Pour It Up, Pour It Up! Low-Calorie Drinks You Can Get At Almost Any Bar - Page 8

Summer is almost here and that means going out more while trying to weigh less—not the easiest combination. Instead of being the “difficult” dieter asking for complex skinny cocktail recipes from your bewildered and too-busy-to-care bartender, keep this list of low-calories cocktails that you can find at almost any bar on hand.

For a coffee fix

Blended drinks can be your waist’s worst nightmare, but not this one. If your bar has a blender, and you need a pick-me-up, ask for 2 ounces of vodka mixed with 1 ounce dark coffee or espresso, 2 ounces non-fat milk, 1 tsp. raw sugar, and (if they have it) a non-fat whipped topping.

Lighter Sangria

Another summer sip, sangria has its merits without all the sweetener! Munching on the chopped fruit will slow down your drinking and curb the drunk munchies. Ask for ½ cup chopped fruit mixed with 1 ounce orange liqueur and 4 ounces dry white wine.

Skinny-tini

Skip the syrups most fruity martinis have. This drink consists of 2 ounces of vodka, 1-ounce pomegranate juice, 1 ounce raspberry puree, ½ ounce limejuice and floating raspberries or blackberries for a garnish.

A twist on the Mojito

Enjoy this summer staple without all the sugar. Just ask for a Gin with seltzer, lemon juice and mint. The mint and juice do enough to cover up the taste of the alcohol.

Guinness

You usually associate dark beers with high calories, but this molasses colored beer surprisingly only caries 126 calories in a 12 ounce glass. Plus the high fizz content that fills your belly might make you less inclined to move onto a second drink.

Vodka Soda

In case you didn’t get the memo, Soda water has in fact zero sugar or calories, and tonic is as sugary as one of those real sodas on your diet no-no list. So, your preferred liquor with soda water, plus a little lime for flavor, equals only as many calories as are in the alcohol itself.

The new fashioned

Imbibers didn’t quite watch their waistlines when the original Old Fashioned was created, but it’s a limited ingredient cocktail. Ask your server to make these alterations: ½ tsp. sugar, ½ tsp. water, 2 shakes of Angostura bitters, 2 ounces bourbon, 1 twist of lemon peel and ice.

Skinny Margarita

At this point, if your bartender doesn’t know how to make one of these, go to another bar. But just know, most bars consider this a “house” drink now. It won’t always be listed on the specialty cocktail menu, but it’s available.

Cosmopolitan

There’s a reason the thin and fashionable Sex and the City crew loved these: with just vodka, limejuice and a splash of cranberry juice, this chick drink has just around 150 calories.

Gimlet

Usually on the menu at Vintage-style bars, this drink is as straightforward as drinks get. Order it with vodka, gin or tequila and the only mix-in is slightly sweetened limejuice.

Mikes Hard Lemonade

If your bar carries bottled beverages, this drink has fewer calories than the hand-made version, with only 98 calories.

Bloody Mary

On top of the spices aiding digestion and the tomato juice having fiber, this drink has only an average of 180 calories. So stop thinking they’re just for breakfast. They’re for that size 4 dress you want.

Jager bomb

With only about 120 calories per 8.4-ounce can of Red Bull (plus keep in mind most bartenders don’t even use the entire bottle) plus about 60 calories per shot of Jager, this energizing drink only has about 200 calories.