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For many people, self-improvement in the new year involves stepping away from drinking during January. Dry January, a public health challenge that calls for abstaining from alcohol throughout the month, gives us a chance to reset after the holiday season and reflect on the role alcohol plays in our lives.
But avoiding alcohol doesn’t mean missing out on delicious beverages altogether. Here are five non-alcoholic drink recipes to get you through Dry January and beyond.
1. Pineapple ginger punch
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ½ tsp fresh ginger, finely chopped
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- 1½ oz pineapple juice
- 2½ oz ginger beer
Instructions:
- Muddle the mint leaves, ginger and lime juice in a cocktail shaker.
- Add the simple syrup and pineapple juice and shake with ice for about 30 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into an ice-filled glass, top the drink with ginger beer and stir to combine.
2. Zero-proof margarita
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ice
- ½ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 tbsp agave nectar
- Kosher salt
- Lime wedges
Instructions:
- Combine ice, orange juice, lime juice and agave nectar in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve in a salt-rimmed glass, garnish with lime and enjoy.
3. Rosemary-berry smash
Ingredients:
- 8 blueberries
- 1 sprig of rosemary, stripped
- 1 oz honey
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 4 oz sparkling water
Instructions:
- Muddle the blueberries, rosemary and honey in a cocktail shaker.
- Add the lemon juice and shake with ice for about 10 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into an ice-filled glass, top with sparkling water and garnish with extra blueberries and rosemary.
4. Mock mojito
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 cup club soda
Instructions:
- In a highball glass, muddle the mint leaves and sugar until the mint is fragrant.
- Fill the rest of the glass with ice and add the lime juice and club soda.
- Stir to combine the ingredients and enjoy.
5. Fruit sangria (serves 4)
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups orange juice
- 1 cup coconut water
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup chopped pineapple
- 3 kiwis, peeled and chopped
- 6 strawberries, hulled and chopped
- 1½ cups club soda
Instructions:
- Combine orange juice, coconut water and lemon juice in a pitcher.
- Add the chopped pineapple, kiwis and strawberries to the pitcher.
- Pour one cup of club soda over the mixture and refrigerate for two hours.
- When ready to serve, add ½ cup club soda to the sangria and pour into glasses over ice.
Abstaining from alcoholic beverages, both temporarily and long-term, can have lasting benefits for your health. In addition to helping you sleep better and have more energy, giving up alcohol can help lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk for heart disease and help you lose weight.
Inspira’s Nutrition Counseling services provide individualized support to help you achieve optimal health and well-being. Schedule an appointment with a member of our nutrition counseling team today.
Inspira Health is a high reliability organization (HRO), which means safety is the top priority for patients and staff. To make an appointment, call 1-800-INSPIRA.
