Skinny Cocktails

Simple swaps to lighten up your cocktails

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Mojito cocktail with lime, mint and ice

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Mojito cocktail with lime, mint and ice.

Mojito cocktail with lime, mint and ice.

Calories consumed while imbibing add up fast. Consider this: One 8-ounce margarita on the rocks can have over 500 calories and 30 grams of sugar. A frozen margarita has nearly 800 calories and 50 grams of sugar (the equivalent of 16 chocolate chip cookies). More of a pina colada person? Plan to hit the treadmill hard since one drink has over 500 calories and 50 grams of sugar. And that simple vodka with cranberry or orange juice? A minimum of 200 calories and 23 grams of sugar.

It’s easy to make your drinks skinnier and healthier at the same time:

-Cut calories in half (and add nutrients) by using coconut water instead of fruit juice.

-Use watermelon puree to naturally sweeten drinks (leave out the sugar and simple syrup).

-Replace sweetened fruit purees and frozen drink mixes with fresh or frozen sliced strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

-Replace half the amount of fruit juice with flavored seltzer water.

-Use orange wedges instead of orange juice or replace the juice with flavored, no-calorie water.

-Opt for sake, shochu or soju, Asian spirits with fewer calories than vodka and gin.

-Replace tonic water with club soda or seltzer water.

Robin Miller is a nutritionist, host of Quick Fix Meals, author of “Robin Rescues Dinner” and the busy mom of two active little boys. Her boys and great food are her passion. Check her out at www.robinrescuesdinner.com.

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