“Vodka soda with lime—but hold the vodka. Oh, and does happy hour apply to food?”
If I had a dollar for every sympathetic stare the waitress or my gal pal flashed me when I ordered a virgin cocktail during my pregnancies, I wouldn’t be stressing over the high cost of childcare. On those days when you just need a drink, nothing bums out an expecting or breastfeeding mommy more than ordering a bubbly beverage—sans alcohol.
Chalk it up to another one of the many sacrifices you’ll make over your child’s lifetime. And while you may miss that occasional cocktail, bailing on the booze has more positive effects than you may realize, particularly when it comes to your oral health. Alcohol dries out the mouth, slowing saliva production. Without saliva flow, food particles can’t be washed away, hindering a healthy acidity level in your mouth. Wines and mixed drinks can also wear away enamel and discolor teeth.
If you’re still jonesing, try this mocktail to spice up your sipping strife. It doesn’t have alcohol, but if you close your eyes and sip slowly, you’ll never know the difference.
Low-Sugar Raspberry Mint Mojito
Ingredients
- 6 mint leaves
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon of your preferred sweetener
- 4 oz. raspberry puree
- 2 oz. sparkling water
Steps
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with a pinch of salt.
- Fill the cocktail shaker a third of the way with ice.
- Add the sweetener and raspberry juice. Shake.
- Pour into a glass and top with sparkling water
- Enjoy with a straw to protect teeth.
Sound off, expecting and breastfeeding moms: What’s your favorite alcohol-free drink?
