Get Fresh for the Summer
Summer is nearly here, so it’s time to get that girls’ weekend booked, plan your summer wardrobe and purge your system so that you’ll be looking good and feeling fabulous.
But a pre-summer detox doesn’t have to be dull, there’s no need to be sat chewing on celery and sipping saltwater and rose petal cordial while trying to remember what real food tastes like.
There are plenty of fantastically healthy drinks out there full of vitamins and anti-oxidants that pack plenty of fruity flavour. So here’s our quick guide to pre-summer tonics and non-alcoholic cocktails.
1. Pomegranate Mojito
A refreshing mojito that isn’t overloaded with booze or sugar. Ideal for sipping in the garden.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds
- Big bunch of mint
- 2 limes, quartered, plus slices to garnish
- 1l pomegranate juice
- 500ml diet lemonade
- Lemon slices
Method
Preparation – Place the pomegranate seeds in an ice cube tray, fill with water and freeze.
Tear half the mint and place into a bowl and crush (not too much) them together to release the flavours before transferring them to a jug. Pour in the pomegranate juice and lemonade. Place ice cubes into glasses and strain the drink into the glasses and add mint and lemon slices to garnish.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 76 | Protein 1g | Carbs 18g | Fat 0g | Saturates 0g | Fibre 0g | Sugar 18g | Salt 0g |
2. Super Berry Smoothie
Give the skinny-tall-mocha-latte a miss and give your morning a healthy boost.
Ingredients
- 450g frozen berries
- 450g fat-free strawberry yogurt
- 100ml milk
- 25g porridge oats
- 2 tsp honey (optional)
Method
Place the berries, yoghurt and milk in a blender and blitz until smooth. Add the oats and a drizzle of honey (optional suit to taste) and serve.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 117 | Protein 8g | Carbs 18g | Fat 1g | Saturates 1g | Fibre 4g | Sugar 14g | Salt 0.2g
3. Avocado & Strawberry Smoothie
Super easy, super smooth and super tasty. A great way to swap those energy drinks for some real energy.
Ingredients
- ½ avocado, stoned, peeled and cut into chunks
- 150g strawberries, halved
- 4 tbsp low-fat natural yogurt
- 200ml semi-skimmed milk
- Lemon or lime juice
- Honey
Method
Easy and fun. Simply throw everything into a blender and blend until it’s smooth and frothy (add a little water if it’s too thick for you).
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 197| Protein 9g | Carbs 15g | Fat 11g | Saturates 3g | Fibre 3g | Sugar 15g | Salt 0.3g
4. Apple Berry Punch
A nice addition to a BBQ. Alternatively the citrus flavours work perfectly opposite a fresh salad.
Ingredients
- 100ml cranberry juice
- 500ml orange juice
- Juice of 1 lime
- Lime wedges
- Orange wedges
- Mint sprigs
Method
Preparation – Freeze the cranberries into ice cubes overnight.
Mix the orange, cranberry & lime juices into a jug. Place an orange wedge, lime wedge, sprig of mint and cranberry ice cubes in each glass and then pour in the juices.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 56 | Protein 1g | Carbs 14g | Fat 0g | Saturates 0g | Fibre 1g | Sugar 1g | Salt 0.02g
5. Orange & Cranberry Spritz
Replace your evening glass of wine with something less calorific.
Ingredients
- 500ml orange juice (smooth)
- 500ml cranberry juice
- 400ml sparkling elderflower drink
Method
Pour the orange and cranberry juices into a large jug. Then add the sparkling elderflower, try to be gentle so you don’t lose the fizz. Serve over ice.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 134 | Protein 1g | Carbs 35g | Fat 0g | Saturates 0g | Fibre 0g | Sugar 35g | Salt 0.08g
6. Strawberry Lemonade
The perfect drink to sip while working on your garden tan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 5 lemons
- Iced Water
- Lemon slices
- Sugar (to taste)
Method
Slice the strawberries (keep a few to one side and place them in a blender with the lemon juice and then blitz. Strain the mixture and pour into a jug with the iced water. Then add lemon slices, whole strawberries and sugar (to your taste).
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories: 41 | Protein 0.2 g | Carbs 10.3g | Fat 0.1g | Saturates 0g | Sodium 10 mg | Fibre 0 g | Sugar 9.9 g
7. Sparkling Lime-Mint Quencher
Does exactly what it says on the tin, a thoroughly refreshing drink.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 cups carbonated water
- 1 cup ice
Method
Mix the lime juice, mint leaves and syrup and pour over ice. Top each glass up with carbonated water.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories: 76 | Protein: 1.0 g | Carbs 20.1 g | Saturates 0 g | Fat0.2 g | Fibre 1.8 g | Sugar 12.9 g |
8. Piña Colada Smoothie
If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain but don’t like calories then this is ideal!
