There’s nothing wrong with sipping on a cocktail or two, but rising temperatures and summer festivities can tempt you to overdo it. When you combine lots of alcohol with sugary juices, sodas and other high-calorie mixers, it’s a recipe for a diet disaster. Make smart choices for those alcoholic bevvies  – try our healthy swaps.

Choose: Lighter versions – try lower calorie mixes with tequila included (such as Jose Cuervo Authentic Light Margarita) or the Healthy Eats from-scratch recipe

The Payoff: A savings of 450 calories and nearly 5 grams of fat per serving

Choose: One shot of vodka (1.5 fluid ounces) on the rocks with olives or a twist

The Payoff: At least 200 calories LESS per cocktail

The Payoff: Less calories from booze and fruit juice, plus some real fruit to munch on

The Payoff: Fifty calories less per can or bottle. If you drink one beer a day, you’ll  save 18,250 calories over a year -- that comes out to 5 pounds

Looking for a tasty light beer? Check out the results of our light beer taste test

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana's full bio »

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