There’s something about warm weather & cold drinks that go hand in hand.  Today was an unusually long day at work & I was looking forward to a drink when I got home.  So before taking the pack on their nightly walk through the woods, I mixed up my favorite drink to take along with me: Vodka, Grapefruit & Lime Cocktail.

“Mix your drink already, mom!  We’re ready for our walk!”

I like to try to keep my drinks low calorie & low sugar if possible.  Most drinks you get at the bar are made with pop or with fruit juice that contains a shit-ton of added sugar & other ingredients.  I’ve found that using club soda, sparkling water or seltzer water is a great way to eliminate unwanted sugar and calories while still getting a flavorful drink.  I didn’t quite understand the differences between all of them at first.  Luckily, it’s not really that complicated.  Sparkling water contains minerals and has added carbonation.  Club soda & seltzer water are basically the same.  They are both slightly carbonated.  The only difference is that club soda has some minerals added to it to give it more flavor.  I recently switched to using seltzer water more because it doesn’t have any sodium in it, unlike club soda.

      Club soda (left)  Seltzer water (right) – Note the ingredients list & sodium amounts. 

Speaking of no added sugar or other ingredients, I love Simply Beverages.  They don’t add any preservatives, colors or artificial flavors to any of their juices and I think they taste so much better than other brands.  (Just my opinion!)  I prefer the grapefruit for this drink, but you can use any fruit juice you like.  Grapefruit juice is full of vitamin C and other antioxidants.  I’ve also heard that it can help to curb your appetite & raise your metabolism, among other things.  I only wish I could say the same thing about vodka….hmmm….oh well!  Onto the recipe!

Vodka, Grapefruit & Lime Cocktail

• a few ice cubes
• 2 shots of vodka (or more if you’re feelin’ feisty!)
• 6 ounces of seltzer water (or club soda, sparkling water, or just plain tap water)
• 3-4 ounces of grapefruit juice (or any juice of your choice)
• a squeeze of lime

Mix it all up and enjoy!