Low Calorie Summer Drinks

Summer is finally upon us full force with all its fury of the heat it brings. We are all usually looking for something nice and cool to drink that is also healthy and low calorie. I have come across some that sound like great choices to me for this summer, for those times when I want refreshing, cool and low calorie!

1. Shape Fit Summer Quencher

I found this recipe for this drink on Shape Fit's website. This drink sounds really good as well as being low calorie and healthy for you! Here is the recipe for you:

• 1 Liter Bottle Drinking Water

• 2 Teaspoons of Lime Juice (you can also use real limes)

• 2 Teaspoons of Lemon Juice

• 1-2 Packets of Artificial Sweetener (if you would like it really sweet)

Mix everything into the water bottle, shake for 5 to 10 seconds and enjoy right out of the bottle or pour it over a glass of ice to make it extra cool and refreshing!

Website: http://www.shapefit.com/recipe-of-the-week-low-calorie-summer-quencher.html

2. Sun Tea's

On their website Fitness Magazine suggest a low calorie summer drink in the form of sun teas! They look like they will be delicious as well as refreshing. The recipe for them is as follows according to their webpage: For even more flavor, try one of the variations with mint, ginger, or berry.

• Prep: 10 minutes

• Stand: 2 hours

• Makes: 8 servings

• 4 to 6 tablespoons loose tea or 4 to 6 tea bags

• 1 1/2 quarts cold water

• Ice

• Lemon wedges (optional)

1. Place loose tea into a tea ball or 100-percent cotton cheesecloth, tying with a string. (Do not use decaffeinated, green, or herbal teas.) Put into a 2-quart clear glass container. Add cold water. Cover and let stand in sunlight or at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours. (Keep the container away from combustible materials. Sunlight coming through glass and liquid can concentrate a beam of light that may start a fire.)

2. Remove tea ball or bags. Serve over ice or refrigerate immediately. If desired, serve with lemon wedges. Store in the refrigerator and use within 24 hours.

Nutrition Information per serving: 0 calories, 0g protein, 9g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber

Hint of Mint Tea: Add 3/4 to 1 teaspoon snipped fresh mint to the loose tea or 4 to 6 crushed large mint leaves with the tea bags. Brew as directed. Remove mint before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh mint.

Ginger Tea: Add a 2- to 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced, with the loose tea or tea bags. Brew tea as directed. Strain before serving. If desired, garnish each serving with a ginger-flavored candy stick.

Very Berry Tea: Brew tea as directed. In a covered blender container blend 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries or raspberries until smooth. If desired, strain raspberry puree to remove seeds. Stir berry mixture into brewed tea. If desired, garnish with fresh berries.

Website: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drinks/wine/low-calorie-summer-drink-recipes/?page=3

3. Tangy Citrus Lemonade

Also on Fitness Magazine's website they have a Tangy Citrus Lemonade that has caught my attention and I intend to try it this summer! The recipe for this is as follows according to their webpage:

Prep: 25 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Makes: 10 servings

• 6 large lemons (1 1/2 cups juice)

•
3 medium limes (1/3 cup juice)

•
3/4 to 1 cup honey

•
6 cups water

•
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

•
Ice cubes

•
Lemon and/or lime slices (optional)

1. In a 2-1/2-quart pitcher, combine lemon juice, lime juice, and 3/4 to 1 cup honey. Add water and raspberries. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

2. Just before serving, gently stir to combine. Pour into ice-filled glasses. Add lemon and/or lime slices, if desired.

Nutrition Information per serving: 101 calories, 1g protein, 28g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated),

2g fiber

Lemonade Tea: Add equal parts freshly brewed iced tea and Tangy Citrus Lemonade to ice-filled glasses. Sweeten to taste with additional honey, if desired.

Webpage: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drinks/wine/low-calorie-summer-drink-recipes/?page=6

4. Sunset Strip

While searching for a low calorie summer drink, I happened to stumble across this one which sounds really yummy! The recipe comes from a website and is made as follows:

Ingredients

• 1/3 Glass Sparkling Mineral Water

• 1/3 Glass Orange Juice

• 1/3 Glass Ginger Ale

• Cherry

• Slice of Orange

• Ice Cubes

Pour the sparkling water, orange juice, and ginger ale into the glass of ice cubes; decorate with a cherry and orange slice on a cocktail stick!

Website: http://www.glennys.com/blog/low-calorie-alcohol-free-drinks/

5. Lemon Cucumber Seltzer

On their website WebMD has listed a few different drinks that are healthy and low calorie, but this certain one sounded so good to me that it has made my top choices of summer low calorie drinks! The recipe is as follows from their website:

• 8 cups seltzer water (or substitute club soda or mineral water)

• 24 slices cucumber, with or without peel (about 1/2 of a large cucumber)

• 16 slices lemon (about two lemons)

Pour 8 cups seltzer water into a clear pitcher. Add the cucumber and lemon slices and two trays of ice cubes. Stirring occasionally, let the ingredients chill together for about 10 minutes before serving.

When you pour into glasses, make sure each serving gets some ice cubes, several slices of cucumber, and a couple of slices of lemon.

Yield: 1 pitcher (about 8 servings)

Website: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/low-calorie-summer-sippers?page=3