How to save yourself 230 calories… just by swapping your cocktail!

Heading out for a night of fancy cocktails is a great weekend treat.

But what about those weeks when you try to cut calories?

Some of the most beloved drinks are extremely high in calories, with a single Long Island iced tea containing up to 780 kcal – more than a Bic Mac and fries.

However, there are ways to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, even while watching your waistline, by simply swapping your cocktail for a “thinner” alternative.

From coconut mojitos to espresso martinis, here’s MailOnline’s guide to low-calorie cocktail swaps.

Swap a Pina Colada (490kcal) for a Coconut Mojito (180kcal)

The Pina Colada is a rich, creamy cocktail that can be high in calories since rich coconut cream and high sugar pineapple juice are the main ingredients.

But Laura Stagg, head of marketing at DrinkStuff, has a solution.

She suggests going for the lighter alternative of a Coconut Mojito, which she says still offers a “tropical vibe.”

It’s made with coconut water, fresh lime juice, mint leaves, and white rum, and Ms. Stagg calls this cocktail a “refreshing and low-calorie option.”

Swap a Long Island Iced Tea (780kcal) for a Tom Collins (120kcal)

Long Island iced tea is a seriously potent cocktail – with vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, sour mix and cola.

But it’s also high in calories, says Ms. Stagg, with a whopping 780 kcal.

This is because triple sec contains about 10 grams of sugar per measure, while a can of coca-cola contains 10.6 grams.

She suggests you opt for a Tom Collins instead — a classic drink made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda.

“It has a similar citrusy flavor profile, but with significantly fewer calories,” she adds.

Swap White Russian (425kcal) for an Espresso Martini (230kcal)

Creamy White Russians are ideal if you’re looking for a little luxury.

But their high calorie count, due to the combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, and whipped cream, means you may not always want to drink them.

For a lighter coffee-based cocktail, Ms. Stagg recommends trying an Espresso Martini instead.

Made with vodka, coffee liqueur and a shot of espresso – this sophisticated option is nearly 200 fewer calories than the White Russian, but with similar flavors.

Swap a Pornstar Martini (290kcal) for a Dirty Martini (114 calories)

If you are a fan of martinis, you should avoid those with added syrups and flavorings.

Aoife Taylor, lead mixologist at Rockwater in Hove, has the perfect suggestion for days when the 290 calories in a Pornstar Martini are a little too much.

She recommends a Dirty Martini – a version of the James Bond cocktail that is also classic, dry or sweet.

It gets its name from the fact that it contains olive brine, as well as dry gin and vermouth.

Ms. Taylor says keeping your martinis simple is the best way to cut calories.

Swap a Paloma (194kcal) for a tequila and grapefruit soda (117kcal)

Staying on the tequila train, Ms. Taylor has a low-calorie alternative to the delicious Paloma — tequila, grapefruit, Cointreau, soda, and sugar.

She suggests you have a soda with tequila and grapefruit instead. ‘[Netherlands-based drinks company] Double Dutch is doing well’, she says.

While a Paloma contains 194 calories, a tequila and grapefruit soda has about 70 less, with 117 kcal.

Replace a Sangria (160kcal) with Pimms and light lemonade (120kcal)

It’s a dream to drink this classic Spanish cocktail alongside some tapas.

But while Sangria is packed with fruit and seems to be on the healthier side, there are lower calorie alternatives.

And Tom Bell, a drinks expert at DrinkWell, has picked out the British favorite Pimm’s and Diet Lemonade.

Known for its unwavering position as Wimbledon’s drink of choice, Mr Bell, this is the perfect Sangria alternative – with 40 fewer calories.

You can even swap the lemonade for tonic if you prefer a bitter taste and even fewer calories.

Swap a Strawberry Daiquiri (400kcal) for a Margarita (170kcal)

Nothing screams “summer vacation” like a fruity cocktail on the beach.

But alas, one of the most popular choices, a strawberry daiquiri, which contains rum, strawberries, lime juice, and sugar syrup, comes with a huge calorie count.

Some contain more than 400 calories per drink, says Mr. Bell.

He suggests you opt for the much lighter tequila option — a margarita, made with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, which averages about 170 calories per drink.