Birds twittering? Blossoms blooming? Spring has sprung! Time to complete the thawing process and start whipping up some invigorating mocktails and snacks to indulge in as you contemplate the beautiful months to come. Dumping the daiquiris (and all their potent pals) is becoming quite the trend for improving health and more, and the figures speak for themselves; according to Statista, the non-alcoholic drinks market is worth a whopping $1.45 trillion as of 2023, with yearly growth of 4.5% projected in the coming few years.

Whether you're giving the booze a miss for yourself or hosting guests who are, mocktails are a springtime must. So, dust off your trusty blender and let’s make some springtime goodies.

Mocktails

Sparkling Watermelon Refresher

What You'll Need

• 2 cups of fresh watermelon, cut into blender-friendly cubes
• Sparkling water or sparkling watermelon water, 1 cup
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
• Half a lime's worth of juice
• Parsley and mint as a garnish

How? 

• Blend the watermelon until smooth
• Combine honey and lime juice in a tall glass and whisk to combine
• Pour the sparkling water in gradually and mix gently
• Serve cold with mint leaves as a garnish

This sparkling watermelon water will surely quench your thirst on a bright spring day. Watermelon is also an excellent choice if you're attempting to cut back on sugar because it's relatively low in the sweet stuff, and crammed with a wealth of beneficial nutrients.

Pineapple Coconut Cooler

What You'll Need

• 1 cup of chopped fresh pineapple.
• 1 cup of coconut water
• Half a lime's worth of juice
• Cubes of ice
• Garnish with pineapple wedges

How? 

• Blend the pineapple until it is completely smooth
• Mix the purée, coconut water, and lime juice in a big glass
• Stir in the ice cubes
• Serve cold with pineapple wedges as garnish

Just one sip of this tropical treat will whisk you away to an imaginary island paradise. Pineapple is not only tasty and refreshing, but it’s also high in vitamin C and manganese, making it fantastic for glowing summertime skin. Meanwhile, the coconut water not only adds a natural sweetness to the drink but also provides nutrients like potassium and magnesium, and helps to replenish electrolytes.

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

What You'll Need

• 1 cup of sliced and hulled fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. of butter
• 1 cup of sparkling water
• Cubes of ice
• Garnish with lemon slices

How? 

• Blend the strawberries until smooth
• Combine the honey and lemon juice in a tall glass and whisk to combine
• Pour the sparkling water over the ice cubes
• Mix together gently
• Serve cold with lemon slices as garnish

Your guests will rave about this lively mocktail, which takes the classic lemonade and gives it a vibrant, fruity makeover. A fantastic source of vitamin C and antioxidants, strawberries contribute to the dish's rich color and flavor while also doing your body some good.

Homemade Snacks

Guacamole

What You'll Need

• 2 avocados, ripe
• 1 diced red onion, 
• 1 diced small tomato
• Some chopped up basil
• 1 diced and seeded jalapeno pepper 
• Half a lime's worth of juice
• Adjust seasonings to your liking

How?

• The avocados should be halved, the pits removed, and the creamy flesh squished into a bowl
• Then combine the tomato, red onion, jalapeno, and lime juice and stir it in
• Taste-test and adjust salt and pepper as needed

Guacamole is a favorite among many and has many positive health effects to boot. Tomatoes and onions are rich in important minerals, but the avocado is the real star thanks to all the heart-healthy fats it contains that help fight inflammation and lower cholesterol. You can boost the health benefits of guacamole even further by paring it with some protein chips or crunchy vegetable sticks.

Sweet Potatoes Fries

What You'll Need

• 2 sweet potatoes, medium
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp powdered garlic
• Seasoning

How? 

• The sweet potatoes should be washed, peeled, and sliced into very thin, uniform strips
• Add the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl, and then toss the fries in the mixture until they are equally coated
• Prepare a baking sheet with a single layer of fries
• Bake until golden-brown and crispy, about 20-25 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping carefully once
• Prepare a tasty dipping sauce and serve immediately

Baking sweet potato fries instead of frying them reduces the amount of unwanted fats and calories that are typically thrown into the mix when indulging in fries. Sweet potatoes are also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.

Fried Zucchini Squares

What You'll Need

• 2 grated medium-sized zucchini
• 1/4 cup of self-rising flour
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 2 eggs, beaten lightly
• Seasoning 
• Olive oil

How? 

• Put the zucchini, flour, parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, eggs, salt, and pepper into a large mixing bowl and combine
• Use the olive oil to generously coat the bottom of a big skillet that has been heated over medium heat
• Form the zucchini mixture into tiny patties using a tablespoon
• Place the fritters in the pan carefully and cook for 3–4 minutes on each side, or until they begin to turn a gorgeous golden color and crisp up nicely
• Place the fritters on a paper towel-lined dish to drain any remaining oil
• Dip in your preferred sauce and serve hot

Zucchini can be a bit of a hit-or-miss vegetable, but when turned into fritters with the addition of punchy parmesan cheese and garlic, it transforms into an amazing appetizer or side dish. Who knew that zucchini could taste so naughty?

Get Your Spring On 

With these spring mocktail and homemade snack recipes, you'll be able to satisfy your cravings and impress your guests, all while sticking to healthy options to keep you raring to go as the summer approaches.

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