Nine New Years Drinks for Better Health

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

Here are a selection of non-alcoholic drinks suitable for New Years celebrations. The focus is on healthy ingredients using in-season produce (such as cranberries, apples, and citrus) that avoid the use of refined sugars with limited dairy or eggs. Many drinks use winter holiday inspired flavors such as gingerbread, peppermint, or eggnog with the beverages either being meant to be served hot or include spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and turmeric known for their warming properties.
 
These drinks are smooth bodied and thus should be suitable for those with chewing or swallowing difficulties, but recipes can be further blended or strained with thickeners applied for those with more severe dysphagia.

Healing Hot Toddy

• This variation of the Hot Toddy (also known as a Hot Whiskey) is completely alcohol free and includes ingredients such as fresh ginger, honey, and lemon that are particularly beneficial during the flu, cold, and sore throat season that is in full swing during the beginning of the year. The addition of chili flakes and the drink being made to be served hot makes it a good choice for those waiting for the New Year while at an outdoors celebration. Please note that Juniper Berries should be left out of the recipe for those pregnant or with liver/kidney problems.
• Nosh on It

Cranberry Wassail

• The version of the holiday wassail is another good choice for those who will be braving the wintry chill during New Years. This is a heated version of wassail made from various healthy in-season ingredients such as cranberries (frozen can be substituted in if fresh is unavailable) as well as a variety of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Freshly squeezed orange juice can be used instead of orange extract as well as substituting another natural source of sweetness such as honey or maple syrup for the pure stevia. Cheesecloth or another type of suitable filter will e required for the making of this drink.
• Trim Healthy Mama

Mulled Wine Virgin Mocktail

• This is a non-alcoholic version of "mulled" wine that uses red grape juice as its base with all natural & fresh ingredients such as orange (both flesh & rind), honey, and a variety of herbs and spices such as cinnamon, gloves, bay, and thyme. While red grape juice can easily be bought pre-made (organic varieties with no added sugars are recommended), the juice can also be home made using a blender as shown in a recipe here. While this variation is made to be served chilled, it can easily be converted to a hot drink (which is the normal way to serve mulled wine as it better releases the scent of the spices) by serving it immediately instead of leaving it in the fridge to cool.
• Not Enough Cinnamon

Hot Mulled Apple Cider

• Another heated drink that uses fresh in-season ingredients is hot mulled apple cider which includes fresh cider, oranges, ginger, and a variety of spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and anise as its base. While fresh apple cider is in plentiful supply during this time of year, home made cider can also be made using a variety of simple recipes such as found here [1, 2, 3]. Both the normal apple cider and mulled varieties use the same basic supplies such a deep pot (if a slow cooker is unavailable) and a strainer, cheesecloth, or other type of filter.
• Mermaids & Mojitos

Coquito Smoothie

• A Coquito (translated as "Little Coconut) is basically the Mexican version of holiday eggnog using rum, coconut & dairy milk, as well as eggs as its base. This non-alcoholic smoothie variety replicates the body & taste of the original punch while remaining dairy & egg free. The recipe requires the use of a blender for the smoothie as well as fresh ingredients such as banana (frozen for their texture), maple syrup, nutmeg, and coconut milk (preferably from a carton due its thicker body and less chance of separating as compared to the canned variety). Unlike the other drinks mentioned in this post, the Coquito Smoothie can also serve as a snack, dessert, or meal replacement/supplement.
• Serious Eats

Vegan Turmeric Eggnog

• Eggnog is a winter holiday classic and this version is dairy, egg, and alcohol free while including healthier ingredients which includes light coconut milk, pitted dates, coconut oil (go with extra virgin for the added circulatory & heart health benefits), as well as a variety of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, and turmeric. In particular cinnamon, nutmeg, and turmeric have a warming property that would be particularly beneficial to those celebrating New Years outside and turmeric has additional anti-inflammatory properties that are especially useful for seniors and people with arthritis.
• Abra's Kitchen

Dairy-Free Gingerbread Martini

• Gingerbread is another flavor that is a winter holiday staple and this recipe uses more healthy, all natural ingredients including unsweetened almond milk, ground ginger, natural sweeteners such as vanilla and maple syrup, and spices such as cinnamon. While this particular drink is meant to be served cold, the presence of ginger and cinnamon provides a slightly warming property due to its spiciness. For a virgin alcohol free rendition, just leave out the rum to create a mocktail instead. For those who would prefer a heated drink, this recipe can be added to coffee to create a gingerbread latte instead.
• Kara Stout

Fresh Mint Grasshopper Mocktail

• Mint is both a summer & winter holiday staple and while it can be found easier as fresh leaves in the summer, peppermint oil can be subbed in when fresh varieties are unavailable. Otherwise, this alcohol free mocktail can pull double duty as a refined sugar-free dessert. The ingredients include unsweetened almond milk, dried dates, mint leaves or peppermint extract, vanilla & chocolate extract, and non-fat plain style skyr Icelandic-style yogurt. If the more exotic skyr is unavailable, non-fat Greek yogurt can be subbed in instead. (Or you can try to make your own homemade skyr)
• Jackie Newgent

Pumpkin Apple Mocktail

• Pumpkin and apples are both flavors often associated with the end of the year holidays and this particular recipe calls for the use of both as fresh ingredients in making this mocktail. Canned or frozen pumpkin puree can also substituted for those unable or unwilling to deal with cooking fresh pumpkins. Other ingredients include apples, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. While cinnamon does have a warming property due to its spiciness, this drink is meant to be served chilled and thus is more suitable for indoor instead of outdoor New Years celebrations.
• Pure Natural Health