Raw ginger ale
This zingy drink is a great number to wash down your Christmas Day meal with. Not only is it really easy to make, it's also extremely healthy. Ginger is a natural aid to the immune system – handy when there are lots of flu and cold germs flying around - and it's also good for the digestion – perfect for when you're regretting that second helping of roast potatoes!
Lauren Michelle has a simple recipe on her blog for a sparkling raw ginger ale that can be done in minutes. See the recipe here
If you've got a bit more time on your hands and are more into the old-fashioned earthy ginger ale, then check out Wellness Mama's recipe here
Raspberry kvass
You can impress your guests with this fancy-sounding fermented drink that's actually super simple to make. All you need is some fruit, unpasteurised honey and pure water. Like the raw ginger ale, kvass is so much better for your health than wine or sugar-laden soda drinks as it contains enzymes and bacteria that support the digestive system. What's more, you can serve it up in jars decorated to tie in with the festive season. The only thing it does require is some forward planning as you need to give the mixture two to three days to ferment before it's ready to drink. And you might want to do a practice run first as too much sugar will turn the mixture to alcohol. But once it's done, you'll be able to keep it for up to a week, so it's ideal if you've got a busy Christmas Day planned and want to get it out of the way.
Rebecca Wood offers a great how-to and tips for getting it right on her blog here
Mint and ginger lemonade
This drink can be prepared the day before, allowing you to focus on that turkey. It also has some health benefits that are a perfect match for Christmas Day. For one thing, mint is a natural stimulant, great for when the big feast is starting to leave you a little sluggish. It can also alleviate nausea – if you've really eaten too much! - and according to OrganicFacts, stimulate the digestive enzymes that absorb nutrients from food and turn the fat you've eaten into usable energy. So you don't even need to feel guilty reaching for that second helping. Did anyone say dessert?!
Epicurious has an easy to follow recipe here
Non-alcoholic sangria
Sangria is more often associated with the summer but this delicious fruit concoction is so cheerful and pretty it won't be out of place at your Christmas dinner table. The amount of sugar in this recipe will depend on which juice options you go for. So if you want to keep sugar levels down, opt for unsweetened juice.
There are endless sangria recipes out there but The Kitchn has a nice black tea variety that balances out the tartness of the fruit.
Take a look here
Lychee and lime soda
This drink is a great way to get some vitamin C as, according to LiveStrong, just a single cup serving of lychees will exceed your daily recommended intake of the immune-boosting vitamin. It is also a good source of vitamin B, which helps your body extract energy from the food you eat. If you don't like your drinks too sweet, simply add in more soda water and ice cubes.
See how easy it is to make here
