It’s officially beer garden and barbecue season – and fruity cocktails are a tempting tipple when the sun’s shining.
Often, though, syrupy-sweet or creamy drinks aren’t the best choice for a good weight loss result – and, when alcohol’s involved, it can be easy to have more than we’d intended.
These new summer mocktails have been mixed with weight loss in mind, so you can enjoy quenching your thirst, Slimming World-style!
Moscow mule
Our version of this classic drink may be missing the vodka, but the tangy grapefruit and lime means it’s still got a kick!
serves 4
1 Syn per serving
ready in 10 mins
vegan
What you need:
500ml diet ginger ale
juice of 1 grapefruit, plus grapefruit slices to serve
juice of 1 lime, plus lime slices to serve
200ml sparkling water
handful of fresh basil leaves, to decorate
What you do:
1. Pour the ginger ale into a large jug along with the grapefruit and lime juices, and top up with the sparkling water. Give it a gentle stir.
2. Add grapefruit and lime slices to 4 glasses. glasses. Divide the mocktail between them and decorate each one with a basil leaf or two.
More for members:
Watch our video to find out more about alcohol and weight loss
Would you like to reset your relationship with alcohol? These drink-smart strategies will help.
Strawberry and mint cooler
Could a drink say ‘summer’ any more than this one? It’s a cracking thirst-quencher, too
serves 4
2 Syns per serving
ready in 25 mins plus 1hr 15min cooling and chilling
vegan
What you need:
200g strawberries, hulled and halved
30g caster sugar
1 unwaxed lemon, halved
500ml diet lemonade
a few fresh mint leaves, torn
What you do:
1. Put 150g strawberries in a pan with the sugar, lemon halves and 100ml water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes until the liquid starts to turn syrupy.
2. Strain the strawberry mixture through a sieve into a jug, and discard the berries and lemon. Leave the juice to cool, then put it in the fridge to chill for an hour or so (or until needed).
3. Fill a large jug with ice, the remaining halved strawberries and the mint leaves. Pour over the diet lemonade and strawberry syrup, and stir to mix well. Divide between 4 glasses and sip away!
More sun-sational summer sips:
Cherry coke float
Fruity summer spritzers
Slimming World frappés