367815 Mon Feb 05 10:47:28 -0800 2007 94 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2261251 My trainer has convinced me to go into detox for six weeks - no alcohol!! What do people drink as an elegant and adult non-alcoholic beverage option when out (no massive virgin coladas)? And any general suggestions for interesting and healthy liquid refreshment while I'm on the wagon? Thanks - Rab-bit! Mon Feb 05 10:47:28 -0800 2007 60563 Rabbit 1 2261259 When I'm in that mode (rarely), I usually go with a virgin Rose Kennedy - seltzer water with a little cranberry juice. Not very sweet, just a hint of flavor, and looks nice enough in a wine glass. Mon Feb 05 10:49:24 -0800 2007 2261251 56762 LulusMom 2 2839548 The irony of the drink name and its namesake and your description... Poor Rose. Mon Aug 13 03:06:32 -0700 2007 2261259 95259 amandaqtpie 1 2261288 My husband likes to choose tonic and lime or tonic & Rose's lime when he's (usually) the sole non-drinker out at business dinners. Tonic does have sugar, but you can occasionally find diet tonic, or go with club soda. Mon Feb 05 10:53:09 -0800 2007 2261251 20991 shanagain 2 3442783 unfortunately tonic has HFCS, and not sugar. Sure was bummed to read the labels at the beginning of last summer to realize that gin & tonics were off my summer drink list! I complained to Schwepps too. Thu Feb 28 05:00:00 -0800 2008 2261288 33755 NYchowcook 3 3444946 when doing a detox, the last thing you want to put in your body is artificial sweeteners! skip the tonic altogether. club soda or seltzer & a splash of your favorite juice - cranberry, lemon, lime...take your pick. Thu Feb 28 14:41:50 -0800 2008 3442783 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 4199879 I was going through old posts tonight and noticed this one and even tho this is months old I had to reply: this definitely depends on what kind of detox. The OP clearly stated this was a no-alcohol detox, not a master cleanse, or whatnot. Mon Nov 24 21:29:49 -0800 2008 3444946 20991 shanagain 1 2261319 I second the cranberry and seltzer -- but i didn't know it had a name! I add a little lime juice too. Mon Feb 05 10:58:45 -0800 2007 2261251 63260 eamcd 1 2261322 I once was on the wagon... drank a lot of Schweppes Bitter Lemon (on the rocks, with a twist of lime). Mon Feb 05 10:59:17 -0800 2007 2261251 10255 Gary Soup 2 2268055 Bitter lemon is a great choice if you can find it. (Of course it is even better with gin...) Sparkling water Fresh fruit juice, sparkling water, and bitters Wed Feb 07 08:27:38 -0800 2007 2261322 10099 JudiAU 1 2261363 How about anything that does not contain alcohol, I am sure you have experience or have heard of such drinks, this sort of question begs a further question, should you be looking at rehab? Mon Feb 05 11:07:16 -0800 2007 2261251 21396 normalheightsfoodie 2 2261389 ohhh man, you just made me bust out in laughter at my desk. Mon Feb 05 11:11:16 -0800 2007 2261363 45908 orangewasabi 2 2286182 if I am to take you seriously, then I think what the OP has in mind is something interesting. Plain seltzer, plain water, plain soda gets old fast. As a newly not pregnant person, I can totally hear you in your quest. I couldn't have alcohol, of course, but I also couldn't have caffeine or any "diet" drinks. So I drank a lot of ginger ale with bitters, and seltzer with bitters. Mon Feb 12 16:45:45 -0800 2007 2261363 22627 MaspethMaven 3 2290316 Of course bitters do have a small amount of alcohol. Angostura bitters are 45% alcohol by volume and Peychaud's are 35%. American's have gone totally overboard on no alcohol and the new prohibition. Europeans are much brighter and sensible about this stuff. We explored the bitters business ages ago when a friend had to go on Lithium treatment. Tue Feb 13 17:45:59 -0800 2007 2286182 10285 Candy 4 2290345 We know a little bit about bitters in San Francisco; we're the biggest per-capita consumers of Fernet-Branca in the world and second in total consumption only to the whole country of Argentina. http://www.sfweekly.com/2005-12-07/news/the-myth-of-fernet/ Tue Feb 13 18:00:10 -0800 2007 2290316 10255 