Let's face it. It's hard to have a social life AND remain health-conscious when it comes to alcoholic beverages and mixed drinks. Keep in mind that indulgence is the key to leading a balanced life. Having a treat now and then can help you stick to your fitness goals, as you allow yourself some grace and give your body what it's craving. Here are some blogs to prove the point that it's okay to indulge as long as you don't overdo it.

The Skinny on Cheat Meals

Habits of Fit People

 

This summer, you're in luck!

You can have your drink AND lose weight, too!

If you want to drink during these nice summer days but need some help keeping true to fitness goals, here are some healthy cocktail recipes you can make at home so you can stay on track. Along with these recipes, we've also provided a list of the best alcoholic beverages to order, so you can plan ahead when out with your friends or family.

We believe in YOU! 

We know you can do it! Don't make a snap decision choosing the worst drink option out there when the bartender asks you what you want. Don't create those sugary cocktails at home just because they're popular amongst your peers. Instead, use our lists of skinny mixed drinks and better-for-you alcohol orders below. Know the better options, stay aware, and stay prepared this holiday season.

 

For those who need some balanced summertime options...

The 5 Best Low-Calorie Cocktails

Here are some healthy summer drink recipes if you're simply "done" with the cold weather already, and ready for summertime once again:

 1. Skinny Fruit Spritz Cocktail

Serves 4 | 64 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://princesspinkygirl.com/skinny-summer-cocktails/

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces vodka
• 2 liters of sparkling water
• 2 tbs of Stevia
• Fresh strawberries, blueberries, and lemon

Directions:

1. Mix your vodka, seltzer water, and Stevia in a pitcher.
2. Add fruit, mix well and pour over ice. Enjoy.

2. Keto Vodka Lemonade

Serves 4 | 152 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://www.ketofocus.com/recipes/sugar-free-keto-vodka-lemonade/

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces vodka
• 4 cups of cold water
• 1/2 cup of monk fruit or sweetener of choice
• 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup of Ice
• Strawberries for garnish

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and mix until smooth
2. Garnish with strawberries and serve to enjoy. 

3. Low-Cal Summertime Margarita

Serves 4 | 118 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://www.openfit.com/skinny-margarita-recipes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of unsweetened coconut water
• 2 cups ice
• 1 1/2 cups of 100% fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup of tequila
• 4 tbs freshly squeezed orange juice
• Orange and lime wedges for garnish
• Pink Himalayan or sea salt for rims

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients into a shaker, and shake for 15-30 seconds. If you want it to be frozen, combine ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Take a lime wedge and roll it over the lip of 4 serving glasses. Then, roll that lip into your sea salt.
3. Pour the drink mixture into your four glasses and garnish with orange and lime wedges.

4. Tropical, No Added-Sugar Sangria

Serves 4 | 130 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://under500calories.com/recipe/0ea65-tropical-sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of white wine
• 1/2 cup of white rum
• 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 tsp of sweetener of choice
• 1/2 cup diced mango
• 1/2 cup diced apple
• 1 cup of club soda
• 3 cups ice
• Mint for optional garnish

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients except for club soda into a large pitcher with ice.
2. Add club soda and stir.
3. Serve and enjoy!

5. Skinny Strawberry Mojito

Serves 4 | 112 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://thedeliciousspoon.com/strawberry-mojito/

Ingredients:

• 8 sliced strawberries
• 8-10 sprigs of mint
• 1 lime cut into 4 wedges
• 1 1/3 cups of crushed ice
• 4 tsp of Stevia or another sweetener of choice
• 2/3 cup of white rum
• 1 liter of orange-flavored club soda

Directions:

1. Muddle mint, strawberries, and Stevia together until the mint turns dark green. (Use a wooden spoon if you don't have a muddler.)
2. Add muddled mixture to a large picture and stir in your rum.
3. Top it off with your club soda and stir.
4. Squeeze one lime wedge into four glasses of crushed ice,
5. Pour equal parts into glasses and serve.

 

 

 

Going out? Do you know what you'll order to stay on track?

Best Alcoholic Beverage Orders & Healthy Mixed Drinks

Order one of these alcoholic drink choices while out, and stay on top of your health and fitness!

1. Miller 64

64 calories per serving

Miller 64 has minimal calories compared to other beers. Coming in at - you guessed it - 64 calories per beer, it's an excellent choice for those who enjoy a beer without so many calories.

2. Vodka Water With Lime

75 calories per serving

Vodka water with a splash of lime only contains 75 calories per drink. Fill the glass with ice, put in one ounce of vodka, then squeeze the juice of a lime wedge over the vodka. To finish, top it with cold water and stir to combine. Want to make it taste like Sprite? Use soda water for some bubbles!

3. Champagne

90 calories per serving

Champagne happens to be pretty forgiving in the calorie department. One standard flute, about four ounces, contains only around 90 calories.

4. Michelob ULTRA

95 calories per serving

Although this isn't the lowest-calorie beer out there, Michelob ULTRA can easily be found at any liquor store with a moderate amount of calories. With 95 calories per beer and only 2.6 carbs, you can safely enjoy a couple of drinks and leave behind all the guilt.

5. Rum and Diet Coke

96 calories per serving

If you're craving a soda, grab a low-calorie rum and Diet Coke. All you have to count calorie-wise is the ounce of rum, which is just 96 calories.

