The ketogenic diet is a rising trend among the fitness and weight loss community. It promises to deliver a fast drop in weight by making a few changes to your diet, namely lowering the amount of carbohydrates you consume and increasing the amount of healthy fats in your diet. The process of decreasing carbs to 20 to 50 grams per day, plus increasing your healthy fats, puts your body in a state of ketosis. When your body is in ketosis, it turns your fat cells into energy, thereby reducing the fluff around your body.
The keto diet is definitely a lifestyle in which you have to stick to your plan. As summer rolls around, it’s easy to falter in your healthy eating habits. Backyard BBQs, summer vacations, and hanging out with friends on the weekend tend to make for some poor decisions when it comes to your diet. Alcohol is generally a no-go on the keto diet, especially those fun and fruity summer drinks. But here are a few keto-friendly drinks that you can enjoy with family and friends this summer that won’t break your new lifestyle habits.
5 Keto-Friendly Summer Drinks
The good news about drinking alcohol while on a keto diet is that most hard liquors don’t have many carbs. Usually it is the mixers that add carbs to your drinks, and beer and wine have a significant amount of carbs. However, if possible, it is always a good idea to try and stay away from alcohol if possible because it metabolizes in our bodies in ways that can cause us to easily increase weight gain. But if you want to join in on the fun, here are a few summery drinks that are keto-friendly (for the most part).
Vodka Raspberry Lemonade
A refreshing take on a classic summer drink, this adult-version of your “pink lemonade” gives you just the kick you’re looking for when in the hot summer sun.
Ingredients
- 1 shot vodka (flavored raspberry or plain- flavored usually adds carbs because of the added sugar)
- 3/4 cup of raspberries
- 1 sprig mint
- 3/4 cup of lemon juice
- 3/4 cup lime juice
- Stevia to taste
Directions
Mull the raspberries and mint together in a mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, lime juice, and vodka. Add raspberry and mint. Stir over ice.
Spiked Cherry Spritzer
Ingredients
- 1 shot of vodka or rum
- 1 can of Cherry Lime La Croix
- Splash of lime
- Strawberries
Mix all ingredients together. Serve over ice with strawberries as a garnish.
Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 1 shot of vodka
- 1 cup of diet ginger ale
- 1 ounce of lime juice
- Mint for garnish
Mix together the vodka, ginger ale, and lime juice. Serve over cubed ice in a copper mug. Garnish with mint.
Strawberry Mojito
Ingredients
- 3 ounces of rum
- 1 cup of club soda
- Lime juice
- 1 sprig of mint
- Several strawberries
Mull together mint and strawberries. In a glass with ice, mix together rum, soda, and a splash of lime juice. Add mulled mint and strawberries. Stir.
Lemon Drop
Ingredients
- 3 ounces of vodka (lemon or orange flavored preferred)
- Water
- Lemon juice
- Lemon
- Trivia or other artificial sweetener
Mix together vodka, water, and lemon juice. Mull together 1/2 of a chopped lemon and a 1/2 tablespoon of sugar. Rim glass with sugar by rimming glass with a lemon and pressing into sugar. Add vodka mix to mulled lemon and pour over ice into rimmed glass. Serve with a lemon wedge.
Looking for something else?
Skinny Girl wines have little to no carbs. There are also several light beers that also have low amount of carbs. Check your favorite brand to see if they are keto-friendly!
Many people love the ketogenic diet. It gets results fast with minimal changes to a person’s lifestyle. They find themselves being able to eat things like bacon, avocado, cheesecake, and other high fat foods without regret. They often feel more energetic, sleep better, and have a clearer mind. The keto diet isn’t for everyone, though. You have to give up things that many perceive as being inherently healthy such as many fruits and vegetables because they are high in carbs. But those who do it, and stick to it, tend to love it and find it easier and easier to incorporate into their every day lives like social gatherings.
Want more information on the ketogenic diet? Check out “The Ketogenic Diet Plan and Marathon Training”