Ingredients
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- 2 cups of pineapple chunks
- 2 tablespoons of honey (optional)
- Enough ice to make it slushy
Method
Add everything to a blender and go crazy! Once it’s smooth simply pour and enjoy.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories: 115 | Protein: 1g | Carbs 16g | Saturates 4g | Fat 5g | Sodium: 37mg | Fibre 0g | Sugar 14g
9. Sparkling Pomegranate
Fizzy goodness in a glass. Great to give you a healthy feeling with plenty of goodness.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup of carbonated water
- Squeeze of one lemon wedge
Method
Pour all the ingredients over ice, give it a quick stir and serve.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories: 75 | Protein 0 g | Carbs 18.5 g | Saturates 0 g | Fat 0 g | Sodium 20 mg | Fibre 0 g | Sugar 16 g
10. Cleanse & Detox Smoothie
This glass is packed with nutrients and vitamins for a real feel good factor.
Ingredients
- 1 apple (cored but leave the peel intact)
- 1 lemon (juiced)
- 1 cup kale
- 1 stick of celery
- 1/3 cup of parsley
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds (for omega 3)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/4 cups chilled water
Method
Place all the Ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth. Pour and drink. This recipe is enough for one serving.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories: 189 | Protein 5.6 g | Carbs 39.5 g | Saturates: 0 g | Sodium 59 mg | Fat 3.0 g | Fibre 11.3 g | Sugars: 20.9 g
11. Banana Pina Colada
Enjoy some tropical goodness. If you’re really in the mood add a grass skirt and flower garlands to your ensemble.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 cup of diced fresh pineapple (+ 4 wedges for garnish)
- 1 cup of pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
- 3 cups of ice cubes
Method
Place all the ingredients (including the ice cubes) into a glass and blitz until smooth.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 130 | Protein 2g | Fat 2g 28 g | Carbs 28g | Fibre 2g | Sodium 12mg
12. Kiwi & Ginger Zinger
A hot little number for a cool, cool day.
Ingredients
- 4tbsp icing sugar
- 2 limes (juiced)
- 1tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 2-3 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped
- Ice cubes
- Ginger ale (to taste)
- Lime wedges and kiwi slices, for garnish
Method
Dissolve the icing sugar in the water. Add the water, lime and ginger into a jug with ice. Pour into glasses and top up with ginger ale (to taste). Add the garnish for an extra flourish.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 90 | Fat 0.0g | Saturates 0.0g
13. Sparkling Raspberry Tea
Like summer in a glass, this little pick me up is fabulously refreshing with hardly any calories at all.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of cold brewed tea
- 2 cups of raspberry or cranberry-raspberry juice
- 2 cups of chilled sparkling water
- 1 cup of raspberries
- Lime or lemon slices
- Fresh mint leaves
Method
Mix the tea, fruit juice and sparking water in a large jug. Serve over ice and garnish with raspberries and mint leaves.
Serve tea over ice. Garnish with raspberries and mint leaves
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 40 | Protein 0g | Carbs 9g | Salt 5mg | Sugars 8g
14. Lemon & Cucumber Water
Surprisingly tasty, calorie count is virtually nil and it is unbelievably refreshing. If you really feel the need you can add a teaspoon of sugar.
Method
Place all the ingredients into a jug and pour.
Ingredients
- Water
- Lemon slices
- Cucumber slices
- Ice cubes
15. Citrus Mock Mimosa
A cool and refreshing glass of something good for you.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup of fresh orange juice
- 1/2 cup of fresh grapefruit juice
- 1/4 cup of fresh lime juice
- 1 -2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 12 chilled sparkling water
- Strips of orange peel for garnish
Method
Mix the orange juice, grapefruit juice and lime juice in a jug with the honey until it has dissolved then add pieces of peel. Cover and then chill in the fridge for 2 hours. Best served in champagne glasses topped with chilled sparkling water.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 53 | Protein 1g | Carbs 13g | Sugar 11g
16. Sparkling Rosemary Limeade
A little something different that is truly sparkling.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of lime juice (from about 6 limes)
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- Peel of 2 limes
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary (+ more to serve)
- 4 to 6 cups of chilled sparkling water
Method
Heat the lime juice and sugar in a sauce pan and allow to simmer over a medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the lime peel and (most of) the rosemary sprigs. Simmer briefly (approx one minute) then allow to cool naturally. Transfer to a jug then keep in the fridge over night before serving.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 80 | Protein 0.1g | Fat 0g | Saturated 0g | Carbs 21.3g | Fibre 0.1g | Sugars 19.2g | Sodium 31.9mg
17. Berry Good Tonic
Here’s a little pick me up that won’t leave you with a sore head but will give you plenty of good nutrients.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of mixed berries
- 1 tsp of lemon juice
- 2 tbsp of honey
- 1 cup of soda water
Method
Place the berries, lemon juice and honey into a blender and blitz until smooth. Then add the soda water and pulse until combined. Once chilled simply pour over ice.
Nutrition (per serving)
Kcalories 106 | Protein 0.6g | Fat 0.3g | Saturated 0g | Carbs 28.2g | Fibre 1.8g | Sodium 26.5mg | Sugars 24.7g
