Summer drinking doesn’t have to take its toll on your health. In fact, you can still enjoy your favorite alcoholic beverages like margaritas, mojitos and sangria—with a healthy twist. Kombucha margaritas, cucumber sangria and coconut water vodka refreshers are just a few of the 10 amazingly delicious and surprisingly healthy summer cocktails that LivingHealthy has sourced with the help of Pinterest, which will not only get you buzzing, but give you nutritional benefits as well. For instance, making your margarita with kombucha gives it a probiotics boost to aid in digestion and nutrient absorption, while using pomegranate juice to mix your mojito packs an antioxidant punch. And don’t forget about whiskey, which is one of the healthiest forms of alcohol on the market, aiding in everything from weight loss to immunity. Cheers!
10 Ridiculously Tasty (and Healthy) Summer Cocktails
Cucumber Sangria
Why you should make it: A refreshingly fun summer cooler that is super simple to concoct.
Key ingredients: Honeydew melon, cucumber, lime, mint, honey, white wine, soda water.
Why it’s good for you: Cucumbers are not only hydrating and provide some of your daily recommended vitamins (A, C, K, thiamine), magnesium, manganese, calcium and iron, but also contain lignans, a group of chemical compounds found in certain plants that are known to reduce the rate of reproductive organ and colon cancer.
Photo: bhg.com/Pinterest
Chamomile Honey and Whiskey Cocktail
Chamomile Honey and Whiskey Cocktail
Why you should make it: The perfect drink for an afternoon of smoking meats with your friends and family who are whiskey lovers!
Key ingredients: Chamomile tea, honey, whiskey or bourbon, orange slices, lemon slices.
Why it’s good for you: Whiskey is (surprisingly!) one of the healthiest forms of alcohol on the market with known benefits that include aiding weight loss, eliminating blood clots and strengthening immunity. Chamomile is a perfect relaxant, helping with insomnia and menstrual cramps, and an immunity booster.
Photo: acozykitchen.com/Pinterest
Pomegranate Mojito
Why you should make it: An antioxidant-rich twist on the classic mojito, this fruity drink packs a powerfully tasty punch.
Key ingredients: Pomegranate juice, simple syrup, lime juice, white rum, pomegranate seeds, mint.
Why it’s good for you: Super high in antioxidants, pomegranates are heart-healthy and great for immunity, while lime juice adds vitamin C, folate, citric acid and calcium.
Photo: jolynneschane.com/Pinterest
Low Calorie Vodka Coconut Refresher
Low-Calorie Vodka Coconut Refresher
Why you should make it: What’s more refreshing and hydrating in the summer than coconut water?
Key ingredients: Coconut water, vodka.
Why it’s good for you: It’s rich in potassium and low in calories and sugar.
Photo: weddingchicks.com/Pinterest
Kombucha Margaritas
Why you should make it: If you love margaritas and you’re a fan of kombucha, then this fusion is the perfect alcoholic drink for you.
Key ingredients: Tequila, triple sec or Cointreau, fresh lime juice, stevia or honey, kombucha.
Why it’s good for you: A fermented beverage, kombucha contains probiotics, which are the good bacteria that aid with digestion and nutrient absorption. Limes are high in vitamin C, folate, citric acid and calcium. Since the kombucha works as a sweetener, there is no added refined sugar, which brings the calorie count way down from your average margarita.
Photo: ourfourforks.com/Pinterest
Skinny Mint Mojito
Why you should make it: Who doesn’t like a mojito in the summer?
Key ingredients: Mint, stevia, lime juice, soda water, rum.
Why it’s good for you: Making your simple syrup with stevia instead of sugar takes most of the calories out of this take on the traditional mojito. Limes—high in vitamin C, folate, citric acid and calcium—have numerous health benefits ranging from aiding digestion to helping prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Photo: laurendamarie.com/Pinterest
Skinny Strawberry Lemon Sangria
Skinny Strawberry Lemon Sangria
Why you should make it: Sangria is the lifeblood of any summer party, and who isn’t game to consume fewer calories in their favorite summer drink?
Key ingredients: Cheap wine, brandy or light rum, sparkling water, strawberries, lemon slices, apple slices.
Why it’s good for you: Avoiding simple syrup and additional fruit juices, this cocktail uses sparkling water and fresh fruit to keep the calorie count low. Strawberries and apples add a little fiber, vitamin C, manganese, folate and potassium.
Photo: eatingbirdfood.com
Blood Orange Whiskey Cocktail
Skinny Strawberry Lemon Sangria
Why to make it: Sangria is the life of any summer party, and who isn’t game to shed a few calories from their favorite summer drink? Key Ingredients: Cheap wine, brandy or light rum, La Croix sparkling water, strawberries, lemon and apple
Why it’s good for you: Avoiding simple syrup and additional fruit juices, sodas and sugars keep the calorie count low, while strawberries and apple add a little bit of fiber, vitamin c, manganese, folate and potassium.
Photo: eatingbirdfood.com
Skinny Grapefruit Margarita
Why you should make it: Tangy and tart with the help of grapefruit, this low-calorie version of the margarita will add a twist to your summer fiesta.
Key ingredients: Grapefruit juice, lime juice, Skinny Triple Sec, gold tequila.
Why it’s good for you: Making your own drink with “skinny triple sec” is the secret to reducing the calories of the average margarita down to 120. Grapefruit juice is high in vitamins A and C, and is famous for its disease-preventing and health-promoting properties.
Photo: wineandglue.com/Pinterest
Blood Orange Ginger Margarita
Why you should make it: Your guests will marvel at the tangy, gingery taste of this fresh fruit-filled margarita, and they’ll get the nutritional benefits this fun little drink offers.
Key ingredients: Blood orange juice, ginger root, lime juice, agave nectar, silver tequila.
Why it’s good for you: Using real fruit instead of fruit liqueur or frozen mix and replacing sugar with agave nectar brings the calorie count down. Ginger, an indigestion aid with anti-inflammatory properties, and blood oranges, high in vitamin C and a great source of fiber, add nutritional value.
Photo: boulderlocavore.com/Pinterest
10 Ridiculously Tasty (and Healthy) Summer Cocktails
January 16, 2017Related Topics
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Posted on 7:00 am PST January 16 2017 by Leah Ornstein Groth
Photo: Shutterstock
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