Pomegranate Juice Cocktail in the Style of Sangria

(Pictured: Pomegranate Juice Cocktail before adding club soda)

I like to have a carafe of sangria in the refrigerator to accompany a Spanish meal. Sangria is one of those beverages that most people seem to enjoy. My husband and I both enjoy our vino. However, we also know that drinking alcohol, while good for your heart, increases your risk of many forms of cancer. Frequently I will make versions of some of our favorite beverages that contain less or no alcohol.

This particular beverage was inspired by my friend Reiko that asked me about non-alcoholic sangria. My first thought was to use a non-alcoholic wine, but pomegranate juice is a great substitute for red wine due to the natural tannins. Including pomegranate juice is good for your health and preventing cancer. Fruit in general is high in antioxidants I try to include it whenever I can.

Pomegranate Juice Cocktail in the Style of Sangria
Makes 8 servings (approximately 1 cup each)

Ingredients:

3 cups of pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon of lemon extract
1 orange, cut into bite size pieces
1 lemon, cut into bite size pieces
1 apple, cut into bite size pieces
1 cup of grapes, cut in half
2 cups of club soda or sparkling water (like Pellegrino or Perrier)

Directions:

Combine everything but the club soda and refrigerate. It is best if you make the beverage at least 8 to 10 hours ahead of time. Add the club soda before serving in a chilled glass with ice and a slice of fruit on the rim.

Nutritional Information:

Amount Per Serving
Calories - 95.75
Calories From Fat (3%)- 2.82

Total Fat - 0.16g
Saturated Fat - 0.03g
Cholesterol - 0mg
Sodium - 19.48mg
Potassium - 338.4mg
Total Carbohydrates - 24.47g
Fiber - 2.12g
Sugar - 17.7g
Protein - 0.61g

Comments:

This is a nice beverage when you want something that mimics Sangria without the alcohol. If you want to reduce the calories and carbohydrates increase the amount of club soda and lemon extract. I think this is nice flavorful beverage that the entire family can enjoy.