This summer, skinny cocktails, antioxidants, and ‘healthy’ beverages continue to grow in popularity, especially as the beach and pool party season beckons for you to come and play.
We know that feeling – the kids are out of school, the temperature is rising, and you’re just itching to enjoy some fun in the sun!
If indoors, you can rent a treadmill from Hirefitness, or elsewhere and plan a fitness regime for the summer – if you already haven’t! That would be fun right?
While we can’t promise to reduce wrinkles, or concoct some new workout that involves raising a glass, here’s a few ideas for low-calorie cocktails to enjoy this summer that are more than tasty-many of their ingredients are actually good for your health.
Ingredient #1: Soju
As a spirit, Soju has been around for a while. A Japanese spirit that’s lower in calories, but blends like vodka (smooth, clean, and easy to build on), this is one to keep in your home bar cabinet during the summer.
Asian Coconut Crush (only 98 calories!)
- 2 oz Soju
- Splash of Coconut Water
- Fresh Berries (blueberries add anti-oxidants, great color, and fewer calories than other fruits)
- mint leaves
Muddle mint and berries in a shaker, add ice, coconut water, and Soju. Shake for 1 minute, then strain over ice.
Coconut water is high in electrolytes, low in carbs, and can help regulate digestion. Not a bad deal, compared to that 400+ calorie margarita!
Ingredient #2: Unfiltered Sake
Unfiltered sake is unpasteurized, leaving it closer to its natural fermentation state. The result is something closer to a ‘raw’ food, in beverage form. Less cooking equals more benefits for your health.
Crave Local Kitchen
Makes 2
- 1 small bunch mint leaves
- 2 oz fresh lime juice
- 3 tbs agave
- 4 oz cup sake
- ice
- sparkling wine
Muddle the mint leaves in a shaker, along with the lime juice and agave nectar. Strain over ice between two rocks glasses. Add the sake and ice and stir. Top with sparkling wine, stir, and serve.
Ingredient #3: Red wine
A half a glass of wine a day has long been touted as having great benefits, for the cardiovascular system, the skin (anti-aging benefits of resveratrol!), and much more. We like to pair red wine with antioxidant rich pomegranates, like in this adaptation of Bobby Flay’s sangria recipe.
Crave Local Kitchen
Serves 4-6
- 1 bottle dry red wine
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/2 cup Cointreau
- 1/4 cup agave nectar (way better than simple syrup!)
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 large orange, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 green apple, cored, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 cup red grapes, sliced in 1/2
- Club soda or seltzer to taste (each glass)
Combine all ingredients in a pitcher, except the soda water. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 48 hours before serving. Serve over ice-3 parts sangria mix, 1 part soda. Garnish with fresh fruit or a mint sprig.
Ingredient #4: Acai Berries
High in antioxidants, acai berries are sweet, tart, and good for you. Add them to a cocktail for a little extra health benefit.
- 1 oz vodka
- 1/4 cup frozen acai berries
- 2 lemon wedges, squeezed
- 1 oz sparkling water
- 1 tsp honey (you could opt for a more natural option like Manuka honey)
Muddle the berries and honey, add the lemon and vodka with ice, shake. Strain on the rocks, top with sparkling water.
Ingredient #5: Green Tea
Now we can’t end this list of cocktails without including the almighty best-green tea! Green tea is great for your heart, your skin, and a lot more. In cocktails…well, it’s at least a great addition to the menu. We love this green tea martini recipe for cool summer sipping.
- .5 oz citrus vodka
- 2 inch piece of cucumber
- Dash simple syrup (or agave nectar)
- Dash lemon juice
- 25ml green tea
- Piece of fresh ginger
- 2 basil leaves
- Small pinch of Sea Salt
Muddle cucumber and ginger with a pinch of salt and simple syrup/agave nectar. Add the rest of the ingredients and shake with cubed ice. Finely strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a thin slice of cucumber.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this healthy cocktail recipe list. If you did, or you have recipes of your own to share, tell us! You can find us on Twitter or Facebook, and we look forward to hearing from you!
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