By Allison Young, Prevention.com
(Main Photo By: Allison Young)
Sangria is a total party in a pitcher. We've never met anyone who didn't swoon over this fruity, festive punch. But despite its awesome reputation, most variations are over-sweetened with extra sugar and calorie-laden liqueurs. No thanks! We've whipped up 7 refreshing riffs -- everything from cherry to sake ginger sangrias -- that sideline the sugar and even help prevent a hangover. Cheers to that!
Related: 7 Ways To Lose Weight After 50
Sparkling Peach Sangria
(Photo by: Allison Young)
This peachy keen version has extra bubbles without extra booze or calories, thanks to sparkling water. Psst: pick "Brut" Prosecco or Cava for the lowest sugar.
SERVES: 8
1 c peach-flavored or plain vodka
4 peaches cut into bite-sized chunks
1 bottle "Brut" Prosecco or Cava
1 500 ml (16.9 oz) bottle sparkling water or club soda
1. COMBINE vodka and peaches in a carafe and refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
2. WHEN ready to serve, add the Prosecco and sparkling water and gently stir. Serve immediately.
NUTRITION (per serving) 160 cal, 1 g pro, 8 g carb, 1 g fiber, 6 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 15 mg sodium
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Watermelon Sangria
(Photo by: Allison Young)
Watermelon has just 46 calories a cup, but delivers plenty of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and more lycopene than raw tomatoes. (Find out which ingredients feed your "friendly" gut bacteria for faster than ever weight loss in The Good Gut Diet.)
SERVES: 8
½ small seedless watermelon
2 limes, cut into thin rounds
2 c strawberries, stemmed and cut into chunks
1 bottle rosé (750 ml)
1. SCOOP watermelon into balls using a melon baller or ice cream scoop. Freeze on a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet overnight (makes about 4 cups).
2. COMBINE frozen watermelon, limes, strawberries and rosé in a pitcher. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
NUTRITION (per serving) 100 cal, 1 g pro, 9 g carb, 1 g fiber, 5 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 5 mg sodium
Sake Ginger Sangria
(Photo by: Allison Young)
Sake has less sugar than wine and none of the sulfites and tannins in the traditional drink that can contribute to hangover headaches. Plus, pears are packed with fiber to slow the absorption of alcohol into your system.
Related: 10 Most Addictive Foods In The World
SERVES: 8
1 c water
⅓ c sugar
1 4-inch piece ginger, peeled and cut into thin rounds
3 pears, cut into chunks
1 lemon, cut into thin rounds
1 bottle dry sake
1. SIMMER water, sugar, and ginger over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and cool. Strain syrup.
2. STIR together pears, lemons, ginger syrup and sake in a pitcher. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
NUTRITION (per serving) 190 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 14 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg sodium
Mojito Sangria
(Photo by: Allison Young)
This refreshing sip is loaded with collagen-boosting vitamin C, and cucumbers are a good source of silica, a trace mineral linked to healthy bones and connective tissue.
SERVES: 12
⅓ English cucumber, cut into thin rounds
2 limes, cut into thin rounds
10 fresh mint leaves
2 c white grape juice (100% juice)
1 c white rum
1 bottle white Rioja Spanish wine or other dry white wine
Club soda (optional)
1. COMBINE cucumber and lime slices, mint leaves, grape juice, rum, and wine in a pitcher. Gentry stir. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
2. SERVE over ice with a splash of soda.
NUTRITION (per serving) 130 cal, 0 g pro, 8 g carb, 0 g fiber, 4 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 5 mg sodium
Related: How To Lose 30 Pounds Fast
Thai Basil Sangria
(Photo by: Allison Young)
This exotic Thai-tinged drink is tangy sweet and packed with vitamin C, thanks to its citrusy punch.
SERVES: 8
1 c water
⅓ c sugar
1 stalk lemongrass (core only), coarsely chopped
Zest from 1 orange
2 small oranges, sliced into thin rounds
1 lime, sliced into thin rounds
3-inch piece of cucumber, sliced into thin rounds
1 bottle Pinot Grigio
¼ c packed fresh basil or Thai basil
Club soda optional
1. SIMMER water, sugar, lemongrass and orange zest over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and cool. Strain syrup.
