Five Guilt-Free Summer Cocktails

One of the best ways to celebrate summer vacation is to relax by the pool with a fun, fruity cocktail.  Now that I am finally 21 (I of course, never drank before then…) I have been trying out all kinds of fun, summery drinks – but those drinks come at a cost. Many of our poolside favorites are packed with sugar and calories, enough to keep us from feeling our best in our summer wardrobe staple, swimsuits of course. However, not all drinks will keep you from the pool, and many of our favorites can be made in a healthier way. So grab your bikini, sit back, relax and sip on these healthy versions of your favorite summer cocktails!

Pina Colada Cooler
A regular 8-ounce Pina Colada can have up to 640 calories! Any drink like that shouldn’t even be allowed at poolside bars. This healthy alternative from fitnessmagazine.com is only 165 calories per serving. Just pour over ice and enjoy without the guilt!

You Need:
1 ½ oz. of flavored rum
3 oz. of pineapple juice
4 oz. of sparkling water  
1 tablespoon of Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut Light (found near the drink mixers in the super market.

Skinny Girl Mojito
When I think of mojitos, I think of the episode of The O.C. where crazy Oliver introduces Marissa to the virgin version of this drink (maybe that’s because so far my summer has been one giant O.C. marathon with my friends). Though they are fun to say (mo-he-toes), these drinks can boost loads of calories per serving. Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York came up with an alternative.

You Need:
½ lime
1 cup of ice
1 ½ tablespoons of limejuice
½ tablespoon of warm honey.
2 oz. of clear rum
4 oz. of club soda
Mint leaves and a lime for garnish.

To Make:
Cut the lime into 6 wedges and mix with the ice and lime juice into a martini shaker (if you don’t have a drink shaker, use two cups, one slightly smaller that the other and fit together- make sure they fit tight enough so your drink won’t spill out!) Then combine the honey, rum and club soda and stir. Pour into a glass filled with ice and garnish with the mint to be as fancy as Oliver Trask.

Watermelon Quencher
Watermelon is the ultimate summery snack.  So why not turn that snack into a drink? Health.com gives a recipe for this drink that serves two and is only 151 calories per glass! So grab a friend, a boyfriend or a drink for each hand and enjoy watermelon the adult way.

You Need:
4 cups of watermelon
1 oz. of vodka
½ oz. of triple sec
1/3 lemon juice
½ cup of ice
Sugar for the rim of your glass (just to feel fancy!)

To Make:
Puree watermelon in a blender. (Yeah, I didn’t know what puree meant either, don’t feel bad.  Basically blend it until it is a thick liquid.) Next, strain the pureed liquid to make two ounces of juice.  Mix in the vodka, triple sec and lemon juice and shake up.  Then split the mix between two sugar-rimmed glasses of ice. Viola!

Strawberry Coconut Daiquiri
Strawberry Daiquiris are my vacation weakness. I have been drinking virgin daiquiris form the time I could actually read the word daiquiri. However, my favorite drink also comes loaded with sugar and calories. Try this recipe from eatingwell.com that uses fresh fruit and is only 112 calories per serving. This recipe makes enough for six servings so invite your friends over and pretend you are somewhere tropical (even if you are only sitting in your backyard in the middle of Illinois with the sprinkler going).

You Need:
2 ½ cups of fresh or frozen strawberries
3 tablespoons of sugar
3 tablespoons of limejuice
3 cups of ice cubes
¾ cup of coconut flavored rum (Malibu or Parrot Bay are my favorites)

To Make:
Combine the strawberries, sugar and limejuice together in a blender. Blend until smooth (so, puree, if you will). Add in the ice cubes and rum and blend until it is frothy.  Pour into a pitcher and serve from there!

Healthy Margarita
After you turn 21 it is pretty difficult to go eat at a Mexican restaurant like Dos Reales or the new Panchero’s Mexican Grill and not order a margarita, but these drinks aren’t always the healthiest for you. This recipe comes from Men’s Health Magazine, so take a cue from the guys and sip on a this alternative (only 257.5 calories) while you munch on your chips and salsa.

You Need:
1 ½ oz. of agave silver tequila
1 oz. of triple sec (or a splash of OJ)
1 ½ cup of limejuice (you could get this from one large lime)
1 teaspoon of agave syrup (also found near drink mixes in the supermarket)
A lime slice and coarse salt for a garnish

To Make:
Pour enough salt onto a plate so that it is lightly covered. Rub the rim of your glass with a slice of lime and then dip the glass on to the plate and set aside. Next combine the tequila, triple sec, limejuice and agave syrup into a shaker with ice for about 20 seconds. Pour into your salted glass with some ice and enjoy!