Whether you're looking to have a nice, quiet night in or simply want to avoid the crowds but still entertain a few friends, everyone needs to know how to throw together some healthy mixed drinks.
So, if you're looking for some inspiration along with guidelines on the ingredients you'll need, keep reading to learn how to put together a great healthy at-home happy hour!
If you’re looking to make some healthy mixed drinks for your very own at-home happy hour, there are a few items you’ll need.
In order to make healthy mixed drinks, you’ll need to stock up on the following items.
Besides functioning as a beautiful garnish, sliced fresh fruit can add a little subtly sweet flavor to your healthy mixed drinks.
Consider stocking up on fruits such as berries and citrus such as orange, lemon, and lime. Depending in the season, you could also include pineapple, watermelon, cranberries, peaches, mangoes, grapefruit, and more.
The major benefit? Many of these fruits are rich in antioxidants and health-promoting vitamins and minerals, so you can indulge without any guilt! [1]
If you like the bubbles that come with a soda-based cocktail, you can make plenty of health mixed drinks you’ll love by using sparkling water instead.
It’s important to note that sparkling water just provides the fizz while club soda contains other ingredients than just carbonation, such as sodium and potassium.
Another great staple to have on hand for healthy mixed drinks is a variety of organic, sugar-free drinks.
Using these juices can be a great way to create healthy mixed drinks in comparison to using sugar-added beverages, which are high in fructose.
In fact, a 2017 study revealed that consuming a diet high in fructose is linked to an increased risk of abdominal obesity as well as increased body weight, live fat content, and postprandial triglyceride levels. [2]
Some great juice options include lemon juice, lime juice, cranberry juice, grape juice, orange juice, and more. You can also opt for fresh-squeezed juice, if you prefer.
Other great must-haves for healthy mixed drinks are a variety of fresh herbs. Everything from mint to rosemary to basil to thyme can offer extra flavor to your happy hour drinks.
Plus, they offer some incredible benefits. For example, did you know that thyme not only contains anti-microbial properties and even fights inflammation?
According to a 2012 study, thyme is highly effective against more than 120 strains of bacteria, including drug-resistant strains of bacteria such as Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Pseudomonas genus. [3]
Meanwhile, a 2012 study revealed that thyme significantly reduced the production and expression of several inflammatory mediators and also increased the parameters on the anti-inflammatory cytokine inerleukin-10! [4]
Finally, while they don’t offer the health benefits of many of the other must-have ingredients, you can’t have healthy mixed drinks, or any mixed drinks, without spirits.
Obviously, the spirits you choose are dependent upon your taste as well as the drinks you prefer to make (but here’s one of my favorites: my Spicy Pineapple Margarita). Just remember to drink in moderation and if you need some mocktail inspirations, check out my Blueberry Shrub Mocktail.
