VIDEO: HEALTHY COCKTAILS FOR YOUR SUMMER BODY!

It's coming up for that time of winter (well, in the southern hemisphere anyway) where everyone is working towards their "summer bodies". As winter comes to an end, the gyms start to fill up and everyone turns to salads for lunch – but that doesn't mean that the fun has to stop right?

Well, here are some cocktails that are so healthy, they're basically a salad in a glass! Cocktails aren't exactly a go-to health food but sometimes you just gotta indulge... right?

We will equip you with a some tips to lighten up your cocktail:

• Ice, ice baby: "Adding ice – especially crushed ice – keeps your drink cold, keeps you hydrated, and dilutes the alcohol flavour, meaning that you add less juice.
  Take advantage of in-season fruits and veggies: The riper the ingredients, the more natural fruit sugar and less added sugar you'll need.
  
  
• Flavour your cocktails with fresh herbs and spices: Cayenne pepper adds a spicy kick, lemon and lime add bitterness.
  
  
• Don't go overboard with juice: If the recipe calls for more than 1/2 cup juice per cocktail, replace the remaining juice with flavoured water or dilute with water or extra ice.

Here are some cocktails to get you started (All recipes serve 2):

The Islay punch:
This is perfect for those who love subtle cocktails that aren't too sweet.

4 shots of smoky whisky (we used Johnnie Walker Black Label)
2 tablespoons of honey simple syrup (honey and water, warmed)
Assorted herbs from the garden, such as thyme, rosemary, sage and lavender
1 cheesecloth bag for steeping
1/2 mug black tea
1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

Cranberry, Blueberry, and Gin Thoreau:
The perfect fruity mix!

1/4 cup each of crushed cranberries and blueberries
1/3 cup cranberry sauce
4 shots gin
1/3 cup water
1 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Several orange slices
2 fresh lemon thyme sprigs

Spiked ginger mint hot chocolate:
Perfect for when you are craving chocolate but don't want to deal with the consequences!

2 cups skim milk
2 tablespoon sugar (or sugar replacement)
6 teaspoons cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 drops almond extract
4 shots Baileys Irish Cream

Cucumber-herb champagne sparkler:
Get bougie and celebrate while looking ultra classy with fewer calories!

Champagne or dry sparkling wine
1/2 cup lemon-flavored mineral water, to top
1/4 cucumber, sliced
3 leaves basil, chopped

  
Clementine Crusher:
This is the vitamin C boost you never even knew you needed!

1 whole clementine, peeled and broken up into individual segments
1 lime, juiced
2 shots (3 ounces) orange vodka
Splash of non-alcoholic ginger beer

Long live summer in bikinis by the pool!