MNN - Mother Nature Network

If you’re throwing a party or BBQ this holiday weekend, you’ll need to supply the beverages. You can offer your guests, who are thinking about bathing suit season, one of these lower calorie cocktails that are made with fresh, real ingredients. Sure, there are skinny cocktail mixes on the market, but you never know exactly what the ingredients in them are. With these, you control the quality of the spirits and the freshness of your ingredients. Enjoy!

1. The Biter – Raspberry vodka, fresh lemons, limes, oranges, and flavored seltzer combine to make a flavorful cocktail with no added sugar.

2. Skinny Margarita – No need to buy the popular premixed stuff that many people say tastes like Crystal Light with tequila. This site has recipes for two different Skinny Margaritas – one traditional and one with aloe juice and cucumber puree.

3. Blueberry Lemon Breeze – Light agave nectar, gin, and fresh lemon juice are shaken together, topped with a splash of Champagne and garnished with blueberries.

4. Grape Crush – Muddled grapes get shaken with grape juice, lemon juice, and vodka, and then topped with soda water and a lemon garnish.

5. Peach Wine Cooler – This recipe makes a pitcher of wine coolers with peach juice, white wine, honey, seltzer and fresh peaches.