No matter what time of the year it is, college students can always find some excuse to party! And for those of us who are of age (or even for those who aren’t yet…) most parties come with plenty of delicious co*cktail temptations. But with these low-calorie recipes, you can enjoy a few drinks and still keep your body fit and trim!
1. Watermelon Fizz (makes 1 serving, 100 calories per serving)
For a refreshing and guilt-free drink that’s sure to have you dreaming of summer, try out this co*cktail that uses the natural sweetness of watermelon in place of a high-calorie sugar puree.
What You’ll Need
- 1 ounce Tequila
- 3 ounces watermelon
- 1/10 ounce simple syrup
- 1/10 ounce soda water
- 5 cilantro pieces
- Squeeze of lime
- 1 bamboo spike
How to Make It
- Muddle (lightly crush) watermelon with cilantro leaves.
- Add ice, simple syrup and tequila.
- Shake vigorously and pour all contents into a rocks glass.
- Garnish with a piece of watermelon and a bamboo spike
2. Strawberry-Coconut Daiquiri (makes 6 servings, 112 calories per serving)
This tasty tropical treat is sure to hit the spot during happy hour. Or omit the rum, add another 1/2 cup of strawberries and have it at any hour you want!
What You’ll Need
- 2-1/2 cupschopped fresh or frozen (not thawed) strawberries (about 12 ounces)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 cups ice cubes
- 3/4 cup coconut-flavored rum, such as Malibu
How to Make It
- Combine strawberries, sugar and lime juice together in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Add ice cubes and rum and blend until frothy.
- Transfer mixture to a pitcher and serve.
3. Bloody Mary with Shrimp (makes 2 servings, 78 calories per serving)
Need a hangover cure but worried about the calories from your 3 am drunk snacking the night before? Try this low-cal, vitamin-packed version of a Bloody Mary!
What You’ll Need
- 22 ouncesreduced-sodium V8
- 1 teaspoonhorseradish
- 1 teaspoonWorcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoonlemon juice
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 3 ouncesvodka
- Ice cubes
- 4 cooked shrimp
How to Make It
- Shake V8, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Tabasco, pepper and vodka in a large glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Fill 2 tall glasses with ice and divide the Bloody Mary between the glasses.
- Garnish each drink with 2 shrimp.
4. Skinny Beer-garitas (makes 4 servings, 231 calories per serving)
Beer and margaritas are not two words that you’d normally associate with the word skinny, but this recipe does a pretty good job of convincing us otherwise.
What You’ll Need
For the limeade:
- 1 cup fresh lime juice and 2 limes for zesting
- 1-1/2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup Splenda sugar blend
For the beer-garitas:
- 2 cups frozen limeade
- 2 bottles of light beer
- 1/2 cup tequila
How to Make It
To make the limeade:
- Zest two limes.
- In a large saucepan, combine water, Splenda and lime zest and heat until Splenda is completely dissolved.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool at room temperature.
- Stir in lime juice and freeze your limeade concentrate until ready to use.
To make the beer-garitas:
- In a pitcher, combine frozen limeade, 2 beers and 1/2 cup of tequila.
- Place pitcher in the freezer overnight until frozen through, then mix so that it is in slushy form and serve.
5. Skosmopolitan co*cktail (makes 1 serving, 75 calories per serving)
Want to drink like Carrie Bradshaw while still maintaining SJP’s rocking body? The skosmopolitan, or skinny cosmopolitan, is the co*cktail for you!
What You’ll Need
- Crushed ice
- 1-1/2 ounces citron vodka
- 1 ounce diet or very light cranberry juice
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 4 drops orange extract
- 2 teaspoons sweetener (equivalent to 3 teaspoons sugar)
How to Make It
- Half fill a co*cktail shaker (or a water bottle with a twisty top) with crushed ice, and pour over the ingredients.
- Shake well.
- Strain into glass and garnish.
6. Blushing Lady co*cktail (makes 1 serving, 162 calories per serving)
This co*cktail not only turns out a pretty pink color, but it’ll also only set you back 162 calories.
What You’ll Need
- 1 ounce PAMA liqueur
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce pink grapefruit juice
How to Make It
- Add 1 ounce PAMA, 2 ounces vodka and 1 ounce pink grapefruit juice to a mixing glass with ice.
- Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- You can rim the glass with sugar, or skip it and save on the calories.
7. Blueberry Ginger Bellini (makes 4 servings, 185 calories per serving)
This tasty co*cktail has so many healthy ingredients that you won’t feel guilty at all about treating yourself to one.
What You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 cups blueberry juice
- 1/2 cup sparkling wine, divided
How to Make It
- Mash blueberries with ginger, sugar and lemon juice.
- Add blueberry juice and let steep for at least 5 minutes.
- Strain; divide among 4 champagne flutes.
- Top each with 1/2 cup sparkling wine.
8. Salty Chihuahua (makes 4 servings, 188 calories per serving)
This interestingly named co*cktail is a margarita substitute that is low-cal and delicious!
What You’ll Need
- Coarse salt, (optional)
- 4 ounces tequila, divided
- 2 ounces orange-flavored liqueur, such as Cointreau, divided
- 3 cups grapefruit juice, divided
- 4 grapefruit slices, for garnish
How to Make It
- Wet the rims of 4 glasses and coat with coarse salt (if desired).
- Fill the glasses with ice.
- Pour 1 ounce tequila and 1/2 ounce liqueur into each.
- Top each with 3/4 cup grapefruit juice and stir.
- Garnish with a slice of grapefruit.
So stop worrying, collegiettes! With these drinks, you can treat yourself to a fun Friday night without packing on the pounds.
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