Gary Soup 4 2301772 Let's also remember that extracts have around 35%, lest anyone want to experiment with vanilla, almond, lemon, et cetera... Sat Feb 17 03:22:52 -0800 2007 2290316 22627 MaspethMaven 2 2334488 What? My trainer had me stop drinking while I was training. Geez. Alcohol contains calories. There are manykinds of detox...not all of them involve getting tremors or seeing bugs. Tue Feb 27 12:50:54 -0800 2007 2261363 11408 melly 3 2728159 My trainer also did this. It was amazing how fast I lost weight without my daily glass of wine (well, and running for an hour a day also helped...0 Sat Jul 07 18:02:51 -0700 2007 2334488 39328 IndyGirl 1 2261449 I'll have a Sprite please. Is Sierra Mist ok sir? No it is not, I'll just have water. Mon Feb 05 11:20:51 -0800 2007 2261251 12014 LStaff 1 2261556 lmfho also, orangewasbi pointing out a wrinkle: i was a bartender 10 years, and it is a subtle annoyance for your mixologist to be asked to concoct a hugely labor-intensive non-alcoholic cocktail (talking virgin-marys & virgin strawberry margs here, not tonic& lime, cran/soda, or sour & lemon etc). stick to basics when at the club, unless you know & appreciate your bartender. most bars won't have diet tonic or diet sour or diet 7-up, some might not have ginger ale or the bartender might have to "make it from scratch" with bitters and 7-up. sparkling (or imported still) mineral water is considered a slightly more sophisticated nonalkie alternative, most bars have at least one option. a non-nightclub bartender will have more time to lavish on you. Many have their own nonalkie "cocktails" to sip behind the bar-- mine was a mix of all the common bar juices: orange, cranberry, & pineapple, sometimes with a shot of soda or grenadine, shaken, tall glass. you can put a lime slice or a cherry if you want. or, add vodka-- just kidding! if you are detoxing i would also see if you can stomach the bottled kombucha for sale in natural foods type grocery stores. the mango and guava are the least upsetting flavors, but the results feel healthy! drink these at home, not when going out! have fun on the wagon, it can still be fun if you like to go out, or so i hear! Mon Feb 05 11:41:16 -0800 2007 2261251 46030 soupkitten 2 3444970 kitten, i just noticed that this post is a year old so i have no idea if you'll read this, but have you really found kombucha to upset your stomach? if anything, it settles mine. try the gingerberry flavor if you can find it. ginger's good for calming the digestive tract. Thu Feb 28 14:47:29 -0800 2008 2261556 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 3445043 I've found that kombucha doesn't agree with everyone. It's fermented, and there are some people who are really sensitive to fermented foods, especially if they're dealing with candida issues. Instead of it helping them, they get incredibly gassy. My parents made me drink that stuff as a teenager. I used to call it my "magic mushroom" drink. Thu Feb 28 15:06:55 -0800 2008 3444970 10763 Miss Needle 4 3445299 i guess i'm just accustomed to the probiotics. your magic mushroom comment brings to mind an interesting recent LA Times article about GT Dave and the story behind his company... http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/la-tm-kombucha.01jan6,1,1382296.story Thu Feb 28 16:35:16 -0800 2008 3445043 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 2261595 Arnold Palmer, half iced tea half lemonade. Mon Feb 05 11:48:54 -0800 2007 2261251 16602 lisaf 2 2261685 good call. i would feel weird drinking this in winter though. i hate winter. Mon Feb 05 12:09:51 -0800 2007 2261595 71849 batdown 2 3444977 the arnold palmer is typically made with two drinks that have already been sweetened with sugar. no sugar when detoxing. Thu Feb 28 14:48:52 -0800 2008 2261595 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 2261997 I've always liked club soda with bitters.... Sometimes with a squeze of lime, too. It tastes great and looks as if you're having a "real" drink as well, if that maters. Uncle Ira Mon Feb 05 13:30:19 -0800 2007 2261251 14832 Uncle Ira 2 2262124 I had that for