4 best pregnancy-safe holiday vegan drink recipes to enjoy this year

written by Maya Bach, MPH, RDN

I don't know about you, but I can't believe that July is almost here. What. A. Year, for our country. And although I've never been the biggest fan of fireworks - noise, pollution, wildlife impact, our dog hiding under the bed - I enjoy celebrating our country's birthday.

The past few summers, I spent July 4th on a lake in Iowa with my husband's family. This year, we're road tripping to Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri (The Ozarks!). Whether you're spending the holiday at home or on the road, it can be tricky to figure out what pregnancy-safe drinks to enjoy.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Note: be sure to wash all fresh produce and herbs before usage thoroughly. Store herbs and produce in the fridge properly to prevent spoilage.

Blackberry Basil Spritzer

Ingredients 

• 2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries

• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, crushed

• One lime, juiced

• 24 ounces of sparkling water

• 1 - 2 teaspoons agave syrup

Instructions 

1. Blend blackberries together in a blender until smooth.

2. Pour the mixture into a small saucepan, and add the agave, lime juice, and basil.

3. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer for ~12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to thicken.

4. Remove basil leaves from the mixture.

5. Add ice into two glasses, fill with sparkling water, and top with half of the berry mixture.

Green Tea Tonic

Ingredients 

• 1 green tea bag

• 1 squeeze of lemon

• 1 teaspoon of agave

• 1 cup of hot water

• sparkling water

• ice

• 2 springs of fresh mint (optional)

Instructions 

1. Make the green tea using hot water. Allow the tea to cool.

2. Mix in lemon, agave, and mint.

3. Pour mixture into a large glass with ice and top with sparkling water.

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Creamy Red, White, and Blue Cocktail

Ingredients 

• 1 1/4 cup of mixed berries, fresh or frozen

• 2 cups of dairy-free milk of choice (my favorite for higher protein: Good Karma Flax milk +Protein )

• ice

Instructions

1. Blend 1 cup of berries, ice, and plant milk together in a blender.

2. Pour into a glass and top the mixture with a handful of remaining fresh berries.

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Watermelon Ginger Cooler

Ingredients 

• 3 cups watermelon, chopped 

• 4 oz ginger beer or 1 oz Ginger People Juice (for a less sweet option)

• 16 ounces of sparkling water

• 1 cup of ice 

• Optional: Fresh mint or basil

Instructions

1. Blend melon until smooth.

2. Pour over ice with ginger beer or juice and sparkling water.

3. Top with fresh herbs and enjoy!

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What drink will you make this holiday weekend?

>>>Tag me in your photos on Instagram @vegan.pregnancy.nutrition to get your mocktail featured!