Summer is the perfect time to fire up the barbecue, and invite the neighbors over! Of course, you’ll need something to wash down all that healthy, grilled food. My weekend BBQ struggle goes a little something like this: ” Thinking bout that Cocktail, but also thinking bout that Summer Body” Ugh. #Choices
Cocktails are GREAT, like BFF status, gotta have em’, great with any meal. I mean, I love a nice boozey brunch or mimosa at breakfast and off to the beach for some Rose- All-Day…Then a refreshing apertivo like a Negroni at Sunset, you get the point. BUT, if you’re anything like me, alcohol keeps you from maintaining your ideal weight by keeping that extra bloat on. And have you wondered why? Its all the added sugars and artificial ingredients in those typical fun summer bevys- like a pina colada, who doesn’t love a spiked tropical smoothie with a lil pink umbrella? Its coconut and cooconuts are nuts, and nuts are healthy- Am I right? Nope. Not so much. That spiked smoothie is filled with loads of sugar and crap you don’t want in your body or on your booty. Not to mention, it takes like 3 to get that summer buzz, by then you might as well have eaten a Big Mac. Seriously.
But by using simple ingredients, you can create some delicious concoctions that’ll make the entire party happy and keep your booty beach material. When making a summer cocktail without the guilt, the key is to think LESS is MORE. One of my favorite drinks that is under 200 calories and super refreshing is this Mint Spritz! The key here is the sweetner used is a Stevia version of traditional simple syrup. You can make a batch of this stuff and store in a mason jar, refrigerated for a few weeks.
- 4-6 packets stevia, depending on how sweet you want it (I used Sweet Leaf)
- 1 cup water
- 5-8 fresh mint leaves
- 2 oz simple syrup with stevia
- Juice of ½ a lime
- 1 oz rum
- 5 fresh mint leaves
- chilled soda water
- ice
- Mint and lime slice for garnish (optional)
- In a small pot, bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add 6 individual packets (about 3 grams) of stevia (I used Sweet Leaf)
- Stir in stevia to dissolve and remove from heat
- Add the mint leaves. Cover and let steep* about 30 minutes (*To steep just means to let the leaves hang-out in the warm water so it soaks up all the flavor of the mint)
- Remove mint leaves from liquid and store simple syrup in fridge until ready to use (will be tinted green from mint leaves)
- In a 12oz glass, pour in 2oz of the simple syrup, 1 oz rum, a few fresh mint leaves, and juice of half a lime. Muddle the contents using a pestle. You could also use a spoon to simply crush and grind the fresh mint into the liquid.
- Top the glass with ice and fill to the top with soda water. Stir.
- Garnish with fresh mint and a lime wedge
