Salted Watermelon Mocktail
It’s official - Memorial Day has passed, the weather is heating up, and it is feeling like SUMMER around here. I don’t know about you, but when the weather heats up, water just does not feel like enough to stay hydrated! For my pregnant or nursing readers - you might especially be feeling this. Fluid volume in your body doubles in pregnancy and you need a lot of water to breastfeed, so your hydration needs increase along with your need for more electrolytes.
I’m a big fan of creative drinks for the sake of hydration, but also for the sake of finding fun in the process of being mindful with alcohol consumption. Whether you’re currently pregnant, trying to conceive, or simply care about your physical and mental health, there’s a lot of reasons to want to reduce or avoid alcohol. But, just because you’re sober curious does NOT mean you don’t deserve a fun drink!
So… from here on out, it is MOCKTAIL SEASON!
My intern and I have come up with a bunch of really fun mocktail ideas for y’all, and I want to kick off the summer with this Salted Watermelon Mocktail.
Packed with flavor, nutrients and electrolytes, this fun drink doesn’t need any alcohol at all to get you feeling good. I honestly felt very hydrated after downing mine the other day!
Watermelon provides the mineral potassium which is also an electrolyte, in addition to the antioxidant lycopene which is particularly beneficial for improving sperm quality and also may improve pregnancy outcomes for folks diagnosed with preeclampsia.
Watermelon, lime, and basil all supply a host of additional antioxidants which can improve both male and female fertility by helping to fight inflammation.
Salt enhances the flavor of the watermelon, and provides the mineral sodium which also is an important electrolyte.
Lime is a great source of vitamin C, which enhances the absorption of plant-based iron - a nutrient vital for fetal growth and maternal health.
The watermelon provides a bit of natural sugar, and with the addition of a bit of table sugar, this drink optimizes hydration by providing glucose to help support the sodium-glucose and potassium-glucose transporters involved in hydration at the cellular level.
Ok, let’s get into our mocktail recipe!
Salted Watermelon Mocktail
Ingredients
- 3 lime wedges
- 3 cubes watermelon + 1 small slice for garnish
- sea salt for rimming glass
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 leaves fresh basil
- small handful of ice
- 1/2 can Guava La Croix or other fruity sparkling water
Instructions
- Rim a rocks glass or highball with lime, and then dip in salt to coat the rim.
- In the glass, muddle watermelon with two lime wedges and sugar.
- Slap two leaves of basil and place in the cup. You could also muddle these in with the watermelon, lime and sugar for a more pungent basil flavor.
- Add a small handful of ice, top with guava La Croix or any other fruity sparkling water and stir. Enjoy!