Raise a Glass to Mocktails

RAISE YOUR GLASSES RAISE YOUR GLASSES

To Mocktails this Spring

By Celeste Turner

Ringing in the new year with an alcoholfree resolution doesn’t mean you’re stuck drinking plain club soda, thanks to the innovative non-alcoholic drinks available. Any other time your body needs a break from booze, these healthy “mocktails” are diverse and delicious.

“Most people realize that they need an annual reset button after drinking over the holidays,” Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, a local registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and Founder of Ochsner Eat Fit, said. “In New Orleans, it is such a part of our culture. It is helpful to have other options with zero sugar and without alcohol.”

Since 2016, Kimball and her Eat Fit team of dieticians have encouraged participants to give up alcohol for the duration of Lent in the “Alcohol Free For 40” challenge. In this 40-day self-experiment, participants begin their detox with lab work and monitor their body’s responses during the challenge. Anyone interested in the “Alcohol Free for 40” challenge can sign up online and obtain their Eat Fit “Zero Proof Cocktail” recipes, a list of participating restaurants, and events offered in six regions of the state: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Northshore, Acadiana, Shreveport, and Monroe.

“We have seen tremendous growth in our light-hearted challenge ‘Alcohol Free for 40,’” Kimball said. “As one of our community initiatives, it starts on Ash Wednesday when their labs are drawn and then, six weeks later, these measurements are taken again. We encourage participants to challenge themselves to be alcohol free and see how this affects their bodies.”

According to Kimball, “Alcohol Free for 40” has opened up the mocktail possibilities and their health benefits. Based on the data collected from the lab work included in the annual challenge,

HIBISCUS MIMOSA (Citronola)

Ingredients

4 oz Citronola cinnamon and anise tea 1 oz Citronola hibiscus and clove tea Sparkling water Candied orange slice for garnish

Preparation

Mix Citronola teas into a glass over fresh ice. Add a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with candied orange slice.

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Kimball reported that participants who maintained a sober lifestyle did see an improvement in their complexion, sleep patterns, and weight loss.

Providing healthy alcohol-free options has been the mission of Claudia Benevento, owner of Citronola, a catering beverage company in the New Orleans and surrounding areas.

“Back in 2017, I was one month into my sober curious life when I realized that there aren’t many healthy alcohol-free options at parties or restaurants,” Benevento said. “There was soda with lime or unsweetened ice tea. There were other options, but many were very high in sugar. Citronola was born to fill this need.”

Originally from Guatemala, Benevento

offers a variety of teas that are Ochsner Eat Fit approved. “I wanted to bring the flavors of hibiscus flower and citrus from Guatemala to New Orleans,” Beveneto said. She indicated that Citronola tea drinks are unsweetened, with 100% natural ingredients, and caffeine free.

Citronola has supplied these natural and healthy refreshments with the participants of “Alcohol Free for 40” for the past four years. Benevento added, “The teas are particularly good for people with diabetes, people looking to limit calories, or those who want to follow a low sugar diet such as keto, paleo, and AIP (Auto-Immune Protocol) diet.”

The actual term, mock cocktails, surfaced in the early 1900s and was looked upon as festive, non-alcoholic party drinks. Today, the emerging trend of “mocktails” trades your typical alcoholic beverage for one without alcohol.

“We use mixers like hibiscus tea, kombucha, simple syrups, and coconut milk for creamy cocktails,” Kimball said, referencing the flavorful alcohol-free recipes in her upcoming book, entitled Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails. “Our recipes for zero proof spirits rework the alcoholic drink with zero sugar and no alcohol.”

Kimball suggested alcohol-free alternatives made with Seedlip, Ritual Zero Proof, or Lyre’s can replace spirits like vodka, whiskey, or gin. “You can use herbal teas, sparkling water, and even bitters to up your game for an alcohol-free drink,” Kimball said.

Call me old fashioned, but you may only think that mocktails appeal primarily to people who need to avoid alcohol like diabetics or pregnant women. However, there is a growing awareness in the

general public of the potential health issues associated with excessive drinking. Research has shown that excessive alcohol consumption can cause intestinal inflammation and possibly lead to organ damage.

“I think the pandemic has helped people focus on their health and habits,” Benevento, a mother of three daughters and a triathlete, said. “I can talk from my experience. I decided to remove sugar from my diet, and that means alcohol. Being sober gave me more energy for exercise. I could see the difference in my running.” Benevento also found support and camaraderie in the global networking of Facebook and other social media.

“There is a big community of sober curious on Instagram sharing their stories and mocktails,” Benevento said. “It is fun to connect and share recipes.” So let’s drink about it and try out a few of these tasty mocktail recipes for a healthier version of you, no matter what month it is.

FRENCH 75 (Eat Fit Zero Proof Cocktail)

The French 75 was named after the French 75-millimeter field gun celebrated for its rapid-fire power. The original, made with cognac—and even its lighter gin-based sister—is a wickedly powerful concoction. This zero-proof version maintains the respect of the original’s potency without knocking you out.

Ingredients

Makes 1 serving 1 oz. zero proof gin 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon simple syrup (Eat Fit Simple Syrup works well) 4 oz. zero proof sparkling wine

Lemon swath, expressed, for garnish

Preparation

Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a small shaker tin filled with ice. Shake and double strain into a tall champagne flute. Top with zero proof sparkling wine and garnish with expressed lemon swath.

Pro Tip: The lemon juice really fizzes up the sparkling wine. Tilt the champagne flute as you pour the sparkling wine to keep it from overflowing.