10 Calorie Conscious Cocktails

By Gilmarie Brioso on January 28, 2013

We’re back in school and there is much on our mind: class locations, homework, studying and… Parties!!!

Dear friends are back in New York City and eager to get together for fun times. But what students tend to forget are all of those nasty calories hiding away in their alcoholic beverages. So this semester, be mindful of those tasty cocktails.

 

According to an article on Greatist.com, there are 8 key guidelines one should follow when choosing healthier drink options.

1. “Use only fresh-squeezed or 100 percent fruit juice to reduce added sugars.”

2. “Choose seltzer water over other carbonated waters to eliminate added sodium and other additives.”

3. “Make simple syrup with honey which, though sugary, has some added benefits, like a healthy dose of antioxidants. It also gives you better control of the sugar content.” Simple syrup is simply: ½ tablespoon honey mixed with ¾ tablespoon warm water.

3. “Use whole fruit instead of sugar or flavored syrups. The fruit itself adds fiber, natural sugars, and vitamins.”

4. “Choose light alcohol over dark alcohol. The dark stuff contains more compounds known as congeners, which can worsen hangovers.”

5. “Limit yourself to one shot per drink. Multi-alcohol cocktails can pack in serious calories…[Keep yours] to one shot (or 1 ½ ounces) each.”

6. “Size matters — especially when it comes to consuming liquid calories… [keep] all [your] drinks right around the 8-ounce mark.”

7. “Choose nutritious ingredients, [like] ginger, coffee, and lemon… They’ve each got their own proven health benefits, even though they may not totally counteract the negative affects of alcohol.”

 

So start Spring 2013 right with a few calorie conscious cocktails.

Fruit Mojito

“Prep a classic mojito, but before pouring in the rum and soda, muddle in ¼ cup fresh or thawed frozen fruit like strawberry, blueberry, mango, or kiwi in the bottom of the glass. Top with ice, rum, and seltzer and garnish as desired!”

Sea Breeze
“Pour 1 shot vodka, 1 shot cranberry juice (100 percent juice, no sugar added), and 1 shot fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice over ice. Add a splash of seltzer and enjoy! (Preferably in a beach chair by the water!)”

Vodka Sunset
“Muddle ¼ cup blackberries in the bottom of a glass. Top with ice and add 1 shot fresh-squeezed lemon juice, 1 shot fresh-squeezed lime juice, ½ shot simple syrup, 1 shot of vodka, and a splash of sparkling wine.”

Light & Stormy
“Into a short glass with ice, pour 1 shot of light rum and 2 shots ginger ale.”

Berry Lemonade
“In the bottom of an 8-ounce glass, muddle the juice of 1 lemon, ¼ cup frozen blueberries or strawberries, and ½ shot simple syrup. Pour in 1 shot of vodka and top with seltzer (about ¾ cup).”

Fizzy Lemonade
“In a shaker with ice, mix together 1 shot of tequila, ½ shot simple syrup, and the juice of 1 lemon. Transfer to an 8-ounce glass and fill rest of glass with seltzer (about ¾ cup).”

Pom Cosmo
“In a shaker with ice, combine 1 shot pomegranate vodka, 1 shot orange liqueur, and the juice of 1 lime. Shake, strain into a martini glass, and garnish with a slice of lime.”

Pear Martini
“Muddle half a very ripe peeled pear in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add ice, ½ shots fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and 1 shot pear vodka. (Regular vodka works, too.) Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a slice of fresh pear.”

Sex on the Beach
“In a glass with ice, mix 1 shot peach-flavored vodka, 2 shots cranberry juice, and 1 ½ shots fresh-squeezed orange juice. Add a dash of seltzer and enjoy!”

Rosemary-Cucumber Lemonade
“Stir together juice from 3 lemons and 1 teaspoon honey. Add 1 shot rosemary-infused vodka and ¾ cup seltzer. Garnish with a cucumber spear and lemon wedge.”

 

To find more healthy libations check out 60 Healthier Drinks for Boozing.

 

Happy Drinking!

 

 

 

 

Images taken from Greatist.com.

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