My contribution for TNGG’s Party Week, as originally published here.

Now that summer is coming to an end and wefinally have those six-packs abs we worked so hard to get (read: the six-pack abs we dreamedof getting), we want to keep that bathing suit bod year-round. At least we want to make things easier on us for next summer’s bikini season.

So what’s one thing we can do to stay fit and healthy? Keep our calorie intake down when drinking cocktails!

According to WebMD, one way to keep the calories down in your cocktail is to use an alcohol with less alcohol content. OK, but let’s be real, are you really going to ask the bartender to use less alcohol in your $10-15 drink? There’s always the Skinny Girl Margarita, though I don’t know any guys who will be ordering a ‘skinny girl’ anything at the bar.. (but I could be wrong – dudes weigh in below).

So here are five cocktails that both genders can enjoy that will help keep you in line with your low-cal diet. Enjoy.

Bloody Mary (123 cal) — A great drink to start off Sunday Fundays or for brunch with the parents after a long night out with the team. Plus you get some of those vegetables you are supposed to have daily (or wait, is a tomato a fruit?) And if you’re not a tomato fan, a Bellini will work as well.
1.5 oz of your favorite vodka (recommended: Grey Goose)
.25 oz lemon juice
2 drops Worcestershire sauce
2 drops Tabasco sauce
Add salt & pepper to your liking
Fill with Tomato Juice
Usually garnished with celery

Gin & Diet Tonic (131 cal)– The perfect drink to have in hand when you’re wearing white- it won’t stain your favorite outfit if someone spills your drink on you (why does it always spill on YOU instead of the person who stumbled into you?) Plus using diet tonic instead of regular saves you about 100 calories per cocktail.
2 oz. of your favorite gin (recommended: Tanqueray)
4 oz. diet tonic
Splash of lime juice

Garnish with 1 lime wedge

Mudslide (155 cal) — No, not the frozen drink made with ice cream, or the one made withT.G.I. Friday’s mix – a straight up mudslide. (Also 102 calories less than the similar White Russian)

.5 oz your favorite coffee liquor (recommended: Kahlua)

.5 oz your favorite Irish cream (recommended: Baileys)

.5 oz your favorite vodka (recommended:Smirnoff)

1 oz milk (warning: use of whole milk will raise the calorie count)

Whiskey Sour (158 cal) — For other whiskey drinkers like me, here’s a classic which can be made with artificial sweetener instead of sugar to keep the calories down.

2 oz. your favorite whiskey (recommended: Jameson)

2/3 oz. lemon juice

1 tsp Splenda

Pina Colada Cooler (165 cal) — Another frozen drink favorite variation, and a fun way to stay cool when Mother Nature keeps the heat pumping into the days of October.

1.5 oz your favorite coconut-falvored rum

3 oz. pineapple juice

4 oz. sparkling water

1 tbsp Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut Lite (check the drink mixer section of your local supermarket)

What’s your favorite low-cal cocktail?

Photos by The Culinary Geek, DeaPeaJay, & Urban Bohemian.