Aside from deep, long stretches of sleep, what I missed most during my first pregnancy was a glass of bourbon, or scotch, or…

a dirty gin martini. Basically, I had traded a stiff drink for a stiff back, and was doubly miserable. In my inter-borough pursuit of high quality, thoughtful, non-alcoholic cocktails, I was either left highly disappointed by the selection, or was rebuffed by the shitty and obviously unimaginative bartender on staff. It wasn’t until a night out with friends late in my pregnancy that I happened upon the fabulous—and seasonal—mocktail menu at Nitecap, a great little spot in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. (They call them virginz). From sweet to savory to spicy (or a beautiful combo of all three), I realized it was possible to enjoy a complex and deeply satisfying “adult beverage” without the buzz.

For my second pregnancy (2020-21 in Missouri), I made a gameplan for consuming delicious booze-free libations, which has been an especially fun endeavor during the Covid pandemic. I’d like to give special shoutout to my friend Dave Kirkland of Turn, who shared several recipes and gave general advice about making delicious mocktails at home.

Of course, ya girl also loves a good bite to eat, so in addition to non-alcoholic cocktail recipes and features, I will also throw in a variety of snacks and light meals that I’ve found quite satisfying during my pregnancies.

Enjoy!