Proof logo

Low Calorie Summer Cocktails

These low calorie summer cocktails are great for indulging without hurting your waistline.

By Lynne ShumakerPublished 7 years ago 5 min read
Top Story - July 2017
1
Low Calorie Summer Cocktails

Dieting isn't easy, especially if you love to party and drink the night away. After all, if there's one thing that can kill a diet faster than a trip to an all you can eat buffet, it's drinking.

Drinking is a waistline killer in a number of different ways. Carbohydrates in alcohol mean that you'll stop burning fat if you're on a keto diet. There's also the fact that alcohol contains a lot of calories, which in turn means that you also are more likely to exceed your daily recommended intake. To make matters even worse for those looking to shed inches, drinking cocktails also makes you more likely to overeat the day after.

That being said, life is just not fun if you don't indulge from time to time. This is doubly true during the summer. That's why bartenders have taken the time to create low calorie summer cocktails that taste great but also help you curb your intake in a smart and safe way. The following low calorie summer cocktails are nutritionist-approved indulgences that won't ruin your diet — but will taste awesome.

Rum and Diet Coke

Perhaps one of the best low calorie summer cocktails you can order or make yourself is a regular old "Rum and Coke" with Diet Coke rather than regular Coca-Cola.

In terms of calorie count, a single Rum and Diet Coke will run you 96 calories per serving, assuming that you use a single shot of rum in the cocktail. But, there's better news than just the low calorie count alone.

This is actually waistline friendly in terms of carbohydrates, too. Since distilled liquor has no carbohydrates, this is also an Atkins-friendly cocktail, too.

Total Calorie and Carb Count

  • Calories: 96
  • Carbohydrates: 0

Vodka and Diet Soda

We've all seen a million ways to prep this drink — some of them good, others nasty in flavor. Diet soda has no sugar and can run the gamut from just plain seltzer to something more cocktail-appropriate, such as zero-calorie cucumber soda.

No matter what diet soda you choose, this cocktail combo is a perfect template for a slew of low calorie summer cocktails. Our suggestion is to pair diet raspberry ginger ale with a shot of vodka for a makeshift Dirty Shirley.

Much like with Rum and Diet Cokes, these cocktails are also Atkins-friendly because of their low carbohydrate counts.

Total Calorie and Carb Count:

  • Calories: 96
  • Carbohydrates: 0

Wine Spritzers

Wine is relatively low in carbohydrates, and thehealth benefits of wine are very well known. People love wine, and that's one of the reasons why it's such a popular drink during summer. Considering how good wine can be, it shouldn't be surprising that it's sometimes a main ingredient in low calorie summer cocktails.

Wine spritzers are easy as can be to make. All you need to do is add seltzer to half a glass of the wine of your choice. If you learn to love the taste of spritzers, it can seriously change the way you drink for the healthier.

Wine spritzers are considered to be an Atkins-approved choice.

Total Calorie And Carb Count:

  • Calories: 60
  • Carbohydrates: 2

Gin and Tonic

A favorite among the British as well as those who love a refreshing yet strong cocktail, ordering a Gin and Tonic is a great way to kick off a night. Much like the others on this list so far, Gin and Tonics are low calorie summer cocktails that satisfy and impart a powerful punch.

Assuming that you add 1.5 ounces of gin to your tonic water, you should end up with a drink that rests at around 97 calories. Much like other combinations we've seen on this list, it also is exceptionally Atkins-friendly.

Gin, like vodka and rum, has no carbohydrates.

Total Calorie and Carb Count:

  • Calories: 97
  • Carbohydrates: 0

Lo-Cal Mojitos

A standard mojito isn't going to be too good for those who are on a very strict diet since they tend to hover around 180 calories per serving. The reason why they tend to be so calorific, obviously, is the sugar content you find in a standard mojito.

However, this can be remedied with a really quick fix: just reduce the amount of sugar to half, and you'll create a Lo-Cal Mojito. Much like the name says, a low calorie mojito is very diet-friendly in most cases.

Unlike the others that you've seen on this list so far, Lo-Cal Mojitos aren't good for people on the Atkins Diet. Sugar is sugar, and that makes it a pretty big carbohydrate bomb regardless.

Total Calorie And Carb Count:

  • Calories: 140
  • Carbohydrates: 25.8

Sour Apple Martinis

Most of the low calorie summer cocktails on this list seem to still be relatively restrictive, don't they? Sour Apple Martinis sure don't fit the typical bill of what people think when they consider diet-friendly cocktails, but the truth is that they're actually quite light.

The sour apple liqueur is what ends up being the bulk of the calories in a typical Sour Apple Martini, but honestly, it's totally worth it. That being said, this might not be the most Atkins-friendly cocktail on the market.

Total Calorie And Carb Count:

  • Calories: 160
  • Carbohydrates: 23

Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch

There's a huge demand for DIY cocktails that are low calorie and high flavor. One of the newest summer cocktail recipes we've seen making its rounds on the net is Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch.

This electrolyte-heavy fruit punch has the bubbly goodness of champagne, the island-ready richness of coconut flavor, and generally just tastes great. Its tiki party flavor is what makes this one of the best low calorie summer cocktails for your next beach party.

Due to the fact that this has optional grenadine and natural variants in its recipe, we can't do the carb count. However, it's unlikely to be totally Atkins-friendly.

Total Calorie And Carb Count:

Calories: 132

Carbohydrates: N/A

cocktailslist
1

About the Creator

Lynne Shumaker

Wannabe bartender and whiskey connoisseur. Enjoys exploring new food pairings for any type of drink. Sometimes I travel to different countries with my friends... :)

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.