The first sunrays of the balmy summer provide a refreshing change from the long cold winter. The summer air becomes alive with the fragrance of beautiful flowers and the verdant grass of the countryside. And you are all set for sun-kissed beaches, summer parties and sun-sational cocktails.
In this article, we will discuss some amazing summer cocktails which will taste zesty, reviving and effervescent. Come summer we end up drinking deliciously deceptive cocktails, pile on the pounds. Then we worry about our weight gain. So if the calories you are concerned about, here are some stunning tips just for you.
Scroll down for some of the robust low-calorie cocktail recipes. Check out more info on kombucha grey hair here
Ideas For Low-Calorie Cocktails
Here are some interesting tips where a few swaps on any cocktail can go from a diet disaster to completely doable afternoon delight. These tricks will make your cocktails lighter and mellow.
Sweetener
The sugar content in your cocktails can spike up your blood glucose levels. So you can make your own calorie-free simple sugar syrup using stevia. It is a sugar substitute and a sweetener obtained from a plant. The active compound stevioside has negligible effects on blood glucose levels.
Dissolve one part of stevia in four parts of boiling water and you get a simple, healthy sweetener.
Squeeze Real Fruits
It would be better to avoid flavored juices which will be high in sugars, calories and preservatives. Squeeze fresh fruits to your cocktails just before you serve. In this way, you add more of natural nutrients to it.
Choose Your Sodas
Say a big no to chemical packed diet drinks and sugary sodas. You can go in for natural, organic and sugar-free sodas to provide the complete effervescence.
Coconut Water
You can jump start the rehydration process with the electrolyte-packed coconut water. An ounce contains just 6 calories,and it is available in different flavors. Just be sure to go in for all natural varieties without any additives.
Choose A Healthy Sparkle
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You can go in for seltzer or zero calories sparkling water to add a sparkle to your cocktails. In this way, you will be avoiding added sodium, high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors that you find in club soda, tonic and ginger ale.
Make a Smart Mix
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You can use green, mint or oolong tea which is packed with antioxidants as a smart mixer. Tomato juice that is low in sodium has cancer-fighting properties. Fresh lemon juice helps in digestion. Grapefruit juice contains 24 calories per cocktail. It has 4.8 grams fewer carbohydrates and no sodium.
Soju
It is a clear and colorless Korean distilled spirit. Soju packs less than 70 calories per shot. It would be wise to use soju for long parties.
Garnish With Fruits
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Pack your cocktails with nutrient produce. Go in for the refreshing fruit-filled sangria. By adding fresh fruits your fiber content increases and you can skip out the French fries. Adding natural fruits helps you to skip out artificially flavored alcohols and mixes.
Fresh Herbs
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Add fresh herbs to not only the mojito. You can be creative and add a sprig of basil and mint julip to your drinks. Basil stabilizes your blood sugar levels and mint improves digestive health. You should smash the greens, so it releases essential nutrients which are good for health.
Health Tips
To cut the salt in half, add lime zest and salt in a plate. Rub the rim of the glass with lime juice then dip the rim into the lime salt. If you drink liquor with soda, use diet soda. Mix liquor with seltzer and a splash of your favorite juice.
For wine lovers replace ½ a glass of white wine with club soda and a splash of citrus juice for a refreshing, bubbly cocktail.
Don’t pour your drinks into short and wide glasses without ice. Do pour your cocktails into tall glasses with plenty of ice. According to research studies, participants drank less when given tall, slender glasses when compared to shorter wide glasses. Enjoy your happy hour the healthy way.
Use citrus flavor, sparkling water or club soda. Avoid tonic water or sweet pop. Use fresh or frozen fruits, herbs and citrus. Avoid sugar-loaded fruit mixes and purees.
You can alternate alcoholic drinks and the non-alcoholic ones to save calories. This strategy helps to avoid calories and also to stay hydrated.
Don’t be shy about asking the cocktail your way. You can choose wine, and simple cocktails made with light mixtures. Some mixers that won’t add up calories include
- Light orange juice
- Light lemonade
- Diet soda
- Coffee, tea
- Light cranberry juice
- Orange juice
- Cranberry juice
- DaVinci or Torani’ssugar-free syrup
- Baja Bob’s sugar-free margarita
- Sweet ‘n’ sour mix
- Lemon juice or lime juice
You can skip the mixer and go in for infused vodkas they are not sweetened but infused with flavors from peach to jalapeno. The best part is that they don’t add extra calories.
You should dilute your drink. Before heading to the party have a game plan. Decide in advance about the number of cocktails you will have. Eat a light snack before you go. Be aware of your personal limits and don’t drink and drive.
Low Calorie Cocktail Recipes
Pinot Grigio Melon Ball Spritzer
Image Source: Pinterest
This is a delightfully refreshing low-calorie cocktail recipe by media/culinary dietician Abbey Sharp.
Pinot Grigio is a white wine. It is light, refreshing and fresh with vibrant floral and stone fruit aromas and a touch of spice.
Ingredients:
- Pinot Grigio -3 ounces
- Sparkling water 1 ounce
- Frozen balls of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon
- Dash of aromatic lemon bitters
- Slice of lemon
- Sprig of mint
Method:
- Scoop out pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew lemon with the melon baller.