6. Budweiser Select

99 calories per serving

Don't be fooled by the dark gold tones of Budweiser Select. This lager is light, and the calories prove it at just 99 calories per beer with an alcohol content of 4.3 percent.

7. Gin and Tonic

140 calories per serving

With Tonic containing around ten calories per ounce, it's the perfect accompaniment to a top-shelf gin which contains up to 140 calories.

8. Old Fashioned

154 calories per serving

An Old Fashioned is a fancy cocktail with a splash of bitters to add some flavor, a bit of sugar to add some sweetness, and of course, bourbon to make it a cocktail. It comes in at around 154 calories per drink. 

9. Amstel Light

95 calories per serving

Amstel Light only contains 95 calories per beer. With 35 percent fewer calories than the original, it's a significant number, especially if you have more than one.

10. A Toned-Down Mojito

150 calories per serving

A sugarless mojito with extra lime can be a great alternative to one that's packed with sugar. Expect around 150 calories per beverage.

11. Dirty Martini

220 calories per serving

Many bartenders serve martinis in more oversized glasses, so be aware that a four-ounce martini reaches around 220 calories. You can indulge with one, but maybe stick to the one!

12. Busch Light

95 calories per serving

Busch Light is as easy on the wallet as it is on the waistline. A longer brewing process cuts 38 calories from the original Busch, meaning it comes in at 95 calories per beer.

13. Gimlet

185 calories per serving

If you enjoy gin, go with a classic gimlet. This drink contains sweetened lime juice and gin, and that's it! Skip the sweetened juice, and instead, add a small amount of simple syrup with fresh-squeezed lime to cut a few more calories.

13. Red Wine

125 calories per serving

Is wine your drink of choice? Great! There are MANY health benefits to drinking red wine in moderation. And with just 125 calories, you could have two! Read the red wine health benefits in the blog below:

Top 10 Health Benefits to Drinking Red Wine

 

Feeling Festive even in the heat? We've got you covered!

Holiday Cocktail Recipes | Skinny Festive Mixed Drinks

Make the following adapted holiday drinks instead of the familiar favorites loaded with sugar, and feel better and more in control of your alcoholic consumption.

 1. Cranberry Moscow Mule

Serves 2 | 128 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://gethealthyu.com/recipe/holiday-moscow-mule-2/

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces vodka
• 1 can of Ginger Beer (we used Reed's Zero Sugar Ginger Beer)
• 3 ounces diet cranberry juice
• 8 fresh mint leaves, 2 slices of fresh ginger peeled
• Ice
• Optional - cinnamon stick, lime wedges, cranberries

Directions:

1. Muddle or mince fresh ginger and mint, and add it to your cups filled with ice
2. Pour in your vodka, cranberry juice, and ginger beer.
3. Stir and then add garnishes. Serve and enjoy!

2. Low-Fat Eggnog (Vegan & Healthy)

Serves 8 | 87 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://delightfulmomfood.com/vegan-eggnog-recipe-healthy-low-fat/#recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of unsweetened cashew milk (sub with oat or almond milk, if you prefer)
• 1 can of light or low-fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 1/3 cup Dark Rum
• 3 tbs Brandy
• 1/2 vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg and cinnamon
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

Directions:

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, add all ingredients and mix well with a whisk on low heat.
2. Stir until all ingredients are heated, about five minutes.
3. Serve immediately and add a cinnamon stick to garnish, or refrigerate in an airtight container and chill until ready to serve. (Beverage will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator).

3. Low-Sugar Gingerbread Martini

Serves 2 | 213 calories per serving

Recipe adapted from https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/sugar-free-gingerbread-martinis-and-a-giveaway/

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces vanilla vodka
• 1 ounce of sugar-free coffee syrup
• 2 tbs of heavy cream (use coconut cream to health this drink up even more!)
• 1 tbs of sugar-free sweetener or 3/4 teaspoon of Stevia simple syrup
  • To make syrup, mix equal parts water and Stevia over heat. The syrup is ready when sugar has dissolved.
• 1/8 tsp of ground ginger spice
• 1/8 tsp of cinnamon
• Pinch of cloves
• Ice

Directions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add all ingredients and shake well.
3. Divide mixture into equal-sized martini glasses, and add another dash of cinnamon to garnish.
4. Serve, sip, enjoy!

4. Skinny Hot Chocolate | Only 3 Grams of Sugar per Serving!

Serves 4 | 100 calories per serving

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 cup sugar-free cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp sugar-free maple syrup
• 3 ounces of Amaretto
• Sugar-free marshmallow to garnish

Directions:

1. Heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. Whisk in cocoa powder and maple syrup until the liquid starts to bubble.
3. Stir in Ameretto.
4. Serve in mugs and add sugar-free marshmallows to top off and finish the drink!

 

The Bottom Line on Health & Alcoholic Consumption:

The holiday season is upon us! And with the holidays comes a whole lot of parties and get-togethers, temptation, and fun. It's okay to indulge when it comes to drinking; just don't overdo it! Try some of these low-calorie alcoholic drink recipes at home, or order the above drinks when out to stay in control. Feel more prepared by sticking to these lists and worrying less about empty calories consumed. Enjoy this holiday season with some better-for-you options and festive drink recipes that all will enjoy.

What's your favorite low-calorie alcoholic drink?
What healthy recipes will you make this holiday season?

Let us know in the comments below!