plus more for garnish

½ cup pomegranate juice

2 (12-ounce) bottles of ginger kombucha

Fresh pomegranate arils for garnish

Directions

Fill four double old-fashioned glasses with ice and set aside.

In a pitcher or quart-sized mason jar, muddle sliced ginger and rosemary together using a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon.

Add pomegranate juice and kombucha, and stir gently to combine.

Pour into ice-filled glasses (using a strainer, if necessary) and garnish with rosemary sprigs, a slice of fresh ginger, and a few pomegranate arils before serving.

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Cranberry Lime Moscow Mule

Serves 1

Fill a copper mug with ice and pour in:

1 ounce cranberry juice

Top off with ginger beer (non-alcoholic)

Squeeze in 1 lime wedge & stir

Add one slice of lime, one sprig of rosemary, & fresh cranberries for optional garnish

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Healthy Hot Cocoa

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 cups milk (unsweetened nut, coconut, or dairy)

4 Tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder

2-3 Tablespoons raw honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

Dash cinnamon (optional)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and warm over medium heat. Stir constantly with a whisk. Pour into cups and serve.

Tip: To make this a peppermint hot cocoa, add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract!