Temperatures are climbing the charts, which means we’re all looking for tasty (but healthy) summer drinks. If that’s nowhere in sight, don’t despair! Check out one of these recipes guaranteed to give you a light and refreshing pick-me-up with less calories and sugar than an average can of cola.
1. PINEAPPLE COCONUT WATER | 101 COOKBOOKS
Taste the tropics with this light and refreshing pineapple coconut water made with a kick of ginger juice. The recipe calls for one teaspoon of honey, but if your pineapple is sweet enough, you can leave it out. Nutrition information includes one teaspoon of honey. Recipe makes 2 servings.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 74; Total Fat: 0g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 18mg; Total Carbohydrate: 19g; Dietary Fiber: 0g; Sugars: 14g; Protein: 1g
2. BROWN RICE HORCHATA | SKINNYTASTE
Horchata is a sweet Mexican beverage made from rice, milk, sugar and cinnamon that’s sure to beat the heat. This recipe version is great if you have brown rice to spare, but you can also make it using white rice, which is a more traditional take. Recipe makes 5 servings at 1 cup each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 138; Total Fat: 1g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 31mg; Total Carbohydrate: 31g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugars: 13g; Protein: 3g
3. LOWER SUGAR LEMONADE | SELF
Looking for a way to lower the sugar in your lemonade? Check out this recipe that substitutes unsweetened applesauce for some of the sugar found in regular lemonade. You might not miss the sweetness since this lemonade is buffed up with sparkling water and fresh mint for garnish. Recipe makes 4 servings.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 87; Total Fat: 0g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 11mg; Total Carbohydrate: 24g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugars: 17g; Protein: 1g
4. HIBISCUS POMEGRANATE ICED TEA | EATING WELL
Enjoy low-calorie herbal iced tea by mixing berry-flavored hibiscus tea with some pomegranate juice. The tea is flavorful all by itself, but you can add a touch of honey if you desire a bit more sweetness. Recipe makes 8 servings at 1 cup each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 19; Total Fat: 0g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 8mg; Total Carbohydrate: 5g; Dietary Fiber: 0g; Sugars: 0g; Protein: 0g
5. MINT LEMONADE | PICKLED PLUM
This is the recipe for that moment when you’re craving lemonade, but want to cap your sugar intake. Some sugar is still involved to balance out the lemons’ tartness, but mint leaves steal the show by adding flavor without excess sweetness. Recipe makes 4 servings.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 74; Total Fat: 0g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 9mg; Total Carbohydrate: 21g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Sugars: 15g; Protein: 1g
6. STRAWBERRY AGUA FRESCA | COOKING LIGHT
Agua fresca is Spanish for “fresh water,” and refers to a fruit-infused drink perfect for sultry summers. This recipe brings out the refreshing ripeness of strawberries while going easy on your calorie and sugar budget. Recipe makes 8 servings at 1 1/3 cups each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 71; Total Fat: 0g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 4mg; Total Carbohydrate: 18g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Sugars: 14g; Protein: 1g
7. VIRGIN MOJITO | CLEAN EATING
Crush mint, lime and basil together and you’ve got a refreshing blast of flavor! While basil may seem unconventional in a beverage, it’s actually botanically related to mint, adding a light floral essence. Recipe makes 2 servings at 1 cup each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 30; Total Fat: 0g; Saturated Fat: 0g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 8mg; Total Carbohydrate: 8g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugars: 2g; Protein: 1g
