Low Calorie Summer Cocktails

Dieter's rejoice! This summer you can watch your weight and still enjoy guzzling drinks with little umbrellas by the pool! The key to drinking on a diet is making smart choices: if you're going to be drinking mixed drinks, stay clear of sugary sodas, juice and syrups. And always use vodka, gin, tequila or rum; no sweet alcohol (like triple sec)!! Here are some of my favorite low calorie cocktails:

Sangria

1 Bottle red wine
1 can diet lemon/lime soda
1 cup diet cranberry juice
2 oranges, sliced
1/2 cup of fresh pineapple, cut into chunks
1 handful of fresh strawberry's, sliced

mix everything except soda, and leave in the fridge to sit for a few hours. Mix in soda right before serving. (Note: this makes several servings!)

Mojito

1.5 oz Bacardi Rum
10-12 fresh spearmint leaves
1/2 lime (plus extra for garnish)
7 oz diet lemon/lime soda
2 packets (or 2 tea spoons) of zero calorie sugar substitute

In tall glass squish mint leaves, sweetener and juice from the lime. Then add ice, rum and soda.

Cape Cod

3 oz vodka
9 oz diet cranberry juice
1 lime wedge

Watermelon Gin and Tonic

1 cup diced watermelon (if you have extra, freeze it for garnish)
1.5 oz gin
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/3 cup diet ginger ale
lime wedge

Puree watermelon. Strain and pour into a glass. Ad gin, ginger ale and lime juice. Add frozen watermelon and lime wedges for garnish.