It’s that time of the year again when families get together and celebrate Thanksgiving over food, drinks, and chitchat. There is a common misconception that no celebration is complete without alcohol. Still, there are plenty of non-alcoholic options that are equally delectable. The entire family can enjoy these without worrying about getting a hangover or a beer belly and added calories. Think fruit punches, sparkling juices, and wines. Not only do they add a splash of color to the spread, but they are also nutritious and can be dessert substitutes at your buffet table.
FRUIT PUNCHES
The most popular among kids, fruit punches can easily be prepared at home. While a jug of orange juice with a bit of ginger ale thrown in has been a tried and tested staple at Thanksgiving dinners, you can go creative and come up with new combinations this time. How about a salted caramel apple punch? All you need to do is add orange juice and apple cider to salted caramel syrup, and there, you get a tangy drink with just the right amount of sweet. Add apple slices and ice cubes before serving.
Since it’s the season of Thanksgiving, why not put something together with pumpkin? Instead of throwing away the leftover pumpkin puree, turn it into a smoothie and blend it with banana and Greek yogurt for a creamy drink.
SPARKLING JUICES
Sparkling juices come in different flavors and combinations and are lightly carbonated. The most popular are grape, peach, strawberry, lychee, pomegranate, and mango. Since there is no added sugar in these drinks, guests, including the elderly and the calorie-conscious can indulge in them as much as they want without having to worry about side effects. Regular consumption of grapes in any form has been proven to reduce the risk of blood clots and lower bad cholesterol while boosting heart health.
SPARKLING WINES
There’s nothing like a fine wine if your Thanksgiving party has more adults than children. Making wine at home requires some level of expertise and a lot of patience, as you need to wait until the wine ferments to the exact proportions. But then, you get non-alcohol and halal wine of excellent quality in stores, and those would be the best option for someone short of time. A bottle of good wine has always been the perfect traditional gift for Thanksgiving or any other occasion. Why not go for sparkling wine this season for that fizzy edge? Sparkling wines are made by adding a mixture of yeast and sugar to still wine, which produces carbon dioxide. The wine thus goes through a second fermentation and can bubble when popped, making them the ideal drink for a celebration or toast. Non-alcoholic sparkling wines are dealcoholized and can be used amidst any crowd on thanksgiving day.
Apart from all these, you can think outside the box and go for something completely different, like a wine or champagne mocktail.
