Raise Your Glass: Here’s to Your Health

Health enthusiasts have told us that sometimes that abstaining from alcohol in a social setting is difficult. Sometimes not drinking seems boring,  they tell us, particularly when entertaining or socializing.

So, we’ve put together a list of suggestions beyond H20.

No doubt, these tips will help ease you into reducing your alcohol intake. Not to mention your caloric intake. We’re sure you’ll find these suitable substitutes pleasing to the palate and soothing on the stomach.

Here are some creative ways to add a little zip to your nonalcoholic beverage.

Next time, instead of your favorite alcoholic drink, try:

• Water (or seltzer water) with a slice of lemon, lime, or orange; even the peel adds nice flavor and color.

• Use the little straw with your drink and/or a straw and umbrella sometimes. This makes drinking it more fun.

• Prepare a Virgin Bloody Mary with tomato juice, lemon or lime peel, dab of hot pepper juice, and pepper. Omit the vodka.

• Use ginger ale or seltzer water in mixed drinks calling for vodka or gin.

• Serve fruit juices over crushed ice and sprinkled with nutmeg or cinnamon.

• Mix lemonade with grape juice.

• Dilute your fruit juices with water to further reduce the intake of calories and sugar.

• Experiment with fruit extracts. Use a few drops in pure or seltzer water.

• Make a homemade wine spritzer with one part wine and two parts club or seltzer water.

• Add a sprig of mint, tea leaf, white baby onion, carrot stick, celery stick, or fruit slice to any nonalcoholic beverage. This will make your drink colorful and a wee bit more enjoyable.

• Drink less of whatever nonalcoholic drink you’ve chosen. Most people tend to drink a lot more in the course of the evening. These soft drinks can contain a great deal of caffeine, sugar, and/or artificial sweeteners. This can increase your total caloric consumption and cause a drastic increase and decrease in blood sugar levels.

• For maximum effectiveness, these beverages should be served chilled and on the rocks.

Now all you need is a little willpower.