Drink the Rainbow: Healthy Inspired Cocktails

You hear the term “Eat the Rainbow” all the time (especially from us!) but why not “Drink the Rainbow?” Liquid plants are more bioavailable and hydrating than their food counterparts and an amazing way to boost your body with phytochemical, plant power!

To Booze or Not to Booze — A Serious Question!

The other wonderful thing about all these recipes is they are tasty on their own and can be kicked up a notch with 2 oz of your preferred liquor. We generally recommend clear liquors like vodka, gin or blanco tequila to lessen the hangover load. These recipes all feature 2 oz of 80 proof spirits and those calories are included in the count. But you can take it own and 128 calorie with it and enjoy these as zero proof cocktails for the sober curious.

When and How to Use these Recipes

Whether it’s a holiday or happy hour, these recipes will dazzle your friends and you can leverage the fun nutrition facts to impress your friends and family.

Have fun! These recipes are not only excellent as is, they are also a starting ground to stock your Rainbow Bar. Once you have all your ingredients and get used to the quantities, have fun with it! Play mix and match and please share your inspired creations with us!

The Honey Citrus Syrup Recipe

Most of these recipes call for an ounce of honey citrus syrup. This is a more flavorful and boasts more health benefits than traditional simple syrup and is very simple to make. Just mix together 2 oz honey, 1 oz lemon juice, 1 oz lime juice, 4 oz water and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and add to a sauce pan and bring to a simmer to melt the honey and bind the flavors. This recipe makes 8 oz total, so adjust accordingly. You can store in a mason jar in the fridge for weeks and it adds 25 calories per oz anytime you use it.

Red: Watermelon Cooler (187 calories)

• 6 oz Watermelon Juice (4 oz by weight)
• 1 oz Lime Juice
• 2 oz Vodka
• 1 cup Ice
• Garnish Mint Leaf

Directions: Add watermelon to a blender to make the juice. It’s delicious and easy! Fill a mason jar 1/2 with ice, top with watermelon juice, lime juice, vodka and stir with a straw and garnish with fresh mint.

Fun Facts:

• This drink is hearty, refreshing and hydrating and is an excellent welcome or post meal drink with drink 1g protein and 1g fiber!
• Watermelon is an antioxidant power house loaded with vitamins A & C and it gets its pinkish/red color from lycopene, a carotenoid in most reddish fruits and veggies.
• Its strong antioxidant features prevent and repair cell damage and also associated with reducing blood pressure.
• Can blend extra mint into the juice if desired.

Orange: Skinny Mimosa on the Rocks (88 Calories)

• 3 oz Champagne
• 3 oz Orange Juice
• 3 oz Soda Water
• ½ tsp Cinnamon
• 1 cup Ice
• Garnish: Orange Wheel

Directions: Add orange juice and cinnamon to the bottom of a mason jar and mix well. Fill 1/2 the jar with ice, top with champagne, soda water and stir with a straw and garnish with an orange wheel.

Fun Facts:

• This is an excellent morning beverage and the cinnamon adds great flavor.
• Adding soda water thins it out and cuts sugar and alcohol making it a hydrating beverage you can drink all day long.
• Use fresh squeezed OJ vs from concentrate or boxed, because it will have about ½ the sugar and twice the flavor.

Yellow: Sweet Citrus Spritzer (151 Calories)

• 1 oz Honey Citrus Syrup*
• 2 oz Citrus Vodka
• 6 oz Soda Water
• 1 cup Ice
• Garnish: Lemon Wheel

Directions: Add honey citrus syrup and vodka to the bottom of a mason jar and mix well. Fill 1/2 the jar with ice, top with champagne, soda water and stir with a straw and garnish with an orange wheel.

Fun Facts:

• The honey simple syrup is easy to make and superior to traditional simply syrup not only in flavor but because honey itself has more naturally occurring antioxidant benefits than sugar itself.
• There is also added vitamins from the citrus juice and the antimicrobial and blood glucose support from the cinnamon.

Green: Cucumber Detoxifier (165 Calories)

• 3 oz Cucumber Juice
• 1 tsp Grated Ginger
• 2 oz Vodka (or Gin is good too!)
• 1 oz Honey Citrus Syrup
• 3 oz Soda Water
• 1 cup Ice
• Garnish Cucumber Wheel

Directions: Add cucumber juice, vodka, ginger, honey citrus syrup to the bottom of a mason jar and mix well. Fill 1/2 the jar with ice, top with soda water and stir with a straw and garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Fun Facts: This cocktail is actually perfect for the morning after because it has:

• Honey to restore blood sugar levels.
• Ginger to also sooth a queasy stomach.
• Cucumber juice is naturally hydrating and comes with B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost.
• This beverage in water content, supporting rehydration.

Indigo: Beet Your Berry Heart Out (190 Calories)

• 1 oz Beet Juice (3 oz Beet juiced)
• 1 oz Honey Citrus Syrup
• 2 oz Orange Juice
• 2 oz Vodka
• 3 oz Soda Water
• Garnish: Berry Skewer

Directions: Add beet juice, vodka, orange juice, honey citrus syrup to the bottom of a mason jar and mix well. Fill 1/2 the jar with ice, top with soda water and stir with a straw and garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Fun Facts: Beets are trending as a superfood in 2019 because they are:

• Loaded with vitamins and minerals (including Ca and Fe) and are a good source of fiber.
• Packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers from Carotenoids (mostly beta carotene) and betalains, which give it its brilliant color.
• Full of Boron, some call it nature’s Viagra.
• Contain Betaine, which fights depression and spots a dose of tryptophan, known for making you happy.
• Berries are always a superfood because of their potent antioxidant and polyphenol content and top this drink off with 1.5g protein and 2.3g fiber!

Want to see CCK Founder Teresa mix these up live on San Diego CBS8 Morning Extra? Click here!

Cheers!