10 Cocktails That Won't Ruin Your Post-Summer Bikini Body Slideshow
There are a few tricks to making your cocktail "healthier."
For starters, swap out simple syrup and fruit juice. In their place, choose low-calorie natural sweeteners and flavored sparkling waters that have fewer calories and no added sugar. If you've got to have juice, then make it freshly squeezed. Processed juices like orange and cranberry can have added sugar and way more calories than they are worth.
Generally, drinking alcohol isn't the best way to avoid unnecessary calories. But we're not here to rain on your parade — and we always want to make sure you have a good time. That being said, we've rounded up a few cocktails that are less harmful for your post-summer body.
Blueberry Blast
Blueberries are healthy and tasty. Kiss the extra calories goodbye by using sparkling water in this recipe rather than a sugary mixer. This cocktail has only around 150 calories per serving.
Itsy Bitsy Bikini-Tini
Fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice is low in calories and has no added sugar. This makes it the perfect mixer for a low-calorie drink — such as Skinnygirl Cucumber Vodka — that boasts the refreshing flavor of cucumbers.
Just Peachy Martini
You could simply make this cocktail with half a cup of diet peach ice and one part vodka. But if you're after a fresh flavor, swap out the tea for peach nectar. Yes, creating a skinny cocktail is really that simple.
Low-Cal Sangria
Sangria tends to be loaded with hidden sugars and syrups. A "low-cal" version can be made using sparkling lemon-lime- or orange-flavored water to reduce calories and sugar intake. When you go to make this tasty cocktail, make sure you choose flavored water with no added sugar.
Pink Lemonade Cocktail
For this recipe, all you need is one shot of vodka, one packet of Crystal Light pink lemonade, and some water. These easy and very accessible ingredients will make a light and refreshing cocktail that clocks in at fewer than 100 calories.
Sauza Sparkling Margarita
It can't be any simpler than opening a bottle and pouring — and that's all you have to do with this guy. This is a ready-made low-calorie cocktail in a bottle that packs all the flavor of a margarita (it's made with Sauza silver tequila) without the calories. It clocks in at just 125 calories a serving and comes in flavors like Original Lime, Wild Berry, and Mango Peach.
Spritzer Cocktail
If you're a wino at heart, you'll love this refreshing wine cocktail. It's easily made by mixing three-quarters of a glass of your favorite white wine and few healthy splashes of sparkling water. This is an ideal cocktail to take you from day to night, as the calorie and alcohol contents are low.
Skinny Colada
By using infused spirits, you won't have to add so much of that calorie-laden fruit juice. Make a skinny version of the Caribbean's most popular drink by mixing two ounces of SKYY Infusions Coconut and a quarter ounce of SKYY Infusions Pineapple with two ounces of club soda and just a splash of pineapple juice. You'll have all the piña without the pounds.
Vodka Soda
This one may be obvious, but we believe it's highly underrated for how low in calories it is, so we decided to include it on the list. Lucky for you, there are flavored seltzers that contain no calories, so this old summer standby doesn't have to be flavor-free.
Watermelon Slushy
Yes, you can drink a slushy without all of the added sugar and calories. Watermelon is super hydrating and flavorful as well. Blend a cup of frozen watermelon with one ounce of melon-flavored vodka and a few sprigs of mint and you've got yourself an adult version of summer's favorite sipper.