Better For You Hosting With Jacq Alwill

As a nutritionist, I’ve always focused on giving people an experience in health, rather than just telling them what to do, and this includes experiencing the taste of delicious healthy food. Hosting at home becomes a delicious opportunity to create a spread that’s not only full of flavour but also fuels the people you love with the good stuff. It’s about offering beautiful, nourishing food and drinks that feel indulgent, but are built on real, health-supportive ingredients.

One of the simplest but most powerful ways I bring nutrition into hosting is by rethinking the drinks on offer. Traditional soft drinks and sugary mixers are usually the first to hit the esky at a gathering, but they’re also some of the biggest contributors to added sugar intake. That’s where Remedy Sodaly and Remedy Kombucha fit in perfectly. These all-natural, no-sugar beverages are not only better for you, they’re crowd-pleasers that genuinely taste great.

For me, catering is about balance. A balance of dishes to suit different guests tastes, a balance of textures, of course a balance of nutritious ingredients. There’s plenty of vibrant vegetables, whole grains, quality proteins, and thoughtfully chosen beverages that support digestion, energy, and overall wellbeing.

Food is deeply emotional and social. So when people come to your home, you have a rare chance to nourish them physically and emotionally. You want them to leave feeling good - not bloated, sluggish, or foggy from sugar crashes. That’s why what we drink matters just as much as what we eat.

Remedy Sodaly is quite honestly a revelation for social events. The Sodaly range of sparkling soft drinks are made with no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, and it’s brewed with prebiotic fibre to support gut health.

Each can or bottle of Sodaly is made on a base of apple cider vinegar which contains ‘prebiotics’. Think of prebiotics as the premium fuel for your beneficial gut bacteria (gut microbes). When gut microbes thrive, they help regulate everything from mood and energy to digestion and immune function. Unlike conventional sodas, which often spike blood sugar and mess with appetite regulation, Sodaly offers fizz and flavour without the fallout.

For family members who love a classic soft drink taste, rest assured, Sodaly has familiar flavours with a modern, health-conscious twist. Plus, the fact that it’s naturally sugar-free means kids can enjoy it without a sugar rush - and parents (myself included) are always grateful for that.

If Sodaly is my go-to soda swap, Remedy Kombucha is my hero drink for guests who want something a bit more sophisticated. It’s made through a traditional, long-fermentation process that creates natural organic acids and live cultures (probiotics).

Live cultures help to replenish the gut with beneficial bacteria, especially important after antibiotics, periods of stress, or simply when gut health needs a bit of TLC. Organic acids, created during fermentation, have been shown to help regulate blood sugar, support metabolism, and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut.

What I love about Remedy Kombucha is that it’s full of flavour - there’s the OG’s like ginger lemon, raspberry lemonade, wild berry, and newbies to the booch crew - but it’s still free from sugar. The taste is tangy and complex, making it ideal for pairing with food. I love using the Remedy flavours as inspiration for dishes I create - pomegranate in pumpkin salad, lemon brought into a tangy tahini dressing, and orange grated over haloumi with honey, for instance.

When you bring thoughtful choices into the way you host, whether it’s switching out soft drinks for Remedy or building your platters with seasonal veggies and whole grains, you create something more meaningful than just a meal. You create connection, nourishment, and a sense of care that goes far beyond the plate or glass.

So next time you’re stocking the fridge before a gathering, consider adding Remedy Sodaly and Kombucha to the mix. Your guests might come for the good times, but they’ll leave feeling better for the wellness touch you’ve added, with zero sugar and plenty of love.