"Mocktails"

While I couldn't stand the thought (much less the smell) of alcohol (particularly wine) in my first trimester, I'm over the aversion now. I don't CRAVE cocktails, but I miss having them...for social reasons, stress reasons, etc. But I'm too much of a rule follower to ignore the advice of the midwives.

So here's the solution...MOCKTAILS...non-alcoholic drinks that make you feel like you're having a cocktail. There are three categories for mocktails:

Taste-Alikes--Drinks that try to be similar to the real thing. My favorite is a substitute for a vodka tonic: Tonic. Sure, it lacks the vodka kick, but add an extra lemon (or lime), and it's almost as refreshing as the real thing.

Look-Alikes--Drinks that are served up in cocktail ware, to make you feel "pinky" fancy when drinking them. My favorite example is the virgin chocolate martini. Dredge the rim of a martini glass with some cocoa and sugar, shake your milk and chocolate with ice in a shaker, and strain into the glass. Yummy!

Totally Unlikes--Unique drinks you've either never had before or rarely have, so that the unusual-ness itself adds to the enjoyment. The best I've had is at a local restaurant called, Alo, which serves Mexican and Peruvian "sips and bites." They have a great cocktail menu, which includes some fun, pregnant-friendly choices, including a fruity, floral soda I'd never find in a grocery store.

So with all the options in these three categories of "mocktails," there are plenty of options to enjoy, as well as make me forget that I'm giving up anything. CHEERS!