Celebrate right up to delivery with these amazing non-alcoholic drink recipes
By Kate Geagan, M.S., R.D. For some, saying bye-bye to booze is a cinch. But the prospect of 40 dry weeks can be puzzling—even for the most devoted mom-to-be. Fortunately, with these alcohol-free recipes, you can keep hosting girls’ night in style. Despite what your friends may say about “the women in France,” alcohol when you’re expecting is definitely a no-no; it can cause a range of serious conditions known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. But you can prevent these birth defects by merely not drinking, so all leading health organizations still recommend women avoid alcohol completely during their pregnancies. Besides lifting the liquor, to be sure you’re treating your body (and baby) right, we’ve packed these beverages with healthy ingredients. Kate Geagan, M.S., R.D., is an award-winning dietician in Park City, UT, and author of Go Green, Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low Carbon Footprint Diet.
“I teach cocktail classes all around the country and the one thing I stress more than anything else is fresh ingredients. Squeezing lemons and limes, muddling fresh fruits and herbs; this makes any drink taste better—and better for you.” —Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, author of Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-To-BeHanukkah Bubbly Bubbala Sparkling concord grape juice ½ oz. lemon juice 1 tsp. granulated sugar 1 lemon wheel Pour sugar and lemon juice into a champagne flute. Fill with sparkling concord grape juice. Garnish with lemon wheel. ©2008, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen. Excerpted from PreggatinisTM: Mixology for the Mom-To-Be. Used with permission. TheLiquidMuse.com
Alyssa Gusenoff, a “mommy mixologist” and author of Margarita Mama: Mocktails for Moms-to-Be, offers this tip for any budding mocktailista: “The key is trial and error with the flavors and ingredients you like best.”Nothing Fits Fizz 8 to 10 mint leaves 4 oz. mango juice 4 oz. club soda 2 lime wedges Muddle mint leaves with mango juice in a tall glass. Add a handful of ice, then club soda. Squeeze one lime wedge into the glass; garnish with the other. Recipe by Alyssa Gusenoff, Margarita Mama: Mocktails for Moms-to-Be (Quirk, 2008) MocktailsForMomsToBe.com
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You’ll be craving chocolate anyway, so why not sip some? The antioxidants in dark cocoa provide added benefit. For a vegan version, omit the skim milk.Chocolate Coconut Kiss ½ cup light coconut milk (for a richer taste, use regular coconut milk) 2 Tbsp. high-quality dark cocoa powder, plus extra for garnish ¼ cup skim milk ¼ tsp. almond extract Coconut ice cream, such as Coconut Bliss (optional) Blend all ingredients with a few handfuls of ice until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour into a martini glass and dust with extra cocoa powder. Add a small scoop of coconut ice cream, if desired.
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Toast your second trimester with this easy bubbly, inspired by the 1930s classic from Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy.Baby Bellini 6 oz. chilled sparkling cider 2 oz. peach nectar Lemon twist Pour cider and nectar into a champagne flute. Add lemon twist and serve.
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This mocktail tastes (almost) like the real thing. If your blood pressure is normal and you crave a little salt around the rim, go for it.Mama’s Margarita Margarita salt (optional) 1½ oz. sweet and sour mix ½ oz. fresh orange juice ½ oz. fresh lime juice Limes Salt the rim of a margarita glass, if desired. Blend mix and both juices with a handful of ice until smooth. Pour into glass. Or, pour mix and both juices into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake vigorously, strain into glass, and add more ice and limes, if desired.
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Add some zing to your spring with this traditional Indian drink. Mangoes are loaded with vitamins A and C and provide 3 grams of fiber, while yogurt packs immune-boosting probiotics.Mango Lassi 1 cup Greek yogurt ½ cup nonfat milk 1 cup chopped mango 2 tsp. sugar Dash of ground cardamom, plus more for garnish Blend ingredients for 1 minute until combined and frothy. Pour into a tall glass and serve. Garnish with ground cardamom, if desired.
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Perfect for when your farmer’s market is bursting with seasonal organic berries, this brew will have everyone clamoring for a sip.Strawberry Mint Mojito 4 organic strawberries 2 lime wedges 6 to 8 mint leaves 2 tsp. raw sugar 1 cup club soda Quarter three of the berries. Squeeze lime into a highball glass. Add the quartered berries, mint, and sugar. Crush mixture with a muddler, then add a handful of ice. Add club soda and stir gently until sugar has dissolved. Garnish with remaining berry.
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Pineapple and orange juices provide vitamin C, but the juice of the pomegranate has one of the highest antioxidant contents, ounce-for-ounce, of any drink. Pomegranate Swizzle2 oz. 100% pomegranate juice 1 oz. pineapple juice 1 oz. fresh orange juice 1 oz. club soda or ginger ale Pineapple or orange slice for garnish Pour the juices into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake vigorously, strain into a chilled highball glass, pour a splash of club soda or ginger ale on top, and garnish and add more ice as desired.
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Ginger helps soothe the stomach and fight nausea. Cranberry juice helps cut your risk of developing UTIs, and concord grape juice adds loads of antioxidants.Ginger Goddess 2 oz. concord grape juice 2 oz. pure cranberry juice (not juice “cocktail) 4 oz. ginger ale Lemon or lime wedge Candied ginger pieces Pour both juices into your favorite glass. Add a handful of ice, then ginger ale. Squeeze in lemon or lime, and garnish with candied ginger.
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You don’t have to miss out on saying ”cheers!” with friends and family while you’re sporting your baby bump. For a downloadable version of these mocktail recipes that will make everyone ask, ”Wait, what are you having?” Just click below! 
