Cheers! Summer Cocktails to Try (& Some Calorie Warnings)
Toast July 4th (or any summer day) with a cool cocktail. But don’t go overboard! Cocktails can come with some hefty calorie counts, especially if you like your drinks strong. Before you fill your glass, remember these helpful hints so you don’t wind up drowning in sugar or, worse, with a nasty hangover the next day.
The Liquor
Some cocktails contain as much as 500 calories each — that’s about 1/4 of your calorie needs for the day — and most folks don’t just stop at one. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, men should limit their alcohol to two drinks and women to one drink per day (and that doesn’t mean you can drink the whole week’s worth on a Saturday night, either).
If you find yourself reaching for refills, calories can add up quickly at 100-calories per 1.5 ounces of vodka, whiskey or gin (or a 5-ounce glass of wine). Measuring out single servings of 1 to 2 ounces of liquor or a glass of wine is a handy way to help keep track of your calorie intake.
The Mixers
Those pre-made, sugar-laden mixtures are too sweet for me, and they’re really calorie-filled (empty calories at that). Instead, mix your cocktails with 100% natural juices such as pomegranate, lime, lemon, orange or grapefruit. Regular sodas also add plenty of calories from sugar — just use a splash, go for the diet version, or use seltzer (which has no calories or chemicals).
There are ways to keep your drink sweet without consuming cups worth of sugar, too. Try a little bit of sweeteners such as agave nectar or brown rice syrup. Or make your own simple syrup by dissolving 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water in a saucepan over a low flame.
The Extras
The most delicious summer cocktails are made with fresh fruit (take advantage of the seasonal produce!). Place sliced peaches, lemons, oranges, limes or pineapple into the glass or pitcher. Fresh herbs such as mint or basil or thinly sliced ginger add fresh flavor to your drinks, too, and negligible calories.
Bottom Line
Opt for mixed drinks that are about 200 calories each, and keep the drinks simple — not too many ingredients or add-ins. Watch how much you pour, too: 1 to 2 ounces for hard alcohol and 5-ounce servings for wine.
There are delicious ways to create classic summer cocktails that don’t max out the scale, too. Here are some goodies to try:
Cocktails look light may be calorie laden. Perhaps most of them come from the add ons. With little prudence, we can be able to enjoy our cool meals in the summer without loading on too much fat. I saw Ellie's Frozen Mango Margarita and liked the orange liqueur substitution.
I love cocktails with fresh peach puree. All of these recipes sound great though – perfect for a hot summer day. Sometimes it's helpful for me just to even KNOW how many calories I'm consuming. If a drink has 400 calories, that's OK once in awhile, but at least I'll know to limit it to one.