10 Low-Calorie Cocktails for your Next Happy Hour
Looking to enjoy a delicious cocktail without worrying about derailing your fat loss efforts?
Whether you’re hosting a football game watch, a cozy night in, or just want to share a fun drink with a friend, these 10 low-calorie cocktails are both refreshing and weight-loss-friendly.
As a mindful eating oriented weight loss coach, I ask my clients to get curious about what foods and drinks make them feel genuinely good from the inside out.
On that journey, a lot of my clients find that drinking less calories from alcohol and getting to EAT more calories makes them feel better inside their skin.
So here are some ideas if you want to explore this too:
1. Skinny Mojito
Ingredients:
1.5 oz white rum
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
10 fresh mint leaves
1 tsp sugar or a sugar substitute
Soda water
Instructions: Muddle (we just got this one for our wedding) the mint leaves with lime juice and sugar in a glass. Fill with ice, add rum, and top with soda water. Stir well and garnish with extra mint leaves.
Calories: ~90
2. Cucumber Gin Fizz
Ingredients:
1.5 oz gin
4-5 slices of cucumber
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
1 tsp agave syrup
Soda water
Instructions: Muddle (see link for muddler above) cucumber slices in a shaker, add gin, lime juice, and agave syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a cucumber slice.
(Hot tip: you can try this without the agave too… I like it that way also!)
Calories: ~95
3. Sparkling Skinny Margarita
Ingredients:
1.5 oz tequila
1 oz fresh lime juice (this juicer is one we just got which is fab for cocktails)
0.5 oz orange liqueur
Soda water
Instructions: Mix tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur in a shaker with ice. Strain into a glass over ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Calories: ~110
4. Vodka Watermelon Cooler
Ingredients:
1.5 oz vodka
1 cup fresh watermelon chunks
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
1 tsp honey or agave syrup
Instructions: Blend watermelon chunks until smooth. Strain the juice into a shaker, add vodka, lime juice, and honey. Shake with ice and strain into a glass. Serve over ice with a watermelon slice.
Calories: ~105
5. Strawberry Basil Spritzer
Ingredients:
1.5 oz vodka
4-5 fresh strawberries, sliced
3-4 fresh basil leaves (I freaking LOVE basil)
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
Soda water
Instructions: Muddle strawberries and basil in a shaker. Add vodka, lemon juice, and ice, then shake well. Strain into a glass and top with soda water. Garnish with a strawberry or basil leaf.
Calories: ~95
6. Lemon Thyme Gin Smash
Ingredients:
1.5 oz gin
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
1 tsp honey or a sugar substitute
3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
Soda water
Instructions: Muddle thyme with lemon juice and honey in a glass. Add gin and ice, then top with soda water. Stir and garnish with a sprig of thyme.
Calories: ~100
7. Grapefruit Paloma
Ingredients:
1.5 oz tequila
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
Soda water
Instructions: Mix tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit juice in a shaker with ice. Strain into a glass over ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Calories: ~110
8. Coconut Rum Cooler
Ingredients:
1.5 oz coconut rum
1 oz coconut water
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
Soda water
Instructions: Combine coconut rum, coconut water, and lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a lime wedge or coconut flakes.
Calories: ~95
9. Minty Green Tea Cooler
Ingredients:
1.5 oz vodka
1 cup brewed green tea, chilled
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
6-8 fresh mint leaves
1 tsp honey or agave syrup
Instructions: Muddle mint leaves with lime juice and honey in a shaker. Add vodka and chilled green tea, shake with ice, and strain into a glass. Serve over ice with a mint sprig.
Calories: ~90
10. Berry Light Sangria
Ingredients:
4 oz dry white wine
1 oz soda water
1/4 cup mixed fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
1 tbsp fresh orange juice
1 slice of orange or lemon for garnish
Instructions: Combine the wine, berries, and orange juice in a glass. Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Add ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a slice of orange or lemon.
Calories: ~110
Would you try one of these?? Comment below if you do!
PS. Thank you to a little AI robot for helping me organize this blog post
PPS. Links in this post are affiliate links… thank you for your support friends!
