Here are a few hints and below a few recipes for healthy cocktails!

Wine alternative:  If you love to drink wine during a party, but really would rather abstain, try a wine glass full of real 'not from concentrate' grape juice.  I love Knudsen's Concord Grape Juice myself.  It's refreshing, tasty, looks exactly like wine, and just so happens to be so fantastically healthy that you'll drink the whole bottle by yourself without any guilt!

Champagne alternative:  Don't think of the sparking juice you used to have as a kid…because the sparkling beverages out there now are amazing!  Knudsen makes a variety to choose from, and although they are a bit sweet, diluting them slightly with sparkling mineral water fixes that easily.  If you'd like to make sparkling sangria, this works perfectly also as a healthy alternative to the cheap sparkling wine that is sure to bring on that fateful morning after headache.

Punch:  Want to serve a punch that is not only beautiful, but can stave off wrinkles, headaches and free radicals?  This one is antioxidant rich, and you won't even notice the alcohol missing.  This year don't fret about who's having too much punch, have glasses out for everyone, kids included!

Purple Punch

4-6 servings

This is a gorgeous punch that can be enjoyed by all!

• 2 cups of frozen blueberries
• 2 cups of frozen strawberries
• 2 grapefruits
• 2 oranges
• 2 apples (pick a crisp variety like Braeburn)

Section grapefruits and oranges and remove all seeds.  Core apples and wash skin with soap and rinse well.  Make sure to find frozen berries that are unsweetened and ideally organic.

Put oranges and grapefruits in the blender first, blending to a pulpy juice.  Next add the apples and berries.  If your blender or food processor needs more liquid, just add some extra orange juice or water.

Take a portion of the mixture and freeze into any shape you wish.  Keep remaining mixture cool until ready to serve.  Upon serving, pour into serving bowl, add frozen mixture.  If you would like to add a sparkling juice, soda water, or ginger ale to the punch do so just before serving.

Mixed drink fan?  Try this watermelon refresher.  You can actually use whatever fruit you have on hand or is in season.  Remember that frozen fruit is easy, and full of nutrition.  Feel free to also mix up this recipe by adding mint instead of ginger and cucumber instead of watermelon for a hydrating virgin mojito!  The possibilities are endless!

Watermelon Refresher

Serving 2

• 3 cups chopped watermelon
• 1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
• Splash of lime juice
• Splash of soda water or ginger ale 

Peel the watermelon and remove the seeds.  Chop into pieces and put into a blender with ginger.  Pour into glass, add splash of soda or ginger ale and garnish with a watermelon wedge.

Warm it up!  If it's chilly where you are, then this is a sure crowd pleaser.  Nothing says "holidays" for me like hot apple cider. 

Good 'ol Apple Cider

• 1 gallon unfiltered apple juice
• 1 orange
• ~20 cloves
• 5 cinnamon sticks

Pour entire gallon of apple juice into soup pot, wash orange with soap and rinse very well and push cloves into the orange skin. 

Put clove-filled orange into apple juice with the cinnamon sticks.  Heat apple juice on low for an hour prior to guests arriving, this gives the cloves, orange and cinnamon time to marinate into the apple juice, but also your house will smell delicious!

Put mugs and a ladle next to the stove and it will be gone before you know it!

About the Nutritionist

Amyjo Johnson has a Bachelors of Science in Human Nutrition and is currently working on her Certification and Masters in Nutrition through the nationally accredited American Health Science University and the National Institute of Nutrition Education.  For two years, Amyjo has been providing nutrition consulting to the on-site food service team and employees at Google, Inc. She provides information on assuring nutritionally balanced menus, excellent ingredients, and food choice nutritional education for ideal productivity and health. Through her company, Food for Change, Amyjo provides individuals and businesses counseling and consultation on a variety of nutritional situations and needs.  Contact her at:  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it