Image created using Imagine AI

Note: In honor of “Dry January,” I thought I’d rerun the recipe for my favorite mocktail. It’s so delightful, I promise you won’t even miss the alcohol.

A growing trend, “Dry January” offers a chance to skip the alcohol and try something different for a change.

Dry January challenges people to abstain from alcohol for the entire month. The new custom has gained popularity in recent years as a response to the excesses of the holiday season, and many are using the occasion as an opportunity to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, modify habits, or experience the physical and mental health benefits of sobriety.

The good news: People who want or need to avoid alcohol – whatever the reason or season – have an increasing number of fun options besides the usual diet cola or club soda. One can try a Mockmopolitan, Virgin Mojito, Cucumber Cooler, Mango Tango, Citrus Sparkler or a few dozen other enticing offerings.

One of my favorite drinks in this category is a Baptist Sangria – so named because it is, you guessed it, nonalcoholic. The colorful mocktail offers a delicious alternative to the traditional sangria, perfect for people who choose not to drink alcohol, even beyond January.

More good news: This delightful drink actually has nutritional value – lots of Vitamin C and at least one fruit serving to help meet our daily quota of fruits and veggies – not to mention a large glass of something liquid to aid hydration.

To make the drink, I fill a large glass with equal parts cranberry or pomegranate juice, sparkling water and fresh fruit. If I really want to get fancy, I can add a sprig of mint.

I make sure the fruit juice is actually 100 percent juice, not “juice drink,” which has far too much added sugar.

For the sparkling water, I use Sodastream – a wonderful contraption that turns plain old tap water into sparkling water with none of the sodium often found in the commercial variety.

I then add fresh fruit such as citrus slices or wedges, fruit chunks or berries. The possibilities here are endless. Oranges, lemons, limes, strawberries, cherries, grapes, kiwis, peaches, apples, pineapples and melons all work well.

Ingredients

• Cranberry or pomegranate juice
• Sparkling water or club soda
• Sliced fresh fruit, fresh fruit chunks or whole berries
• Sprig of mint (optional)

Directions

Fill your glass about a third full of chilled juice.

Add an equal amount of chilled sparkling water and stir.

Fill the remainder of the glass with any combination of sliced fruit, fruit chunks, fruit wedges or berries.

Garnish with a fruit slice and/or a sprig of mint.

That’s it. Easy-peasy. Enjoy!

Nutrition information*

For a drink made from 4 ounces of cranberry juice, 4 ounces of sparkling water and a half cup of lemon, lime and orange chunks:

Calories: 95 | Carbohydrates: 25 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 0 g | Saturated Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 0 mg | Sodium: 12 mg | Potassium: 290 mg | Fiber: 2.5 g | Sugar: 21 g | Vitamin A: 0% | Vitamin C: 130% | Calcium: 3% | Iron: 0%

* Nutritional values are approximate, and may depend on brands used and other variables.