Low-calorie mocktails

By Kevin Rail

If you are trying to cut back on your alcohol intake and lose weight, whip up some low-calorie mocktails that fall under the category of "virgin." These can also come in handy if you've been deemed the designated driver.

Shirley Temple
Shirley Temples are a popular drink with young people. They are made with ginger ale and alcohol-free grenadine syrup, and are garnished with a cherry. To lower the calories, use diet ginger ale. For a variation, mix 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1/2 cup of lemon-lime soda and 1 tbsp. of grenadine syrup. This preparation normally comes in at about 170 calories. If you use diet soda, you can knock off another 60 calories.

Get the recipe for Shirley Temples here.

Cherry Sparkle
Sparkling water, or seltzer water as it's sometimes called, is nothing more than plain, carbonated water. To make a low-calorie mocktail, add 8 oz. of sparkling water to a glass and mix in 2 tbsp of cherry juice extract. Add a slice of orange, lemon or lime and throw in a cherry.

Get the recipe for Cherry Sparkles here.

Virgin Smoothie
While smoothies are popular post-workout meals, they're also frequently mixed with alcohol and other ingredients in high-calorie concoctions. Make a mocktail smoothie by mixing 1 cup of ice cubes, 2 cups of honeydew, one small apple, one kiwi, 2 tbsp. of sugar and 1 tbsp. of lemon juice in a blender. Mix the ingredients until they become slushy and pour into glasses. One smoothies contains just over 100 calories.

Get the recipe for Virgin Smoothies here.

Fake Cooler
Wine coolers have the appearance of watered-down wine and have a sweet taste. The average wine cooler is right around the 200 calorie mark which can lead to weight gain when they start sliding down really easily. To make a low-calorie mock version of a wine cooler, mix up 1cup each of pineapple and orange juice, 2 cups of cranberry juice, a can of diet ginger ale and 2 tbsp. of lemon juice. A serving of this alternative will run you slightly under 100 calories.

Get the recipe for Fake Coolers here.

Low-calorie mocktails was originally published on LIVESTRONG.COM.

LIVESTRONG.COM is designed to inspire people to change their lives, help themselves and help others. For more on this topic, visit http://www.livestrong.com.

Related Articles on LIVESTRONG.COM:
Mixed Drink Nutrition Information
Blackhead Home Remedy
Smart Shopping for Pomegranate
5 Things You Need to Know About Fruit Smoothies