Best Adult Drink Choices and Tips to Lighten Heavy Holiday Drinks

Socializing and drinking is just another part of holiday festivities. 

You may not know just how high in calories from sugar and fat many of these drinks can be.

"According to the American Heart Association, one drink is a 12-ounce beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. Women who have had breast cancer or are in a high-risk category [for breast cancer] should limit alcohol intake even further"

Moderation= one drink per day for women, and up to two drinks per day for men.



Here are some lighter drink choices and tips to keep your drinks light during the holidays.

Red, Red Wine

1 glass has around 100 calories and antioxidants which are beneficial for heart health when enjoyed in moderation.

Regular (or light) Cranberry Juice

Also contains antioxidants. Regular juice contains about 100 calories in 1 cup. Adding something fizzy and diet will give it a twist and add 0 calories.

Add to a glass of champagne, mix with vodka, or replace sweet and sour mix with cranberry juice in a margarita.

Got (low fat) milk?

In a White Russian calling for half and half use fat free half and half, whole milk, or 2% milk.

Switch out the whole milk with 1% low-fat milk in hot chocolate

To Nog or not to Nog

One Cup of regular Egg Nog is approximately 340-400 calories and contains around 19 grams of fat with 11 of those grams coming from saturated fat. Make your own Egg Nog with fat free half and half or 2% milk.

Try diluting Egg Nog with skim milk, looking for Low-fat versions, consider Soy Egg Nog ( its not as thick).  A half a cup of Silk's Soy Egg Nog is 90 calories, 2 grams of total fat, and 0 grams of saturated fat.

Cinnamon

A dash of cinnamon adds 0 calories and some disease-fighting antioxidants. In fact, cinnamon it has been shown to have a positive effect on blood sugars and cholesterol levels.

Sprinkle cinnamon onto a latte, grate nutmeg into coffee, and swirl a little cayenne into hot chocolate for an extra warming effect.





Dilute your orders
Turn a glass of wine into a spritzer by mixing in seltzer water and a slice of lemon, or a beer into a shandy with soda water. You'll have a bigger drink with fewer calories.


Beware of...

mixed drinks

Some frozen, sugary and creamy beverages can pack more than 800 calories per serving.

If you are eating out, avoid alcoholic drinks with umbrellas (likea mudslide or a pina colada) which has as many calories as eating a full dessert by yourself (Which is a lot).

The worst offenders are anything made of dessert-like ingredients — Irish coffee, pina coladas and eggnog, for example.

Also, ask for low-calorie or diet mixers when possible.

hard liquor
A single shot may be small, but it can pack anywhere from 100 to 200 calories.

Lower Calorie Drink Recipes

Lower-Calorie Long Island Iced Tea. Combine 1/3 ounce each of vodka, tequila, rum, gin, and triple sec with two packets of Splenda and Diet Coke to nearly fill the glass. Mix all ingredients together and add ice and a slice of lemon on the rim. Makes one drink.

Daiquiri for Dieters. In a blender, puree 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, 1 ounce of rum, sugar-free daiquiri mix to taste (mix in a little bit at a time), and ice. Blend until slushy and serve. Makes one drink.

Sangria Minus Added Calories. To make a large pitcher, you’ll need one bottle of Fuze Slenderize Tropical Punch, one bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, or Zinfandel, one shot of brandy, one orange and one lemon, each cut into wedges. Pour the bottle of wine into the pitcher and squeeze in the juice from the fruit wedges. Then toss in wedges, add the brandy, and chill. Right before serving, add the Fuze to taste. Makes eight drinks.

sources: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/lifestyle/wellness/slim-down-secrets%3A-quick-fixes-for-heavy-holiday-drinks

posted: 12/20/2010

By: Katie Fisher

Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/foodwine/2008611753_zfoo10lighterdrinks.html

http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-recipes/alcohol.aspx