Sharing drinks with friends is something a lot of people enjoy, but it can be hard to reconcile with a healthy lifestyle.  Alcohol has a lot of calories and not much nutritional value.  Don’t despair though – there are plenty of delicious mocktails you can try instead.  Here are five mocktail recipes you can try next time you are having friends over.

1. Mango Mule

This tasty mocktail from Town & Country magazine is fresh and fruity.  To make it, you will need

•         4-5 slices of cucumber
•         1 oz honey syrup
•         1.5 oz mango puree
•         1.5 oz fresh lime juice
•         1.5 oz ginger beer
•         Ice

First, mix the cucumber and honey syrup in a cocktail shaker.  Then, add the mango and lime and shake with ice.  Strain into a cup, top with ginger beer and stir.

2. Roy Rogers

This is one of the most famous and, some would argue, the best mocktails there is.  This particular recipe from The Spruce Eats calls for

•         ¼ cup of grenadine
•         8 oz cola
•         Garnish: maraschino cherry

Simply pour the grenadine into a cup filled with ice, add the cola, and stir well.  If you want, you can top the mocktail with a maraschino cherry.  While you can make a Roy Rogers with your favorite Cola, opt for a healthier option by using one of our juices, such as the refreshing Enlite-Mint juice! That way, your mocktail stays nutritious and fresh.

3. Philippe Khallins

This delicious mocktail has lots of Thai flavors.  The ingredients you will need are

•         10 ounces coconut mix
•         2 ounces fresh pineapple juice
•         1 ounce fresh lime juice
•         Ice
•         2 kaffir lime leaves
•         a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for garnish

The coconut mix is made with

•         a 13 2/3-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
•         1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
•         1/4 cup minced fresh ginger
•         2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh lemongrass
•         1 1/2 small dried Tianjin (Chinese red) chiles
•         1/4 teaspoon salt
•         1/4 cup kaffir lime leaves

For the full mocktail recipe, visit Food & Wine.

4. Ginger Pear Cider

If you are looking for a hearty, autumn-flavored mocktail, this recipe is for you.  To make ginger pear cider, gather

•         2 ripe pears, cored and chopped
•         1-2 inches fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped
•         1-inch piece of fresh vanilla bean
•         1 ¼ cups of filtered water
•         ½ teaspoon pure maple syrup or to taste
•         1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Simply blend the pears, ginger, vanilla bean, and water together.  Heat the mixture on the stovetop until warm, then stir in the maple syrup and lemon juice.  For this and other mocktail recipes, visit The First Mess.

5. Honey Blackberry Mint Mocktail

This drink is full of fresh summer flavors.  It is also a great healthy alternative to a cocktail, as it contains not only no alcohol but also no added sugar.  Honey and fruit bring sweetness to this mocktail.  Gather the following ingredients to make it:

•         8 fresh blackberries
•         1/4 cup honey
•         a handful of fresh mint leaves
•         juice of 1 lemon
•         1/2 cup water
•         2 cups seltzer

For the full recipe, visit Bowl of Delicious online.

Need more help eating healthy?

Sipping some of the best mocktails is a good place to start, but what about the meals?  Z.E.N. Foods has healthy, delicious meal plans to fit any diet from weight loss to juice cleanse.  Z.E.N. stands for zero effort nutrition, and makes it easier than ever to eat healthily.  Best of all, fresh meals are prepared and delivered right to your door every day.  All you need to do is warm the food up and enjoy it.  Call (310) 205-9368 for more info or to order.