Holiday Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can seriously harm an unborn baby. Each year in Canada, it is estimated that nine babies in every 1,000 are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The birth defects and developmental disabilities that result from FASD are preventable by avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. NO amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy. (Health Canada, Minister of Health, 2006)
During the upcoming holidays consider serving or consuming these non alcoholic alternatives if you are or know someone who is pregnant.
The Meg Ryan: A Bright & Bubbly Blended Berry Drink
Yields: 1 drink
- 1 cup berries (whatever is in season)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 cup soda water
Add berries, lemon juice and honey to a blender and combine until smooth. Add soda water and pulse until combined. If using frozen berries, you may add ingredients all at once, but you might need to add a dash of soda water at the end to bubble things back up to our tongue tingling standards.
Non-Alcoholic Sangria
Serves 8
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 black tea bags (or 2 teaspoons loose-leaf tea in an infuser)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 cups pomegranate juice
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 orange, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 lemon, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 lime, sliced into thin rounds
- 1 apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
- 3 cups carbonated water
Pour boiling water over tea bags and cinnamon sticks and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags and stir in sugar to dissolve. In a large jar or pitcher, combine tea, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate juice, orange juice, orange, lemon, lime, and apple. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and preferably overnight. Just before serving, stir in carbonated water. Serve in glasses over ice.
Watermelon Strawberry Cooler
makes 2 approximately 8-ounce drinks
- 4 cups cubed watermelon
- 1 cup hulled strawberries
- 1/2 peeled lime (or juice from 1/2 lime)
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 6 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
- Ice (optional)
If using blender or food processor: Blend the watermelon, strawberries, and lime until smooth. Strain through a sieve, pushing the juice through with a spatula. Discard the solids.
Mix the chia seeds into the juice and refrigerate for about 15 minutes to let the chia seeds swell.
Muddle 3 mint leaves in the bottom of each glass. Fill glasses with ice (optional). Stir the juice to break up the chia seeds, pour into glasses, and serve.
Posted by Jen DiPaolo on behalf of Carizon Family and Community Services’ FASD Community of Practice.