the first time this weekend and it was great! It's tasty and not sweet. Feels like having something more interesting than just water, but not a sugary soda. Mon Feb 05 13:50:20 -0800 2007 2261997 12806 curiousbaker 3 2328347 Soda and bitters is a great upset stomach settler, too. When I asked a fellow restaurant worker for an Alka-Seltzer, he said to do this instead. Worked like a charm. Sun Feb 25 15:11:15 -0800 2007 2262124 76251 bachslunch 4 3406338 And I like to drink soda with any fresh citrus, or even better, fresh mint. Pellegrino is my first choice though, I buy it by the case at Costco. Sun Feb 17 09:22:16 -0800 2008 2328347 50431 chef chicklet 1 2262027 I'm not into fancy drinks or sodas... I always have an orange juice (and sometimes you're lucky and it's fresh-squeezed...) Mon Feb 05 13:35:07 -0800 2007 2261251 67657 Kajikit 1 2262066 My current favorite is Villa Italia blood orange soda (not sweet at all) mixed with plain seltzer, over ice. I drink a lot of water and this makes it interesting. Mon Feb 05 13:41:38 -0800 2007 2261251 10087 Pat Hammond 1 2263425 Second the rec for Pellegrino w/ lime and a pack of Splenda :) I also like green tea with seltzer water. Mon Feb 05 19:47:20 -0800 2007 2261251 15572 Emme 1 2263569 You could do a non-alc mojito. Mint muddled with sugar, fresh lime juice, and soda water. For giggles add some pom juice. Rehab is for losers. just kidding, no hate replies please Mon Feb 05 20:50:41 -0800 2007 2261251 69496 septocaine_queen 2 2264205 no, you missed the quote slightly - "rehab is for quitters" I saw that sticker on a biker's helmet once and it fits my sense of humor just right. Tue Feb 06 07:24:13 -0800 2007 2263569 12607 Tee 3 2264297 I think it's "rehab is for Mayors." Tue Feb 06 07:49:11 -0800 2007 2264205 10255 Gary Soup 4 2326078 Umm... you're from San Francisco, right? Sat Feb 24 15:18:46 -0800 2007 2264297 15041 MikeLM 1 2263618 HATE Mon Feb 05 21:10:30 -0800 2007 2261251 71849 batdown 2 2290284 Clever! Tue Feb 13 17:33:57 -0800 2007 2263618 22627 MaspethMaven 1 2263646 i love a pint glass of sparkling h2o/club soda - a dash of cola - 2 lime wedges.....yum..........looks like a long island iced tea...... Mon Feb 05 21:26:46 -0800 2007 2261251 22477 jbyoga 1 2263685 Cranberry juice is good.Hyssop and green tea.Miso soup.fruit and vegetable juices or smoothies with frozen bananas .Buttermilk .Theres green powders with algae and seaweed VERY good,I add them to juice to make them taste better along with pure psyllium fiber,not really tasty but very effective.Buy a good juicer like a Waring pro or something good if you don't already have one.I used to be alcoholic and almost died thats how I learned this stuff. Mon Feb 05 21:57:42 -0800 2007 2261251 43660 billjriv 1 2264031 If someone told me I couldn't have wine with a good meal, I think I'd move to France and find a new trainer over there ;-) Keep it simple like others have said. A sparkling water, a splash of bitters, a squeeze of lemon/lime. When it was my turn to be designated driver I used to occasionally do NA beers - Buckler wasn't too offensive. The domestics were usually swill. Tue Feb 06 06:21:23 -0800 2007 2261251 24421 Panini Guy 2 2290288 Clausthaler is lovely, too. Tue Feb 13 17:34:47 -0800 2007 2264031 22627 MaspethMaven 1 2284485 hey do you guys remember "Shirley Temples"? of course, technically, if you are male you order a "Roy Rogers", but the drinks are the same-- don't see them too much anymore, i guess even the kids are getting uber-sophisticated with their soft drinks. or are they just named after some new pre-teen star now? Mon Feb 12 09:49:37 -0800 2007 2261251 46030 soupkitten 2 2286809 I remember both these made me and my brother feel special to be able to get these instead of just regular pop. Mon Feb 12 20:05:37 -0800 2007 2284485 43660 billjriv 2 2286941 I thought a Roy Rogers was w/ Coke instead of 7-UP... Am I wrong? Mon Feb 12 20:45:34 -0800 2007 2284485 15572 Emme 3 2289827 Yes. Both a Roy Rogers and a Shirley Temple are made with Seven Up or Ginger Ale. http://www.epicurious.com/drinking/drink_views/views/200299 