- Freeze them on a baking tray until solid.
- In a tall, slender glass, add 3 ounces of pinot grigio white wine. It has the fruity flavor of grapefruit and pineapple and a lively finish.
- Add one ounce of sparkling water
- Add a dash of aromatic lemon bitters
- Throw in a few colorful frozen balls of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew lemon.
- Add a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint as garnish
- Serve and enjoy.
Watermelon Mojito
Image Source: Nancy’sCravings
This colorful mojito recipe is the brainchild of the celebrity media and nutrition expert Abbey Sharp.
Ingredients:
- Juice of one lime
- A sprig of mint
- ½ tsp of sugar
- 1 ½ cups of seedless watermelon puree
- One ounce of rum
- Handful of ice
Method:
- In a glass squeeze lime juice from one lime.
- Add a sprig of mint.
- Add ½ teaspoon of sugar
- Mash it gently
- Puree 1 ½ cups of seedless watermelon, an ounce of rum and a handful of ice.
- Pour the watermelon puree into mint and lemon mixture.
- Top it off with sparkling water.
Skinny Sangria
This delicious simple low-carb and low-calorie drink recipe is from Amy Locurto. Her main aim of this recipe is to keep off the sugar and to have fun. So here we go.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle red wine
- Fruits- Strawberries, oranges, blackberries and pineapple.
- Pomegranate vodka –less than half a cup
- Sprite Zero – 1 bottle
- Ice
Method:
- Cut the strawberries, oranges, blackberries and pineapple into small bits.
- Put the cut fruits into a big glass pitcher.
- Pour the whole bottle of red wine. You can use your favorite red wine.
- Add less than half a cup of pomegranate vodka.
- Keep it in the fridge for 2-4 hours.
- Add the sprite zero before you serve.
- Serve in tall glasses with plenty of ice.
- Add some fruit and garnish.
- Now enjoy the skinny sangria with your friends.
- For kids instead of the red wine, you can add pomegranate juice and leave out the vodka.
- Wow! A refreshing sangria is yours to enjoy.
Image Source: LivingLocurto
Mango Margarita
This tasty low-calorie cocktail belongs to the culinary dietician Abbey Sharp. Mango Margarita gives you the added probiotic benefits.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup of fresh or frozen mango
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of lime juice
- 3 ounces of mango kombucha
- An ounce of tequila
- Handful of ice
Method:
- Add 1/3 cup of fresh or frozen mango in a blender.
- Add 1 teaspoon of honey, one tablespoon of lime juice, an ounce of tequila and handful of ice.
- Puree all the above.
- Transfer the puree into a tall glass.
- Top it off with 3 ounces of mango kombucha.
- There you go, a refreshing low-calorie mango margarita with probiotic benefits is all yours to enjoy.
Image Source: The Wicked Noodle
Lemon ‘n’ Lime Cocktail
Image Source: Yummly
Lemon ‘n’ Lime cocktail recipe is by Food Trends. It has lively, refreshing and crisp taste. So here we go.
Ingredients:
- 1 diet lemon and lime fizzy drink
- Mint leaves
- Ice
Method:
- Add the fizzy drink, ice and mint leavesin a blender.
- Blend well.
- Pour it into a tall glass and garnish with a wedge of lime and a sprig of mint.
- Enjoy!
Strawberry Margarita
Strawberry Margarita is a low-calorie healthy cocktail. It does not contain alcohol and can be enjoyed together as a family. This cocktail delicious recipe is by Food Trends.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh strawberries
- Handful of ice
- 2 teaspoons of lime juice
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 cup orange juice
Method:
- Add the strawberries, ice, lime juice, sugar and orange juice in a blender.
- Blend well.
- Pour into tall glasses and garnish with a strawberry.
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Image Source: Tide and Thyme
Pina Colada
Pina Colada is usually made with rum, pineapple juice and coconut. This healthy version is the brainchild of Food Trends.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup coconut water
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup milk
- Handful of ice
Method:
- Blend the coconut water, pineapple juice, milk and ice in a blender.
- Transfer to serving glasses and enjoy your low-calorie cocktail.
White Wine Sangria
This is a healthy cocktail for summer. It is easy to prepare, and you can enjoy white wine sangria for a pleasant summer barbecue. This wonderful recipe is by HealthnutNutrition.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle white wine
- Fruits- Peaches or nectarines, raspberries and kiwi
- ¼ cup of agave. You can also use honey and coconut sugar, whatever you prefer.
- ½ bottle of sparkling water
- Few sprigs of fresh mint and basil.
Method
- Take a pitcher and add the peaches, raspberries and kiwi.
- Pour the full bottle of white wine into the pitcher. Add the sparkling water.
- Mix well. Throw in some fresh herbs such as mint and basil.
- Store it for an hour in the fridge.
- Pour it into tall glasses and enjoy.
- This is easy to prepare, healthy and low-calorie white wine sangria.
- So go ahead and enjoy.
Image Source: Salt and Wind
Conclusion
Though alcohol is not your best friend. You can always go in for moderation. Add fresh fruits and herbs to your cocktail. Try all these low-calorie cocktail recipes and enjoy your summer with family and friends.
Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy with friends and family. A little alcohol won’t just make your summer great, the memories of these good times will always stay with you for the rest of your life.
