Chef notes
Summertime drinks are synonymous with sitting on the beach, lounging on the dock of the bay or simply relaxing in the backyard. But often these fun summery blended sips also carry unnecessary calories and can be loaded with sugar. Typically, if you’re having a drink – that’s one drink – I say enjoy it and forget about the calories. However, with warm weather also comes day drinking and extended happy hours, which means we’re imbibing in more than one. So cutting the sugar is a great way to keep the calories from creeping up on you.
There are plenty of tricks to keep drinks on the healthier side of the spectrum, without having to give up your indulgences all together. This pina colada cocktail makeover swaps coconut rum for traditional rum (flavored spirits are usually lower in calories because they are lower in alcohol) and the healthier coconut water for the traditional sugar laden coconut cream, letting you enjoy the classic tiki drink without the guilt while keeping the flavor and the fun.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coconut rum
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 5 ounces coconut water
- Lime wedge, juiced
- Pineapple wedge and mint for garnish
- Ice
Preparation
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the coconut rum, the pineapple juice, coconut water and the juice from a lime wedge. Shake to chill and combine. Pour into a tall glass or tiki glass and garnish with a wedge of fresh pineapple and mint.
