Lose Weight Without Forfeiting Your Favorite Summer Cocktails

My favorite summer pastime? Lying poolside flipping through a trashy magazine with a frozen daiquiri in hand. Ahh ... The only hiccup to this spectacular scenario? The fact that after a bunch of those 266-calorie indulgences, I'd need a bigger bikini. Why, oh why, do all the yummy things in life have to be so dang fattening?

Related: 7 Best and Worst Sugar Substitutes

But, what's a girl to do? Drop her favorite summer hobby in order to lose the love handles?

Fat chance. Mama likes her cocktails way too much for that. So, instead, I made it my mission to find some low-cal drink alternatives that taste just as good, or even better, than my delicious daiquiri. Guess what? Mission more than accomplished!

Related: 8 "Healthy" Snacks That Are More Fattening Than a Twinkie

Here are 7 guilt-free concoctions, that'll let you have your cocktails -- and skimpy swimwear too.



WATERMELON FIZZ

Calories: 100
Ingredients:
1 oz. Tequila
3 oz. Watermelon
0.1 oz. Simple Syrup
0.1 oz. Soda water
5 Cilantro pieces
Squeeze of lime
1 Bamboo spike

Directions: Muddle the watermelon with the cilantro leaves in a cocktail shaker. Then add ice, simple syrup, and tequila. Shake vigorously and pour all contents into a rocks glass. Garnish with a piece of watermelon in a bamboo spike.


VEGAN MUDSLIDE

Calories: 80
Ingredients:
1 oz. vodka
2 oz. coffee
3 oz. light almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: Combing all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain over ice into a cocktail glass.

Related: 7 Healthy Ingredients Your Diet Needs


SKINNY SAKE MOJITO

Calories: 127
Ingredients:
1/2 fresh lime
8 sprigs fresh mint
3 oz. sake
2-3 drops liquid Stevia (or to taste)
Club soda
Lime wedge

Directions: Muddle the lime and mint in a cocktail shaker, then add the sake and Stevia. (Taste a small amount to see if it's sweet enough and add more Stevia if desired.) Pour over ice, then top off with club soda and a lime wedge.


PINEAPPLE MARTINI

Calories: 146
Ingredients:
2 oz. Coconut rum
2 oz. Pineapple Juice (fresh or canned)

Directions: Add rum and pineapple juice to shaker filled with ice, cover and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Related: 10 Best and Worst Frozen Foods


HEALTHY GIRL MARGARITA OR DAIQUIRI

Calories: 100
Ingredients (makes 4 drinks):
1 cup coconut water
1/4 cup honey
1 packet Stevia
4 shots tequila (for margaritas) or rum (for daiquiris)
Juice from 1 lemon
Juice from 1 lime
6 fresh strawberries
1 cup ice

Directions: Puree all ingredients in a blender until smooth and frothy. Serve in chilled margarita glasses.


GIN INFUSION

Calories: 80
Ingredients:
Fresh mint
Peeled English cucumber
Zest of 1 lemon
6 strawberries
1.75 liters of gin (any brand)

Directions: Wash all ingredients (except the gin, obviously) and tie the mint into a bundle. Put all ingredients into a pitcher, cover, and leave overnight. Then filter the liquid through a coffee filter and rebottle it. Now you can mix it however you like, but try serving it over ice with club soda and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Because of the natural sweetness of the strawberries and the flavor of the mint and cucumbers, you won't need to add sugar or anything else.


JAVATINI

Calories: 100
Ingredients:
2 parts espresso vodka
1 part Coffee-mate Natural Bliss Low-fat Vanilla
Ice cubes

Directions: Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice, then add espresso vodka and Coffe-mate. Cover and shake for 10 seconds, then strain into a chilled martini glass.

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