While we all know that mixing fruit with alcohol doesn't make it "healthy".... there are always better options than the high calorie/sugar and artificially loaded premixed drinks on the store shelves. They do take a little more time, but in my opinion - they are totally worth it!
When I'm at home and want a cocktail, I do the best I can to incorporate real ingredients, minimizing additives, colorings, and artificial flavorings whenever possible. Does it always happen? Absolutely not. But once you make a few of these clean, fresh cocktails, Ill warn you - its hard to go back!
Below are some of my favorite “cleaner cocktail” recipes - for a night out or in!

Cleaner Cocktails - At Home Recipes
White Sangria / Wine Punch
Ingredients
1 Bottle Semi-Dry white wine
Fresh Pineapple / Orange blend (blend ½ c. pineapple with ½ c. fresh orange juice - either fresh squeezed or a brand that is minimally processed a.k.a. just fruit )
3 ounces brandy (optional)
Strawberries
Orange Slices
Mango (or peaches)
Blueberries
Sparkling Water or Champagne
Instructions:
Mix up all ingredients other than sparkling water / champagne, let sit for several hours up to overnight. Prior to serving, fill glasses with ice, add sangria and top with sparkling water / champagne.

Berry Sangria / Wine Punch
Ingredients:
1 bottle red wine (I used a blend, but use whatever red you like)
1 cup @nataliesorangejuice (ideally one ingredient - oranges!)
3 ounces brandy (optional)
½ t. Cinamon (optional)
2-3 cups muddled berries (I used blackberries, jam grapes, and strawberries)
Lemon, lime and orange slices (optional)
Sparkling water or dry champagne to top off and add a little fizz
Frozen berries (optional)
Instructions:
Mix up all ingredients other than sparkling water / champagne, let sit for several hours up to overnight. Prior to serving, fill the glasses with frozen berries or ice, add sangria and top with sparkling water / champagne.
Skinny Margarita
Ingredients
2 -3 oz. tequila
⅓ c. fresh squeezed lime juice (make sure there is no added sugar or preservatives)
⅓ c. purified water
1.5 - 2 t. Agave nectar
3 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice (or orange slices)
Sugar or salt, to rim glasses

Note: This may be a bit more tart than you are used to, since it is a fresh margarita, so adjust to taste - more tequila, more/less lime etc.
Instructions
Rub margarita glass rims with lime and roll in sugar or salt (I prefer sugar!)
Fill glasses with ice
Pour all ingredients in shaker (this set is great!) and shake until well chilled
Pour margarita into glasses
Garnish with lime wheel if desired
Adult Blueberry Lemonade
Ingredients
Sugar, to rim glasses
Lemon or lime wedge, to rim glasses
¼ c. frozen blueberries
3 oz. Deep Eddy’s Lemon Vodka
½ lemon, cut into lemon wheels
6 oz. wat
1 t. Agave nectar (optional)
Sparkling water
Instructions
Rub rim of glass with lemon or lime and roll in sugar
Put blueberries, vodka, lemon wheels, water, agave (optional) into shaker and shake until well chilled.
Pour into glass
Top with sparkling water and additional ice if needed
Fresh Strawberry Margarita
Ingredients
½ c. chopped strawberries, pureed in blender
¼ -⅓ c. fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice
1 t. Honey or agave
2-3 oz. tequila
Water / ice if needed to blend
Sugar, to rim glasses
Instructions
Rub margarita glass rims with lime, and roll in sugar or salt (I prefer sugar!)
Pour all ingredients in blender, blend until smooth, adjusting for preferred consistency and taste
Pour margarita into glasses
Garnish with lime wheel or strawberry if desired. Drink up!
Some of my "Cleaner cocktail" favorite items!
Cleaner Cocktails - For a Night Out
White Wine or White Wine Spritzer
Order a glass of dry white wine, such as a pinot grigio, chardonnay or sauvignon blanc. If you want something a little more exciting with some sweetness, ask for it with a SPLASH of sprite or soda water with a twist of orange and a cherry.
Dry Red WIne or DIY Sangria
Order a glass of dry red wine on its own, or ask to jazz it up a little bit! If the bartender is friendly - ask them to mix the wine with lemon, lime, orange, a splash of cherry juice, topped with a splash of soda water or sprite. If they will shake it up before adding the soda water/sprite, even better!
Vodka + Water + Splash of juice with lemon and lime
My go-to! If the bar has any Deep Eddy’s Vodka flavors, I always ask for those (lemon is my fave!) mixed with water and a splash of cranberry OR pineapple, with a lemon and lime. This can also be simplified to just vodka + water/soda water + lemon/lime.
Vodka + water + lemon, lime, splash of agave nectar, shaken, topped with soda water
This is basically a DIY adult lemonade without all the added garbage! Ask the bartender to mix vodka water in a shaker, with lemon and lime and a splash of agave nectar. Once shaken, top with soda water. Yum!
Drinks already on the menu, that are typically (slightly) lower in calories and sugar:
White Wine
Red Wine
Light Beer
Shots of unflavored liquor - vodka, tequila, rum, etc. (if you want to get really crazy! )
Skinny Margarita
DIrty Martini
Rum or Vodka and Diet Soda
Lemon Drop Martini (depending on how its made. If this is with pure lemon juice, plain vodka and a splash of triple sec, it’s typically under 200 calories)
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