Drinks

It's August, that time of year (in the Northern hemisphere, anyway) when it tends to get really hot. So, to help cool off, here are six yummy diabetic-friendly drink recipes to help you through the day, including Vanilla Chai Coffee Cooler and, for the kid in all of us, Kool-Aid Fizzy Float. Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY FROST

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

Book Title: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/strawberry-frost.

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups plain low-fat yogurt

1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

2 cups frozen strawberries (no sugar added)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate

Extra strawberries for garnish

Few sprigs fresh mint (optional)

Directions

In a blender or a food processor fitted with a metal blade, place yogurt, ricotta, strawberries, vanilla and orange juice; process until smooth.

Spoon into parfait glasses and garnish with berries and a mint sprig, if desired. Serve at once.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 81; Fat: 1 g;Sodium: 72 mg; Cholesterol: 6 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Milk, 1/2 Fruit

MANGO FRAPPE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 3 cups (3 Servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/mango-frappe.

Ingredients

1 medium whole ripe mango (12 ounces), peeled and pitted

3/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lime juice

1-1/4 cups club soda

2 ice cubes

Directions

Puree the mango in a food processor or a blender. Add the orange and lime juices; process until smooth.

Add the club soda and ice cubes; process just to blend and crush the ice. Serve at once.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 83; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 27 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g; Sugars: 18 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit

STRAWBERRY-PEACH COOLER

This comes from Diabetic Gourmet.

Recipe Yield: Yield: 2 servings Serving size: 1 cup

Source: The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book

Book Title: The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen strawberries

2/3 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen peaches

3/4 cup orange juice

Directions

In a 2-cup measure or similar microwave-safe bowl, combine the strawberries and peaches.

Cover with wax paper, and microwave on high power 45 seconds to 1 minute to thaw the fruit slightly. The fruit should be icy but not hard.

Working with a small knife in the measuring cup, cut each peach slice in half.

Transfer the peaches and strawberries to a blender container.

Add the orange juice. Blend on low power to combine. Then increase power to high and continue to blend until the peaches are completely pureed, at least 1-1/2 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 2 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Sugars: 23 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Fruit

VANILLA CHAI COFFEE COOLER

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings Serving size: 8 fl. oz.

Source: Splenda

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/vanilla-chai-coffee-cooler.

Ingredients

4 teaspoons Maxwell House Instant Coffee

3 Tablespoons Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 cup warm water

2 cups non-fat milk

1 1/2 cups ice cubes

Directions

Place coffee, Splenda Granulated Sweetener, vanilla, cinnamon and allspice in pitcher.

Add water; stir until coffee granules are completely dissolved.

Stir in milk and ice cubes; pour evenly into 4 tall glasses, serving immediately.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 50; Sodium: 55 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Sugars: 5 g

KOOL-AID FIZZY FLOAT

Yield: 8 servings Serving Size: 1 (8 oz.) drink

Found online at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1110.shtml

Ingredients

1 quart cold water

2 cups light white grape juice, chilled

1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 package your favorite flavor Kool-Aid Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix

2 cups seltzer water, chilled

2 cups no-sugar-added light vanilla ice cream

Directions

Combine water, grape juice, Splenda Granulated Sweetener, and Kool-Aid Soft Drink Mix in a pitcher, stirring until Splenda Granulated Sweetener dissolves.

Pour 3/4 cup of the mixture into each of 8 tall glasses; add 1/4 cup of the seltzer to each glass.

Top each serving with 1/4 cup of the ice cream. Serve immediately.

Store leftover prepared drink in refrigerator.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving): Calories: 70; Calories from Fat: 20; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 85 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Fat: 2.5 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

CHOCOLATE AVOCADO SMOOTHIE

This is from Christel Oerum on DiabeteStrong. Christel wrote, “Avocado and chocolate are a killer combination in this easy chocolate avocado smoothie with coconut milk recipe! This recipe is low-carb, gluten-free, and vegan!”

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes; Servings: 2

To view this online, go to https://diabetesstrong.com/chocolate-avocado-smoothie/.

Ingredients

1/2 ripe avocado

3 tbsp. cocoa powder

1 cup full fat coconut milk

1/2 cup water

1 tsp. lime juice

pinch mineral salt

6-7 drops liquid Stevia

Fresh mint (for decoration)

Instructions

Add all of the ingredients to a blender. Chopping the ingredients beforehand will help the blender process everything better.

Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy. You can adjust the taste to your liking by adding more avocado for creaminess or liquid Stevia for more sweetness.

Serve immediately with fresh mint and a straw.

Recipe Notes

You can store this smoothie in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.