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5 Summer Mocktails (Plus, Cherry Lime Cooler Recipe!)

by Jennifer Pantin
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5 Summer Mocktails (Plus, Cherry Lime Cooler Recipe!)

If you’re looking at your fitness goals as something more permanent instead of just for the summer, it’s never too late to get started.

While moderation is key, there are a few areas I find helpful to cut back on when I’m trying to shed a few pounds, and one of them is alcohol. It may be delicious, but it’s totally empty calories. The challenge is that restaurants and bars with patios beckon you to drink their refreshing cocktails when the weather is warm—and they’re extremely tempting. Delicious? Absolutely—but definitely a waste of calories.

Worse yet, with the heat of the summer it’s super important to stay hydrated, and alcohol dehydrates you. So what do you do? Order a mocktail!

Meant to imitate a cocktail without the alcohol, when done right mocktails are hydrating and contain fewer calories than their boozy counterparts. Here are five that I love to order—and make at home!

Mock Mojito One trick is to order a virgin mojito. It’s as refreshing as the real thing, minus the calories from rum—and no one will be the wiser! Want to cut back even more? Ask them to go light on the sugar when making it. Or, if you are preparing it at home, use half the amount of agave syrup in place of regular sugar.

Diet-Friendly Daquiri Another summer favorite is the daquiri. Again, skip the rum to save on calories without sacrificing flavor. To make it even healthier, order your daiquiri made with club soda or seltzer and extra fresh lemon or lime juice instead of lemon-lime soda. It will be more hydrating and lower in sugar!

Peach Bubbler Hosting a morning get-together? Skip the boozy Bellini and make yours with fresh peach puree and sparkling apple cider instead. Though champagne is not especially caloric, a small flute of sparkling cider has even fewer calories—and no post brunch hangover! Want to get creative? Try other fruit purees like mango or strawberry!

Cranberry Spritzer A personal favorite of mine is to order club soda with just a splash of cranberry. With just a quick glance it looks like a vodka cranberry—but it’s lighter, more hydrating, and keeps the calories and sugar from the cranberry cocktail juice to a minimum.

Cherry Lime Cooler In the last few weeks I’ve been making an effort to skip alcohol during the week—which means no after work, pre-dinner cocktails at home. Not wanting to be a party pooper when my boyfriend makes his own drink, I’ve been mixing up a Cherry Lime Cooler. The bite of the cherry and lime juice makes it feel like I’m sipping a real cocktail—but it’s only 70 calories. Can’t find cherry juice near you? Just substitute cranberry—it works great, too!

Which one of these mocktails will you be mixing up this week? Share your favorite low-cal sippers in the comments below!

About the Author

Jennifer Pantin

Writer, lawyer, and healthy-eating proponent, Jennifer Pantin loves experimenting with new, healthy recipes in her Brooklyn kitchen. Her blog, Lorimer Street Kitchen, is where she shares this passion for food and the belief that healthy recipes can be good for you and delicious, too. Connect with Jennifer and Lorimer Street Kitchen on FacebookTwitter, and Google+.

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