Recipe: Non-alcoholic sangria

Recipe adapted from Epicurious.

Nothing says summer like a pitcher of sangria shared with friends, but that’s not exactly the epitome of cancer prevention. Alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of head and neck, liver, breast and colorectal cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says if you drink alcohol at all, to do so in moderation, meaning no more than one drink a day for women and two for men (one drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor).

But you can still celebrate summer with your favorite fruity beverage! It’s easy to omit the alcohol and added sugar in sangria and still enjoy a refreshing drink for those hot afternoons at the pool—just don’t forget the sunscreen!

Ingredients

2 cups cran-grape juice (look for unsweetened or “light” varieties with less sugar)

½ cup orange juice (look for unsweetened or “light” varieties with less sugar, or use freshly squeezed orange juice)

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

¼ cup strawberries, halved or chopped

¼ cup blueberries

½ lemon, peeled and chopped

½ lime, peeled and chopped

3 cups sparkling water

½ cup frozen mixed berries

¼ cup fresh mint, chopped

Add the juices and chopped fruits to a pitcher and stir. Chill in the refrigerator for a few hours until ready to serve. Just before serving, add the sparkling water and stir. Pour into glasses over frozen berries and garnish with a couple of mint leaves.