http://www.epicurious.com/drinking/drink_views/views/200114 Tue Feb 13 15:17:12 -0800 2007 2286941 11028 DanaB 4 2292445 that's what i thought too-- Dana B, thanks! although, Emme, there are so many regional variations of different drinks that your reply gave me pause--the drink known by the name of "Roy Rogers" MIGHT be made with cola somewhere, i'm sure! Wed Feb 14 11:17:31 -0800 2007 2289827 46030 soupkitten 5 2292897 I am happy to believe that in some places a Roy Rogers is also made like Shirley Temple for boys... If that's the case though, what's the name for the version made with Coke? Wed Feb 14 12:48:09 -0800 2007 2292445 15572 Emme 6 2302508 Cherry Coke Sat Feb 17 11:06:13 -0800 2007 2292897 49086 amyvc 5 3405661 Well, when my kids were little a looooong time ago, every time they ordered a Shirley Temple, it turned out to be a Coke with a maraschino cherry on top. That was in Las Vegas, San Diego, and El Paso. May not be what they got, but I paid for Shirley Temples! Sat Feb 16 22:48:25 -0800 2008 2292445 112096 Caroline1 2 2301536 My daughter ordered one within the past year, so at least some kids are still ordering them by those names! Fri Feb 16 21:51:03 -0800 2007 2284485 62843 luv2bake 1 2284498 I'm currently in the same situation (not detoxing, just pregnant) and my standby is Pellegrino or Perrier or club soda with lime. At home, I really like the Trader Joe's pomegranate sparkler -- it has a little black currant juice, which adds some of the richness of wine. Plain black currant juice cut with a little apple juice is also good. Mon Feb 12 09:52:12 -0800 2007 2261251 10669 Amuse Bouches 1 2284515 hate to say it but i've developed a taste for the whole foods sparkling water for drinking at home. i like the raspberry-lemon the best. cures hangovers too, so i hear. Mon Feb 12 09:56:08 -0800 2007 2261251 46030 soupkitten 1 2284540 Neither of the Jfoods drink. Mrs Jfood is a pure diet coker; jfood is water (at home out of the 6 gallon dispenser from poland springs; out i go with the pelligrino. Mon Feb 12 10:00:42 -0800 2007 2261251 11290 jfood 1 2285853 Having been in recovery for over 20 years, I have found many wonderful things to drink. Haven't given up caffeine (so I love coffee, chocolate and tea-- latter two have theobromine which is similar to caffeine). Funny thing is that food seems to have more flavor to me without spirits-- YMMV. There are so many sparkly water products that you can add a dash of cranberry or other tart juice too (pomegranate for example) Water, propel, vitamin water, fruit juices--so many choices so little time:) Mon Feb 12 15:13:04 -0800 2007 2261251 55542 drmimi 1 2286709 i like any bubble water with mint leaves, alot. Or diet cherry pepsi. oooh or a cuba libre sans the rum. and I wouldn't reject the pink lemonade too from Trader Joes either, sorry too lazy to go look at the label.... Mon Feb 12 19:37:05 -0800 2007 2261251 50431 chef chicklet 1 2289762 Sparkling water with a twist of lime or lemon. Tue Feb 13 15:00:02 -0800 2007 2261251 33941 rosielucchesini 1 2296273 If a "trainer" makes any mention of "toxins" or "detoxifying," change "trainers." These are absurd pseudoscientific neologisms. Meritless concepts. Idiotic. Alcohol, in moderation, is nothing but beneficial and there is no such thing as a "toxin" as these snake oil salesmen who claim to be shamans would refer to. Lead is a "toxin." Dioxin is a "toxin." Trans-fats are, we now may argue, "toxins." You don't harbour "toxins" and if you do, stop eating lead paint and move away from the phenol refinery. Drink alcohol in moderation and fire the hack. Thu Feb 15 12:10:13 -0800 2007 2261251 12135 John Manzo 2 2296701 Point taken - and my trainer wasn't being idiotic. He merely suggested that I might see some better results if I focused on eating a little cleaner, including cutting back on the alcohol. It was my type-A Rabbit-ness that let me turn it all prohibition-style. Still, I do stand by the fact that I was perkier at training those mornings after Mr. Rabbit and I had not had a lovely bottle of Bordeaux avec dinner. Still, the sad truth is that the Rabbit already fell off