With summer coming closer and more and more backyard BBQs, camping trips, and family road trips, I’m excited to share a few of my TOP favorite AND sugar-free drinks to enjoy this summer season.
As you already know, sugar so often sneaks into our lives just through the drinks we’re enjoying. Whether it’s a glass of Coke or a margarita, it’s far too easy to go overboard with your daily sugar intake just by enjoying a few drinks.
It’s important to understand which types of alcohol have natural or added sugar and which don’t. As a good blanket statement, spirits and hard liquor don’t have sugar and everything else does. Here is a great overview of which drinks have more and less.
Keep in mind that one 12 oz can of tonic water can have up to 32 grams of sugar in it! So don’t be fooled by this “healthier” looking drink mix and start getting used to enjoying club soda or sparkling water instead.
Here are a few of my absolute favorite go tos for sugar-free drinking.
You can choose any type of light spirit you prefer and build from there (gin, vodka, white rum, etc…). All recipes make one 12 Oz drink.
1) Hibiscus Mojito
- 1 oz of your choice of spirit (I prefer gin!)
- Juice from 1/2 a lime
- 1 handful of fresh mint, torn and muddled
- 1-2 Tbsp of dry hibiscus leaves
- 1 handful of ice
- Sparkling water to fill
2) Berry Lemon Spritzer
- 1 oz of your choice of spirit
- 1/4 C fresh raspberries or blackberries
- Juice from 1/4 to 1/2 a lemon (depending on your tastes)
- 1 handful of fresh mint, torn and muddled
- 1 handful of ice
- Sparkling water to fill
3) Strawberry Basil Sunrise
- 1 oz of your choice of spirit
- 1/4 C frozen strawberries
- 3-5 fresh basil leaves, torn and muddled
- 3-5 fresh mint leaves, torn and muddled
- Juice from 1/2 a lime
- 1 handful of ice
- Sparkling water to fill
4) Sugar-Free Piña Colada (blended)
- 1 oz of your choice of spirit
- 1/2 C frozen pineapple
- 1/2 C full-fat canned coconut milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 handful of ice
Now you’re ready for the long weekend and summer fun ahead!
It’s also great to see a few new drinks coming out on the market that are sugar-free. If you don’t’ have time or tools to make your own mixed drink, you can try a few great canned drinks such as:
– http://nudevodkasoda.com/
– http://www.sociallitevodka.com/ourdrinks
Sure, the “flavouring” in a lot of these is not ideal in terms of good health… but then again neither is drinking. So when you do choose to indulge on occasion the lack of sugar in any of these drinks is MUCH better than other options.
Don’t forget to stay hydrated and nourished while drinking.
Your body needs at least 2 glasses of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume. And the healthier you eat (with a focus on healthy fats) the better your body will be at metabolizing and flushing out the toxins of alcohol!
Happy drinking 🙂
Love & Light,
Dani