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Mix your own mocktails

You don't need alcohol to create a delicious and festive beverage for yourself or party guests. Mocktails are alcohol-free, and they look and taste amazing. They're a great option if you're pregnant or avoiding alcohol for any other reason.

You can learn to make your own mouthwatering mocktails by experimenting with different ingredients. Start with these basic steps:

Pick your base

Your base is your main ingredient. Club soda, sparkling water, tonic water or sugar-free lemonade are a few good, calorie-free options. You could also use green, herbal or flavored teas.

Add fresh fruit

Chop up or puree fruits like melons, strawberries, citrus or tropical fruits and mix them with your base.

Include a splash of juice

Use any flavor you like. Some options that will add great color and flavor to your mocktail are cranberry, pineapple, cherry, mango and orange juices. To help control calories, choose 100% juice with no sugar added, and put in just a splash.

Choose your mixing method

Great ways to mix your mocktail include:

• Classic—in a glass with ice.
• Frozen—blend your base and juice with crushed ice.
• Shaken—use a cocktail shaker and ice to chill the ingredients before straining them into a glass.

Finish with garnish

Hang a lemon, lime, orange or cucumber slice onto the rim of a chilled glass. Or decorate with tropical fruit, berries or melon wedges. Experiment with herbs and spices, like fresh mint or basil leaves and cinnamon sticks.

Two tasty mocktails

Now that you know the basic formula, you are ready to make your own mocktail recipe. Or you can try one of the recipes below.

Fresh fruit sangria: In a pitcher, stir together 100% cranberry juice and apple juice. Add sparkling water. Garnish with raspberries, blueberries and citrus slices.

Minted melon cooler: Combine melon, unsweetened pineapple juice, crushed ice, honey and fresh mint leaves. Blend until smooth.

Good reasons to go alcohol-free

Alcohol can harm your health in a number of ways.

Learn how