The Mocktail Hour - some fun alcohol-free alternatives!

Eliminating empty calories is one of the first things we learn about healthy eating. Of course, when it comes to liquids, water should always be our first choice.  Substitutions for other favorite beverages may take a bit of thought.  If you drink soda, switch it out for a diet version.  If you like fruit juice, change to a sugar-free fruit flavored drink or flavored sparkling water.  But the beverages that tends to stump us are alcoholic beverages.  


Talk about empty calories!  One beer has approximately 153 calories!  


Having a drink is a lot about the experience.  A glass of wine with co-workers after work.  Going to a barbecue on a summer evening.  Spending a fun evening singing Karaoke with friends.  Or the current craze of the television show Mad Men and unique cocktails.  

Below are some low-calorie or even better, zero calorie mocktails to enjoy (links to originating websites when appropriate).  These drinks are easy to make. Adjust the measurements to make the drink tangier, sweeter or less sweet so that it suits your taste. Don't be afraid of experimenting; it's part of the fun .


Do you have some favorites?  Please send them to me at nolongeragrimgirl@gmail.com and I will publish them with credits to you in a future blog post!

Mocktini – Add 3 ounces of diet tonic water, 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice and 1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice to a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass. 0 calories


Sparkling Mango – Pour 2 ounces of mango juice into a champagne flute and top off with diet tonic water. Garnish with a slice of mango. 37 calories


Apple Cider Vinegar Cocktail - Mix 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, 8 ounces water and 1 teaspoon of Splenda.  Serve over ice.  (Per my daughter-in-law, vinegar cocktails are the new craze.) - 0 calories

Cherry Sparkle - add 8 oz. of sparkling water to a glass and mix in 2 tablespoons of diet cherry juice (Welches has a diet black cherry juice).  Throw in a maraschino cherry. - 11 calories



Sparkling Virgin Cosmopolitan - Pour ice into a shaker or tall glass. Add 2 ounces cranberry juice, 1 ounce fresh lime juice and 5 ounces of club soda. Shake to combine. Strain carefully into a chilled martini glass. - 23 calories


Faux-ito - In a rocks glass, muddle 6-10 mint leaves, 2 ounces lime juice and 1 teaspoon Splenda until Splenda is dissolved and mint is fragrant. Add ice. Pour in club soda. Garnish with lime. - 15 calories


Crystal Light Mocktails - Crystal Light has recently came out with Mocktails:  Margherita, Mojito and Appletini - 5 calories