It seems almost unbelievable that the hot weather is lingering so long. Summer is always hot, but heat waves are supposed to break. Instead, this one just keeps moving around. SoCal is getting slammed for the first time. A lot of us don’t have air conditioning, as this isn’t normal for our summers.
July 10 is National Piña Colada Day, and National Mojito Day is July 11! We desperately need some refreshment and a break from the heat. We don’t need lots of carbs. And alcohol can dehydrate you. With that in mind, we are celebrating with four awesome mocktail recipes we think you’ll adore!
We love the simplicity of this recipe, although the name isn’t quite true. While it is extremely low in calories, it’s not quite zero. The fresh lemon juice adds up! The mint doesn’t add enough to count! Some people may worry that this recipe uses diet soda and consider using seltzer and a sweetener. It’s always up to you. There have been so many recent controversial studies about sweeteners that we figured we would leave the recipe as is. A serving has 2.6 calories, 0.8 grams of carbs and 0.1 grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
We love hibiscus tea! Here in San Diego, we can buy whole dried hibiscus flowers inexpensively, loose at the store, to make tea at home. But we know that that isn’t an option in the rest of the country. It’s just as tasty from a tea bag! It’s just usually not as purple. This recipe makes a whole pitcher but needs to steep for several hours to develop a deep flavor. The results are worth it! A serving has five calories, 1.5 grams of carbs and 0.4 grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
A piña colada immediately tastes like sunny days and a pool! It doesn’t have to be a frozen blended drink. But that version does feel more like you are at a resort. This recipe thankfully includes instructions for if you want it either way. We love this. We also think it’s a great option if you have kids around, as they will love it too! A serving has 96 calories, eight grams of carbs, one gram of fiber and 7.4 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
This is a pineapple virgin mule. That is a delicious meeting point of sweetness and sharpness. This recipe is very malleable. While it’s the highest in carbs on our list, the ingredients as written include a regular ginger beer. If you use a sugar-free ginger beer, the carb count will be lower. This drink is a wonderful option for people who want the pineapple taste of a piña colada but want something lighter. As written, a serving has 65 calories, 17 grams of carbs, 0.2 grams of fiber and 0.1 grams of fat. Get the recipe.
We hope that these drinks help you stay cool and hydrated during these days!