Ah … summertime. With the hot weather comes the usual round of outdoor activities — and that includes picnics, barbecues and backyard parties made all the better by the longer days and lingering sunlight.
And summertime-friendly, refreshing cocktails are always a wonderful addition to the festivities, as well as a great complement to warm-weather menus.
However, summer is also the season of swimsuits, shorts and sundresses — so those who are watching their figures (and that’s just about everyone, come bikini weather) are likely also watching the calories, carbs and overall nutritional content of the drinks they’re hoping to enjoy.
We won’t lie: Many summery cocktails rely on such diet-unfriendly additions as fruit and sugar to create the light and refreshing flavors so perfect on a warm evening. However, with some common sense and a few recipes on hand, it’s easy to whip up drinks that won’t completely kill your diet. Clocking in at around 160 to 220 calories each, these tasty cocktails will satisfy your summer soul. Just be sure to sip slowly and enjoy only one (or heck, maybe skip dessert and have two).
Paste this Image on Your Site!
Simply copy and paste the code below and you can share this infographic on your site:
Download the printable Summertime Drinks Guide here!
A Quick Liquor Primer
In general, when considering which cocktails will best fit into your diet, the first place to start is examining the calorie and carb count of the key ingredient — the booze, of course. Although a serving of most common alcohols (that’s 1.5 oz for the hard stuff, 5 oz for wine and 12 oz for beer) all weigh in at under 200 calories, some drinks pack a significantly bigger calorie whomp than others due to the mixers and additions to the overall drink.
Consider this basic list:
- A 1.5 oz serving of 80-proof gin, rum, tequila, vodka or whiskey all contain roughly 100 calories
- 12 oz light beer: 70-100 cal, 5 g carbs
- 12 oz regular beer: 110-160 cal, 13 g carbs
- 5 oz wine: 130 calories, 4 g carbs
- 5 oz champagne: 110 cal, 3 g carbs
- 1 Tbsp sugar: 9 calories, 2.3 g carbs
Putting It All Together
Another important element of the overall nutritional result of your drink is, of course, the additives. Probably the best diet drink available – which is still refreshing for a summer evening – is a simple vodka and club soda with a twist of lemon or lime, or a splash of cranberry juice. You can also try a gin and diet tonic or just stick with a crisp, chilled glass of white wine.
Looking for something a bit more festive? If you want to get the most buzz for your calorie bang, try cocktails that incorporate small amounts of different liquors (such as a Long Island Iced Tea), which can be reasonable in overall calorie count. Avoid calorie traps like full-calorie colas, overuse of sugary simple syrup and premade cocktail mixers. If you’re hankering for a drink with a heftier calorie punch — such as a margarita — try lots of ice and stick to just one.
You can also cut calories (and double your good karma as the designated driver for the evening) by eliminating alcohol altogether from your drink. Not all cocktails lend themselves to “virgin” versions, but you can whip up delicious family-friendly mocktails such as a virgin sangria, or try a fruity mimosa topped off with club soda instead of champagne!
Happy sipping on a summer night!
The post The Ultimate Guide to Summertime Drinks appeared first on Apartment Living Blog.
from Apartment Living Blog http://www.forrent.com/blog/food-entertaining/ultimate-guide-to-summertime-drinks/
No comments:
Post a Comment