the wagon (blame Bordeaux!). But I appreciate everyone's suggestions, and it has been great to have some new and interesting options (bitters - who knew?). Thu Feb 15 13:41:57 -0800 2007 2296273 60563 Rabbit 3 2839611 why don't you just cut out the hard stuff? less alcohol per volume with wine and beer, and you won't feel like you're in rehab. also ounce per ounce of alcohol I don't think that beer and wine affect you (i.e. hangover) as much as hard liquor. Mon Aug 13 04:36:51 -0700 2007 2296701 11190 fara 3 4200378 Wow, zombie thread. And John Manzo made the point about "detox" being pseudoscientific non-science based woo fake medicine that I wanted to. Good to hear that it wasn't actually the case. A tip for the future: I can only speak for my body here, not yours (obviously), but if I'm in a hard bit of training or about to compete, I notice if I drink more than a glass of wine. *A* glass (well, somewhere between one and two, to be precise) has no noticeable detrimental effect on my sports performance, and certainly makes me happier. Oh, and after the one glass? Unsweetened herbal teas/infusions for me. Brown rice, ginger, verbena, seaweed, tarragon, hibiscus, etc. Not all together, obviously. Then, after the competition or after I break through the plateau, I fall right back off the bandwagon and into Burgundy :-) Tue Nov 25 06:17:03 -0800 2008 2296701 177724 tmso 2 2334501 LOL! Tue Feb 27 12:54:52 -0800 2007 2296273 11408 melly 1 2296284 Plain or sparkling water with a piece of lemon and a piece of peeled ginger. Thu Feb 15 12:13:29 -0800 2007 2261251 14979 KnittingShaker 1 2296942 After recovering from my fit of giggles, I realise I haven't been at all helpful. Have we already run down the list of savoury waters? - water with cucumber slices - water with a dash of vinegar (the hardcore folk do this with Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar, but I just use red wine vinegar myself) - muddled mint, lime and salt - citron presse with salt (juice of one entire lemon in a half a litre of water, with a dash of maldon's -- I actually buy the fresh squeezed lemon juice at SLM to make this easier) Thu Feb 15 14:37:22 -0800 2007 2261251 45908 orangewasabi 2 2326038 I love water with Cuke and a slice of lime, it just seems "fresher" somehow than just plain water :) Sat Feb 24 14:59:33 -0800 2007 2296942 69079 starlady 1 2301415 My favorite is mugicha. It is Japanese barley tea. Not sweet, no caffeine. Just nice and refreshing. You can pretend it is whiskey and water. Many different types of grain-based teas at Japanese markets. Fri Feb 16 20:34:45 -0800 2007 2261251 68708 mke2lax 1 2302519 depends where you are--see if you can get coconut water from the coconut--very good,delicious and good for your stomach.. I also agree sparkling water and juice is great Sat Feb 17 11:12:00 -0800 2007 2261251 55914 marlie202 1 2308242 I LOVE that the end of this story is that Rabbit fell off the wagon into a good Bordeaux! I once did South Beach diet Phase 1 (no alcohol or anything else goo) for 10 days and it felt like a lifetime - my first glass of wine could have been Barefoot and I would have been thrilled! Mon Feb 19 16:08:28 -0800 2007 2261251 49086 amyvc 1 2308914 Bitters and soda with a squeeze of lime. When your stomach needs fixin', just the straight bitters work wonders. Mon Feb 19 19:43:05 -0800 2007 2261251 22241 personalcheffie 1 2310521 YAY! olympic gold medal goes to Bordeaux! Tue Feb 20 10:35:26 -0800 2007 2261251 46030 soupkitten 1 2325450 I'm off the sauce myself for 21 days, and just grated some ginger into a pellegrino (also squeezed in a lime). It makes the water cloudy (actually, it looks like a fish tank), but I have to say, it's really, really good and refreshing. Sat Feb 24 10:16:21 -0800 2007 2261251 73451 bebevonbernstein 2 3404665 I like sliced ginger and a lemon wedge steeped in hot water. Honey if you want. I also like diet tonic water. To me it tastes like a "drink". I'll have to try bitters. Sat Feb 16 14:20:36 -0800 2008 2325450 123480 scuzzo 1 2326047 Love Pom juice and ginger ale An interesting Iced tea that i discovered a couple