Stay on Top of Your New Year Resolutions with these Five Skinny Cocktails

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; “][x_text class=”center-text “]by Mia Torres [/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]Happy New Year, everyone! How are your new year resolutions coming along?

I found out that the most common resolution is to get healthier–that can include becoming more active, getting more sleep, setting aside time for a spa day or cutting carbs. Although we cannot completely cut out carbs, we can keep an eye on how much of them we consume. And as that long workweek comes to an end and the weekend approaches, a night out sounds fantastic. Dinner and drinks with friends? Yes, Please!

I have put together some great, skinny cocktail ideas that are bursting with flavor, yet half the calories. You can also add your personal touch to these ideas as I have found that experimenting with recipes can, become a future favorite. Spirits (Gin, Vodka, Rum, etc) are an excellent choice with which to “play around”. They pair well with fruits and vegetables and the mixers are unlimited, making the possibilities endless.

A couple of years ago while in living in Las Vegas, I was at home enjoying a bottle of my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon–R Collection by Raymond 2014–when I had a craving for pickled ginger. I have ALWAYS loved eating pickled ginger by itself (as well as with sushi) but more so by itself. I wasn’t sure how this would taste paired with my Cab. The wine has subtle notes of blueberry and white pepper, also, traces of raspberry with a cocoa and vanilla finish. It’s liquid heaven!

However, being the adventurous person that I am, I went for it! And you know what? I am glad I did! It was the most divine pairing I have ever had. In fact, I now make it a point to include ginger when I open a bottle of Cab. Both complemented each other with a sweet and sour taste, adding a smooth finish. The secret to a skinny cocktail is sparkling water or club soda. You can use Pellegrino, La Croix, Seltzer Water, even a flavored sparkling water. You can mix anything with it and “dress it up” after. When I’m out, my favorite “go-to”, low calorie drink is Grey Goose Vodka + Pellegrino and a wedge of lime, floating around. Talk about refreshing!

On to five of my favorite skinny cocktail recipes I’ve created just for you!

Vodka Soda

• 1 shot of vodka
• A splash of club soda
• a lime wedge to garnish

This one is simple and one of my personal faves. You can add raspberries, green grapes, a green apple slice, strawberries or even jalapeno slices!

Fizzy Lemonade

• 1 shot of tequila
• Juice of one lemon
• 1/2 cup of seltzer water
• 1/2 packet of Stevia

Talk about “naughty lemonade”

Cran Cooler

• 1 shot of Vodka
• 1 shot of cranberry juice
• A splash of seltzer water
• A lime wedge garnish

Fruity-Tooty Spritzer

• 1 shot of Vodka
• 1 cup of sparkling water
• 1 tbsp of grapefruit juice
• 2 mint leaves
• 6 raspberries

Strawberry Lime Spritzer

• 1 shot of Vodka
• 1 cup of sparkling water
• A lime wedge for garnish and a strawberry wedge to top off with – or make it a frozen strawberry and use as ice cubes

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