Tip One: Stay Hydrated: Alcohol is dehydrating so be sure to drink a glass of water in between drinks to keep yourself hydrated. There is nothing worse than having cottonmouth in the middle of the night after a night of drinking. Constant urination can also lead to dehydration
Tip Two: Fresh Fruit: Did you know that sugar can increase the risk of hangovers? Try adding fresh squeezed citrus fruits to cocktails as an alternative to processed juices, pre-made mixers, and sodas which are filled with sugar. Instead try freshly squeezed citrus like lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit. Try adding muddled berries and any of your favorite fruit to drinks to get a healthier version of your favorite cocktail.
Tip Three: Cold Pressed Juice
There is nothing like having a cocktail that is both delicious and nutritious. Try using your favorite cold-pressed juice as a chaser instead of store-bought juice. While fruits have natural sugar, you can dilute your fresh pressed juice with a little water and your favorite vodka.
Tip Four: Rosé
There is a reason for the saying, Rosé all day; that’s because Rosé has less sugar than red and white wine. There is nothing better than a chilled refreshing glass of bubbly.
Tip Five: On the Rocks
Instead of ordering a drink with juice, soda, and mixers, opt for something on the rocks. Not only will it have less sugar, but the ice helps to dilute the drink while you’re sipping.
Tip Six: Cayenne
After an evening of drinking detoxify your body and stimulate your life from the alcohol and sugar with warm water, lemon, and cayenne pepper.
Drink recipes to try this Summer
LA Girl + Mimosa
The LA Girl is one-part fresh squeezed grapefruit and one-part champagne, while theMimosa is one part fresh squeezed orange and one part champagne.
Cucumber Melon Sangria
When making sangria you can add a variety of fruits, use red wine, white wine, or even champagne.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750ml) Rosé (you can use dry white wine or regular champagne)
- ½ honeydew melon, cubed
- ½ English cucumber
- ½ mint leaves
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a drink dispenser or glass pitcher, stir, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Take out, stir, and serve. Add blueberries and strawberries for extra sweetness.
Berry White Wine Spritzer
Ingredients
- 2 oz. white wine
- 3 fresh strawberries, diced,
- 4 blueberries
- ¼ lime
- Flavored seltzer, unsweetened
Directions
Fill half of a tall glass with ice, add wine and berries, and fill the rest of the glass with seltzer. Top with fresh squeezed lime and stir.
Fresh Pressed Juice Cocktails
Making fresh pressed juice offers many great benefits, but did you know that it makes a great cocktail? Use your juicer to make any juice you like from the Mean Green to an orange juice and add your favorite gin or vodka. The possibilities are endless. All you need is one ounce of gin or vodka (2 ounces if you like it strong), ice, and fresh pressed juice. Here are a few juice recipes to try.
Orange Juice: 1 orange and ½” of ginger root
Lemon and Ginger: 1 lemon and ½ to 1” of ginger
Grapefruit and Orange: 1 grapefruit, 1 orange, ½ to 1” of ginger
Apple Beet Juice: 1 apple (red), 1 beet, ¼ lemon
Pineapple, Spinach, Kale: Handful of kale and spinach, and ¼ pineapple
What healthy alternatives to cocktailing will you be doing this Summer?
Elissa Mirsky, known to most as Elle, is a published author and former editor-in-chief of Bold Magazine. She believes food shouldn’t be boring and every meal should be fashionably edible. Follow her on Instagram @mylifebeingelle where she is documenting her journey to eat well, live life, and love self.