Pregnancy sucks in the beginning. There I said it. I realize it could always be worse. I used to think, “Oh boohoo Kate Middleton” with her slew of servants until I learned HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) is basically throwing up 50 times a day.
Touché, duchess.
Now, I love me a good mocktail recipe. However, when you’re in the grips of 24-7 gut rot, a girl ain’t got time to whip up some simple syrup with muddled mint strained through cheesecloth into a martini glass. I literally just summoned the strength of 5,000 horse drawn carriages to extricate myself from the fetal position.
We need simple, and we need sugar. FAST. Without further ado, here are 8 mocktail recipes guaranteed to get you through the day.
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1. The Virgin Screwdriver
A nod to how we got ourselves in this predicament. OJ is loaded with essential vitamins, potassium, and fiber. Don’t even think about Googling “how many calories are in one glass of orange juice?” Just drink the juice. You’ll feel better… for at least the next five minutes.
Nurse tip: If you’re low on iron, drink this with your prenatal pills for better absorption.
2. The Virgin Cranberry Vodka
Are you seeing a pattern here? Cranberry juice is great for flushing out your urinary tract. Drink up, since pregnant ladies are prone to UTI’s. I tend to prefer cran-apple over plain cranberry juice since it’s less tart. Bonus points for drinking it out of a kid’s plastic cup. Crush it!
3. A Virgin Bloody Mary with a Tums Chaser
If you can stomach the spice it’s worth it. I couldn't stomach raw vegetables when I was preggo to save my life, but I could manage a few sips of V8. For a more complete virgin recipe, see my Sunday Bloody Mary Recipe and skip the vodka.
4. Virgin Margarita
Mmm, salty lime juice. There's no better way to keep your blood pressure from tanking the next time you get up off the couch. Mix frozen lime concentrate with ice in a blender and add club soda for a bubbly finish.
A little muddled mint would work well in this scenario but don’t stress if you don’t have fresh mint lying around. Passion fruit juice also pairs well with lime concentrate.
For the real thing, check out My Foolproof Margarita Recipe.
5. Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri
Basically blended frozen strawberries with a little bit of lime juice and lemonade. If you don't like lemonade, use one cup of orange juice instead. If you’re into smoothies like me, check the freezer section of your grocery store for pre-mixed Jamba Juice smoothie kits. They're amazeballs and healthier than gas station slushies.
Though I never said I was opposed to slushies…
6. Ginger Spritzer or Ginger Tea
Start by making a basic ginger infusion. You'll need the following:
- 2 cups of water
- 2 cups of grated ginger root (available at most grocery stores)
Grate 2 inches of ginger into a steeping pot or kettle filled with very hot water. Bring to a boil. Steep ginger for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Strain through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer, pressing the ginger down to extract all the juice. Use the juice on its own as a healthier ginger ale substitute simply by adding a splash of club soda.
Option #1: add 1-2 tbsp of ginger infusion to hot tea, lemon, and honey for a soothing bedtime nightcap.
Option #2: add 1-2 tbsp of infusion to frozen lemon juice cubes and club soda for a wonderful summertime tonic!
7. Christmas Morning Punch
Recipe courtesy of Jen's Favorite Cookies
Something like this was given to me in the hospital delivery room after two hours of pushing out an 8-pound baby via vacuum assist. Let me tell you, putting this fruity blend to my lips was pure nirvana.
To make, simply combine the following ingredients in a pitcher:
- 2 cups orange juice
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup pineapple
- 1 cup ginger ale
8. Virgin Blood Orange Sangria
I've recently started coming up with mocktails to accompany every regular cocktail recipe that I create. They're great for baby showers, brunches, and of course any occasion where you still want a pretty drink minus the booze.
To make a blood orange virgin sangria, simply pour a 1/2 oz of blood orange puree into a shaker filled with ice. Add the juice of one squeezed lemon. Then add 4 ounces of ginger ale. Shake and strain into two cocktail glasses.
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In pregnancy land, less is more. Keep your recipes basic and stick to the foods that make you feel better.
Shaken, stirred – who cares? This is survival mode, and James Bond ain’t got a clue what it’s like to be preggo in today's world.
Hang in there and give yourself a hug for being an awesome mom.
Cheers,
Erin
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