Take an “alcoholiday”
Hmmmm, December, it can go in one of either two directions. Things winding down workwise (hopefully) and things winding up play-wise (hopefully ;)).
The clock is ticking for the party season and it’s time to think about what festive activities are coming up for you.
During the holiday period, there seems to be a lot more opportunities for a cheeky drink. December end of year drinks, Xmas parties, Xmas Eve, Xmas Day, Boxing Day, the break between Xmas and New Year, and, my favourite, countless catchups with family and friends. New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Day. And we’re only at the 1st of January 2021.
Need I say more?
I guess what I am trying to say is that there are lots of fun and good times to look forward to in the coming months, and it couldn’t come soon enough, after what has been a tumultuous year for so many people.
There’s no time like the present to let your hair down and de-stress, and the good news is, enjoyment doesn’t have to be all or nothing. When it comes to food and drink, there are many different ways to enjoy yourself.
Because we’re not party-poopers over here at Supercharged Food we encourage a mindful and balanced approach to the holiday season.
“I don’t mind if I don’t”
Now while it’s still early on in the season, if you’re looking for a little balance when it comes to alcohol consumption, can I suggest you take a mini break, an alcoholiday on some of the festive days coming up?
Yes, yes, “it’s the time of the year!!!” but you have plenty of time, places and events to get your drink on.
So now is as good a time as any to try something new and switch it up with some alcohol-free versions of your favourite drinks when you don’t feel like drinking.
Switch over to delicious non-alcohol versions of your favourite beer, wine or spirits.
A great way to avoid the dreaded hangover and make the most of your Christmas break is to give yourself a break from too much booze. Your wallet can also benefit from a bit of closure ‘round about now, yes?!? Think of what’ll save on drinks, Uber, yeeros! Paracetamol…
Plus think of all that social currency of being the designated driver (and chronicler of all the shenanigans of others). This basically means you go from zero to hero in a heartbeat!
How long can you go?
If you’re looking for a few alcoholidays this festive season, the best way to go about it is to set yourself a reasonable but stretchy goal. Can you go a day or two without? A four-day weekend? The work week? For some people, even just every second or third day is a result!
Why not try and do a couple of alcoholidays over the period? Short ones, long ones. Just try to do more than ones.
How to go without alcohol?
It’s actually easier than you think. Really it is. Think glass half-full. Deciding to swap the gin and tonic for a tonic water can get eyebrows raising, but these days it’s getting a lot more popular to go sans alcohol.
One way to start, is by choosing some healthy carbonated soft drinks. The fizz makes you feel all-adulty and celebratory. Plus, added bonus, the bubbles help fill you up.
That means less trips to the kitchen at the party. Having said that you’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties (80’s much!).
I was hanging out with my good friend Irene Falcone from Nourished Life fame the other day, we were filming our new collagen product called Super Nourished Hair Skin and Nails and she was mentioning how she’s so passionate about alcohol-free drinks.
She had started getting interested in them when she cut down on alcohol this time last year, as we were whipping up my spicy Golden Egg Nog in her kitchen. By the way, it's so much better than the gloopy stuff from the carton you must try the recipe!
Anyway, she was explaining to me how she had started her new website called Sans Drinks as the demand for non-alcoholic drinks was really growing and she wanted to help people find healthy choices.
Irene is such a pocket rocket, so she put on her thinking cap and zig-zagged across the country, doing all the hard work(?) of trying and finding the best quality non-alcoholic beers, wines and cocktails on offer (it’s alright for some :)).
On her website you’ll find delicious drinks!
Sometimes non-alcohol beverages can get a bad rap, but after testing her varieties, Irene swears you can’t tell the difference and has curated a world-class collection of alcohol-free beers, wines and spirits for you to try.
Sans Drinks is the kind of online bottle shop, where ALL of the drinks (beer, wine, spirits, mocktails and mixers are completely alcohol-free.
Drinking alcohol-free has its advantages too, as it’s better on the waistline with less calories, less uncomfortable bloating, less saying really stupid things, and less grumpiness in the mornings.
One of my favourite alternatives on the Sans Drinks website is a drink called Seedlip, a distilled non-alcoholic gin that’s sugar-free, sweetener-free and contains zero nasty additives. I rolled up to a friend’s place for lunch the other day and we all found it so refreshing and tasty. The flavour is punchy with bursts of citrus, ginger and lemongrass.
Did you know that Heineken has also developed an alcohol-free malt beverage called Heineken 0.0 Non Alcoholic Lager? If you want to crack open a booze-free cold one, you’ll enjoy the fruity, malty twist, minus the fuzzy head in the morning.
If you’re not one for a beer, a magical mocktail is another measured approach. It’s a good way to keep yourself going all Christmas long with a clear head. Sip slowly, savour the taste and enjoy the celebrations.
If champers floats your flute, Irene has curated a fizzy and fun list of non-alcoholic alternatives for those who love champagne and sparkling wine for all occasions.
The top selling non-alcoholic drink is the NEWBLOOD Shiraz, a rich and handsome red full of fruity tones.
Probably the best non-alcoholic red wine to enter the Australian market, NEWBLOOD’s Shiraz is a force to be reckoned with. The secret to NEWBLOOD’s authentic, full-bodied flavour is their unique triple distillation process and the extended time their grapes are left on the vine to ripen.
Sans Drinks is not preachy about going sober, it’s about mindful drinking, and providing options for those wanting to drink less, less often or not at all.
Source: Lee Holmes. Naturopath /Author
Founder Love your Gut SuperCharged Food
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