2. COMBINE orange, lime, and cucumber slices in pitcher. Top with Pinot, lemongrass syrup, and basil, and gently stir. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
3. SERVE over ice. Top with club soda (optional).
NUTRITION (per serving) 110 cal, 0 g pro, 11 g carb, 0 g fiber, 9 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg sodium
Cherry Sangria
(Photo by: Allison Young)
Not only is red wine loaded with the healthy antioxidant resveratrol, antioxidant-rich tart cherry juice also contains melatonin, which may help you sleep better.
SERVES: 8
2 c frozen pitted cherries
1 c halved red grapes
2 small oranges, sliced into thin rounds
1 c tart cherry juice
1 bottle red wine
1. MIX together all ingredients in a pitcher. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
2. SERVE over ice.
NUTRITION (per serving) 130 cal, 1 g pro, 15 g carb, 1 g fiber, 11 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 5 mg sodium
Green Tea Strawberry Sangria
(Photo by: Allison Young)
This low-sugar spin on sangria is made with green tea, which is rich in disease-fighting antioxidants called polyphenols. Hibiscus and strawberries give the non-alcoholic sip a sweet finish without the calories.
SERVES: 6
7 c water
6 green tea bags
¼ c dried hibiscus flours
3 c strawberries, stemmed and quartered
1. BOIL water and steep with green tea and hibiscus. Let cool and strain.
2. COMBINE green tea and strawberries in a pitcher. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Serve over ice.
NUTRITION (per serving) 40 cal, 1 g pro, 9 g carb, 2 g fiber, 7 g sugars, 0 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg sodium
By Allison Young, Prevention.com
Also on HuffPost:
Sangria Recipes
White Sangria Sparkler(01 of 20)
Get the White Sangria Sparkler recipe from Damn Delicious (credit: Damn Delicious)
Red Sangria(02 of 20)
Get the Red Sangria recipe from Food52 (credit: James Ransom/Food52)
Rose Grapefruit Sangria(03 of 20)
Get the Rose Grapefruit Sangria recipe from A Spicy Perspective (credit: A Spicy Perspective)
Blood Orange Sangria(04 of 20)
Get the Blood Orange Sangria recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit: How Sweet It Is)
Sparkling Grapefruit Sangria(05 of 20)
Get the Sparkling Grapefruit Sangria recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit: How Sweet It Is)
Spicy Sangria(06 of 20)
Get the Spicy Sangria recipe from Macheesmo (credit: Macheesmo)
Roasted Cherry Sangria(07 of 20)
Get the Roasted Cherry Sangria recipe from Foodie Crush (credit: Foodie Crush)
White Peach Sangria (08 of 20)
Get the White Peach Sangria recipe from Foodie Crush (credit: Foodie Crush)
Rosé Sangria With White Peaches And Cucumber(09 of 20)
Get the Rosé Sangria with White Peaches and Cucumber recipe from Food52 (credit: eatlovedrink/Food52)
Stone Fruit Sangria(10 of 20)
Get the Stone Fruit Sangria recipe from The Chic Table (credit: The Chic Table)
Arugula Sangria(11 of 20)
Get the Arugula Sangria recipe from Gimme Some Oven (credit: Gimme Some Oven)
Watermelon Raspberry Sangria(12 of 20)
Get the Watermelon Raspberry Sangria recipe from Pip & Ebby (credit: Pip & Ebby)
Ginger Sangria(13 of 20)
Get the Ginger Sangria recipe from Food52 (credit: Sarah Shatz/Food52)
Pineapple Sangria(14 of 20)
Get the Pineapple Sangria recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit: How Sweet It Is)
White Strawberry-Lemon Sangria(15 of 20)
Get the White Strawberry-Lemon Sangria recipe from Love Letters To Home (credit: Love Letters To Home)
Fruity White Sangria Pops(16 of 20)
Get the Fruity White Sangria Pops recipe from Pass The Sushi (credit: Pass The Sushi)
Apple Cider Sangria(17 of 20)
Get the Apple Cider Sangria recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit: How Sweet It Is)
Summer Fruit Sangria(18 of 20)
Get the Summer Fruit Sangria recipe from Martha Stewart (credit: Martha Stewart)
Strawberry Sangria(19 of 20)
Get the Strawberry Sangria recipe from Gimme Some Oven (credit: Gimme Some Oven)
Strawberry Satsuma Champagne Sangria(20 of 20)
Get the Strawberry Satsuma Champagne Sangria recipe from How Sweet It Is (credit: How Sweet It Is)
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