7 Ideas To Keep Your Party Drinks Healthy & Exciting

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7 Ideas To Keep Your Party Drinks Healthy & Exciting

The weather is warming up. The days are getting longer. And the gardens are blooming. It’s the perfect season to throw your first garden party of the year!

Whether you are planning a BBQ grill party during the weekend, or a casual early dinner on the patio with friends, the most important thing you need to consider is: Your drinks. Why? Because there is no proper party without a refreshing beverage. 

However, events such as Dry January, have made the American public aware of the dangers of a drinking habit. In other words, if you are going to invite friends over for a meal and a drink, you need to make sure that everybody can get back home safely. This will include some smart decisions, such as:

• Avoiding packs, such as beer, which tend to get consumed far too quickly and easily
• Keeping alcoholic quantities low; focus on taste and quality, instead
• Ensuring there are more solid than liquid components to everybody’s meal
• Placing a water carafe on the table — you don’t want guests to get drunk because they have no other option to quench their thirst

With this in mind, you should also consider ways to make your drinks exciting. Ultimately, when you keep alcohol quantities low, you still need to create a wow effect for your guests. So what is the best kind of wow effect that doesn’t give anybody a hangover the next day? Here are 7 smart ideas to win your guests’ hearts!

#1. Make your own cocktails

Mixing your own cocktails is a delicate but exciting art. Thankfully, you can easily learn the mixology basics to impress your guests with a delicious cocktail. If you wish to keep things more manageable, it’s best to pick a couple of cocktails that will use the same mixer. A mixer is essentially the non-alcoholic part of the cocktail. So, to keep things on the healthy side, it can be a good idea to select organic cocktail mixers that are naturally low in sugar and harmful chemicals. 

#2. Opt for alcohol-free drinks

Contrary to common beliefs, alcohol-free drinks can taste delicious and be just as satisfying as the real thing. If you are planning a homecooked dinner, you can serve alcohol-free wine to accompany the meat or the fish, for example. Alcohol-free wines will serve two essential advantages for your dinner party:

• You don’t have to worry about pouring too much to your guests
• It will still fulfill the same purpose in terms of wine and food pairing

However, do make sure to keep water on the table so your guests can cleanse their palates regularly. 

#3. Consider exciting mocktails

Mocktails are essentially alcohol-free cocktails. But, they don’t have to be dull or boring. On the contrary, you can find delicious mocktails that hit the sweet spot with their delicate mix of flavors. Typically, you will serve mocktails to the designated drivers. Mocktails are best consumed before a meal, accompanied with some simple appetizers such as homemade savory canapes, salted nuts, and olives. 

Take a look at this list of fantastic mocktail recipes, including a sophisticated lemonade iced tea drink, an alcohol-free version of the mojito, and a glorious safe pina colada. Chances are you will find something exciting here too! 

However, as a tip: Mocktails can be high in sugar depending on the recipe, so while they do not contain alcohol, it’s best not to be too indulgent with those! You will need to introduce flavor water, using cucumber or lemon, to help your guests cleanse their mouths and remove the sweet taste before they get to the meal. 

#4. Have a smoothie bar

Smoothies are typically associated with breakfast, but in reality, you can consume them at any time of the day. Smoothies can be high in calories depending on the ingredients you use, so it’s best to be cautious about the size of the glasses and how much your guests will get to drink!

Nevertheless, a smoothie can be a deliciously refreshing and healthy drink, especially if you are planning a healthy meal. The typical smoothie ingredients will include fruits, vegetables, seeds, spices, yogurt, milk or a substitute. So, to keep your smoothie on the light side for both digestive and caloric purposes, you may want to focus on fiber intake while reducing the quantity of nuts and dairy/dairy substitutes, as these are likely to be filling. 

#5. Try international soft drinks

How about surprising your guests with international soft drinks they are less familiar with? Taste is the number one aspect of excitement when it comes to a drink. So, if you want to keep the evening mostly alcohol-free, you can invite your guests to discover soft drinks from a foreign country. 

South Korea, for instance, has got a fantastic selection of carbonated drinks that are fully alcohol-free but packed with flavors, such as: Watermelon soda, peach soda, pear cider (don’t be fooled by the name; it doesn’t contain alcohol), grape juice soda, and even a milky soda. These are delicious, and they tend to be on the low side of sugar and caloric intake, as they are often served in small bottles and cans. You are likely to find them at your local Asian supermarket or even online!

#6. Pretty glasses make everything sweeter

Why drink in a plastic cup when you can find elegant and fun glasses that will elevate your beverages? Did you know that a pretty glass can turn a mocktail into an expensive cocktail in the eyes of the beholder? So it’s a good idea to select some of your cutest and more colorful glasses to dress your drinks!

#7. Keep it fresh

Keeping the drinks at the proper temperature is a no-brainer. Most people drink more than they intend in an effort to keep themselves hydrated and refreshed. So, if you make sure to serve your drinks chilled and with plenty of ice cubes, you can help your guests. 

Are you ready to throw an unforgettable garden party with delicious and healthy drinks? It’s time to get your invitations out and select the best glasses and ingredients!