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It's All in the Mix Ways to Lower Calories without Sacrificing Taste By Darryl Beeson |
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Beth Davies, of the Distilled Spirits Council, offers some pointers for those who aren’t quite sure how it all measures up. “Cocktails are a simple pleasure that can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy adult lifestyle. Although many popular cocktails contain about 250 calories, there are recipes to reduce the calorie count. For those who enjoy alcohol in moderation, incorporating these tips could save a women up to 3,000 calories (¾ of a pound) and men up to 6,000 calories (1/ ½ pounds) over the course of a month.” Or in my case, about twenty-seven pounds. “Your choice of mixer is crucial to the calorie count of your drink,” explains Davies. “Mixers such as colas or juices can be high in calories. Club soda, diet soda or diet juices are excellent alternatives. Substituting a splash of regular juice or adding extra garnish adds color and flavor while keeping the calorie count down.” These cocktail tips work well with some of the most popular diets. Carb-avoiding cocktail fans may relax when they learn that most popular liquors (vodka, rum, gin, tequila and whiskey) are all completely carbohydrate free. Combine your choice of distilled spirits with a mixer that has no or low carbs, such as diet tonic or soda, and add a splash of juice or extra garnishes for added flavors. It’s easy to work out that the drinks with the least sweet mixers will be the best choice for calorie watchers. The following calculations are based on a mixed cocktail containing a standard 1½ oz. serving of 80 proof distilled spirits and around 8oz of any mixer, unless otherwise noted. A tall glass of gin or vodka tonic contains around 200 calories, but if you use diet tonic, you save about 100 calories. A poolside favorite is the Vodka Cranberry. Cranberry juice is high in sugars, which pushes up the calorie count to over 250. A Vodka Diet Cranberry contains only 140 calories. If you prefer a Bloody Mary, tomato juice has less sugar content, and therefore fewer calories, than fruit juice. A Bloody Mary checks in at around 140 calories. A Rum and Coke has 240 calories. There is a 140-calorie difference between Coke and Diet Coke, so Rum and Diet Coke has about 100 calories. This is one of the best picks for a summertime cocktail and can be garnished with ample lime or lemon for a citrus infusion. Even if your favorite summer drink has a higher calorie content than these, there are ways to lower the calories if you are making the drink at home. For a truly refreshing cocktail try the Vodka Lemonade Crush. Commercial lemonade, basically fizzy sugar water, is very high in calories. Instead, make real lemonade. It’s cool and refreshing and much lighter on the calories, despite the sugar (16 calories per teaspoon). Take 6 oz. vodka, 3-4 tablespoons of sugar, a pinch of salt, 1½ tablespoons lemon juice, ice cubes, mint leaves and a few slices of lemon. Put the sugar and salt in a saucepan with 4 cups of boiling water and boil for 2 minutes. Chill the mixture and add the lemon juice, vodka and crushed ice. Serve in a pitcher with lemon slices and mint garnish. Each of the four servings has less than 160 calories. A perennial favorite for summer is Iced Tea. The Whiskey Tea Smash is a simple recipe and has around 160 calories. Take 1½ oz. Bourbon, ½ oz. Simple Syrup, 3 oz. cold brewed Tea, 2 pieces of ripe peach and 2 wedges of lemon. Muddle (or mash) a piece of peach and a wedge of lemon with the ½ oz. simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add 1½ oz. Bourbon and 3 oz. tea and shake well with ice. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of peach and a lemon wedge. This refreshing cocktail is only about 170 calories. Here’s a simple guide to cocktail calorie counting, with some of the most common ingredients to help you work out how your favorite drinks adds up. All cocktails are made with the standard 1-½ ounce serving of distilled spirits and contain 8 ounces of mixer unless noted in recipe: A shot of alcohol (80 proof) 1.5 oz 100 calories With Peter Malachi and David Abrams |
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