Check out my latest article published in the Temple News.  The article is geared towards college students, but the recipe creates the perfect St. Patty’s Day drink for both students and non-students alike.

Green Minty Mojitos for St. Patricks Day

Cheap alcohol does not have to be consumed in a way that makes you want to puke before you even taste it. By adding some simple yet flavorful ingredients, cheap liquor can be turned into a surprising delight.

But, adding ingredients typically means adding a ton of extra calories. The key to making a drink that leaves both your taste buds and your waist happy is choosing low-cal ingredients capable of packing a lot of flavor in a small amount of space. The following recipe fuses the fresh, breath-saving flavors of mint with a citrusy twist of lime, a kick of rum, and splash of calorie-free bubbles to stimulate your senses in all the right ways.

Not only does this drink primarily utilize low-cal ingredients to pack in the flavor, but the smell of its star ingredient, mint, has actually been shown to help suppress appetite.

A study done by Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia found that when adults were regularly exposed to peppermint, they consumed about 2,800 fewer calories per week. Could your early evening drink actually help you ward off those late night munchies?

In reality, probably not. However, peppermint has also been shown to soothe the stomach and aid in digestion, so maybe it could help reduce the chances of any late night nausea.

Either way, it is guaranteed to help reduce any stomach churning that comes from the thought of drinking cheap alcohol straight up.

Mint Mojito Recipe
(Serves 1)

-12 fresh mint leaves
-2 ounces white or light rum
-½ large lime, or ¾ small lime
-7 oz club soda
-2-3 tsp. sugar
-Crushed ice

Directions:  Place the sugar and mint leaves into a tall glass.  Use the end of a wooden spoon or the end of a heavy handle of knife to muddle (crush together) the mint, sugar, and