years ago is Earl Grey with Black Currant tea. V Yum. Love Green Tea hot or cold (or in ice cream format). BLue berry juice is awesome but i usually cut it with water or Sprite. Cucumber juice :) Sat Feb 24 15:02:21 -0800 2007 2261251 69079 starlady 1 2329209 Speaking of iced tea, in some areas, a surprising number of restaurants (or bars with restaurants attached) brew their own iced tea. At home, I brew my own iced tea virtually year-round. Boil half a gallon of water and throw about 4-6 teabags in (or the equivalent amount of loose tea in a tea ball or whatnot). I usually use a mixture of black, green, and fruity herbal tea like Celestial Seasonings Black Cherry Berry or Blueberry. (Green tea shouldn't meet boiling water, so let the water cool off slightly before throwing in the green, if you use green.) Yum. More on this: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/304329 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/341392 Sun Feb 25 23:27:53 -0800 2007 2261251 12799 Ike 1 2334990 I am also in detox. I love a 10oz. tall glass filled with ice, 2/3 pomegranate juice, 1/3 Pelllagrino. Add a squeeze of fresh lime. Very refreshing and the juice is good for you, too. Tue Feb 27 14:37:31 -0800 2007 2261251 69347 Kaisgraham 1 2336453 There's an old-fashioned beverage called switchel, very refreshing. I've usually seen it with ginger, honey, and lemon juice, a ginger ale sort of effect, but I've seen variations involving vinegar, molasses, and other stuff. Tue Feb 27 22:43:30 -0800 2007 2261251 19542 Karen_Schaffer 1 2731076 Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee, even more addictive !! Sun Jul 08 22:38:04 -0700 2007 2261251 51489 Jimbosox04 2 2731331 I'd let my personal trainer do the detox while I drink Mojitos Mon Jul 09 05:50:34 -0700 2007 2731076 12630 beevod 1 2839545 Club soda or any Faygo/store-brand sparkling water with lemon slices or lime slices Squirt, club soda (to cut the sweetness), and lemon slices or lemon juice, to taste Ginger ale with something coconut-ty (I've only ever mixed it with Malibu if I'm not drinking it straight) Club soda or ginger ale or Sprite and cranberry juice (if you're going for elegant, as you said, just ask for it in a flute) Mon Aug 13 03:01:40 -0700 2007 2261251 95259 amandaqtpie 1 2839615 problem is that cheap bars don't have any of these things except cranberry, organge, club, and tonic. i think you're better off with a beer, the sugar in most of the above is worse than the complex carbs in a beer. order a guiness if you want to feel healthy. Mon Aug 13 04:39:49 -0700 2007 2261251 11190 fara 2 2840066 My usual cocktail (when not drinking my wine lol!!) is Absolut with club soda and a wedge of lemon. When I'm not drinking and don't want to cause a big discussion with my friends (I meet people at a local place once a week) I just tell the bartender on the QT and then when I say "I'll have another" he just doesn't add the vodka. Interesting how everyone will way in when you're NOT drinking. I haven't had a drink for a week and a half and am looking forward to some wine tomorrow night. Had some surgery and the Dr. had me stop drinking any alcohol before and for a week after to aid healing. Mon Aug 13 07:58:53 -0700 2007 2839615 10581 Linda VH 1 3402531 A fairly decent wagon-style drink is tonic water with lemon or lime and a couple squirts of bitters. I know, bitters is herb-infused brandy, but there's not enough alcohol in a couple dashes to risk an onset of the DT's (if that's your problem.) ;-) Fri Feb 15 16:27:59 -0800 2008 2261251 15041 MikeLM 1 3402609 Any drink can appear elegant when a restaurant/bar charges you $12 and puts it in a fancy glass. Drink what you like, be it juice, seltzer, club soda, ginger ale, milk.... Just be careful with your "detox". I once went on a detox (on a trainer's advice) and almost wound up with kidney failure. I personally don't trust any detox/cleansing without medical supervision. Good luck to you. Fri Feb 15 17:06:29 -0800 2008 2261251 11701 MrsT 1 3402955 Just ask for a glass of water. I sometimes have a drinking problem and it works for me just