Beverages  |  Recipes

Sugar-Free Strawberry Mojitos (with and without alcohol)

April 6, 2021  |  By: Whitney E. RD

These easy strawberry mojitos are made without any added sugar and can be enjoyed with or without alcohol. They’re a fun, tasty warm-weather sip!

Today, as a part of my series “Whit’s Tips on Nutrition Trends” with California Strawberries, I’m serving up an evidence-based breakdown on sugar reduction and teaching you how to make one of my favorite sugar-free beverages, my Strawberry Mojitos. 

Cutting sugar is a major trend. And for the most part, with good reason.

Excessive added sugar in the diet is associated with numerous chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Added sugar includes things like cane sugar, brown rice syrup, agave, and even so-called “natural sweeteners” like honey and maple syrup. Not the sugar found in fruit!

The Truth About Sugar in Fruit! >>

But do you really need to go cold-turkey and swear off added sugar for good to be healthy?

Not at all! Research shows that in the context of a balanced diet – one that’s packed with health-promoting whole fruits and vegetables – a little added sugar won’t hurt you.

That said, when you can reduce it, why not?

Some common culprits of sugar overload include packaged goods, sauces, salad dressings, baked goods, and flavored beverages.

Now I’m not going to tell you to ditch the sugar in your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe – that would just be cruel – but some foods and drinks could definitely benefit from a decrease in sugar.

My favorite thing to replace added sugars with is fruit.

While some people worry about the sugar in fruit too, it’s not the same nutritionally. Whole fruit comes loaded with beneficial components like micronutrients, fiber, and phytochemicals – all things that combat the conditions we’re trying to avoid.

Strawberries for example contain three grams of belly-filling fiber per serving and a hefty dose of flavonoids, phytochemicals with the potential to lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Pureed strawberries can easily add nutritious sweetness to plain yogurt or oatmeal.

Dressings? Ditch the added sugar and puree fruit with olive oil and vinegar for a quick, cheap, and nutrient-packed dressing.

As for beverages, pureed fruit can totally replace added cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup.

For example, I love using pureed strawberries in my Strawberry Mojito Recipe instead of simple syrup. You can make this with alcohol or keep it virgin for a light, refreshing sip.

Head over to the California Strawberries website to print out the full recipe.

So yummy! Who needs sugar when you’ve got fresh strawberries? Cheers!

Weigh-in: Will you try these sugar-free strawberry mojitos? What are some ways you cut down on added sugar? 

*This video is sponsored by California Strawberries. I thank you for your support of Whitney E. RD-approved partnerships that make this website possible!