fine. Surprisingly, most responsible bartenders can pick up on it and really admire and appreciate your choice. Bob Fri Feb 15 19:32:13 -0800 2008 2261251 107452 SonyBob 1 3403103 This isn't a solution for the bar/restaurant, but at home, you might try slicing ginger into thin strips (I actually use a vegetable peeler), add some sugar or artificial sweetener, and a couple of cloves, and boil for about 10-15 minutes, until slightly reduced. Strain, bottle, and refrigerate, and then add a bit to ice water or sparkling water. It makes a nice change from diet soft drinks (I'm diabetic, so I drink too much diet Coke!). Fri Feb 15 20:44:44 -0800 2008 2261251 48210 KevinB 1 3434929 So good to see this thread with so many good ideas I hadn't thought of. I have been used to drinking wine nightly, but I've discovered it bothers my stomach and keeps me from sleeping soundly. So, I'm not calling it quits with wine, just saving it for special occasions. It's hard to be satisfied with anything else at meal time, but at the moment I'm drinking bottled kombucha from the health food store, and although some versions are too much like bottled soda, I find others refreshing, not cloying, and the sour notes and fizziness sort of remind me of my beloved alcoholic beverages. Too bad it's almost as expensive as wine. I guess I could learn to make my own, but I used to make beer, and if it's as complicated as that, forget it! :) Mon Feb 25 20:51:33 -0800 2008 2261251 124191 comestible 1 3442561 Seltzer / mineral water / club soda with topped with any kind of juice you like. I bartended and played around with this a lot. There are so many variations: mango nectar is very good. So is grape juice, like a very light adult grape soda. A squeeze of lime or lemon brightens many of them. Because it is just a splash of juice it is very healthy! When my sister goes out and isn't drinking sometimes she asks for a "glass of water that looks like a gin and tonic." She just feels more festive that way! (In general bartenders have been pretty good-natured about this.) Wed Feb 27 23:22:06 -0800 2008 2261251 156660 guate 1 3442585 hard to find when you're out, but if you could, pure 100% grape or carrot juice is renowned for curing even cancer never mind cleaning your system Wed Feb 27 23:48:20 -0800 2008 2261251 170182 Iulian Irimia 1 3442735 how about... Ginger ale virgin "MOJITO" ive seen mojito done with sprite or perier....but without the alcohol factor, ginger ale may have that spice they lack... remember REAL mojito doesn't use MINT it has "Yerba Buena"...many times confused, even in supermarket products...it pisses me off! if you need detox, buy fresh cranberry, and make a juice, concentrate...youll get clean in no time Thu Feb 28 04:29:31 -0800 2008 2261251 169612 Echotraveler 1 3444890 I like the virgin Mary or Caesar for a cocktail. Soda or tonic water and twist of lime for the lighter choice while dining. A non-alcoholic Kir might be nice, mix blackcurrant syrup and sparkling water. Thu Feb 28 14:26:03 -0800 2008 2261251 123543 Pincus 1 3444929 Ginger ale with several lime wedges. Club soda or fizzy water with grenadine syrup (the stuff used in Shirley Temples). Thu Feb 28 14:37:55 -0800 2008 2261251 164177 Erika L 1 3445020 Ginger ale or club soda with mojito, mango mojito, or strawberry daquiri (sp) mix. Thu Feb 28 15:00:39 -0800 2008 2261251 158403 jcattles 2 3445029 the OP should have clarified that you're also supposed to avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners during a detox, and i'm pretty sure all those mixes contain one or the other. Thu Feb 28 15:03:14 -0800 2008 3445020 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 3445188 When I was in high school and vaguely opposed to alcohol my favorite drinks were fresh apple cider and smoothies (blended yogurt, ice, and various fruits and juices). To this day I always view these drinks as innocent and ideally healthy -- they really aren't elegant and adult I'll admit, but they are what I'd drink if I were to take a break from my adult wine and beers, etc.... Thu Feb 28 15:50:47 -0800 2008 2261251 18264 steinpilz