With the end of the semester and the ever-dreaded bikini season steadily (but surely) approaching us, collegiettes’ hot bods are about to begin a cat and mouse game like no other—eating well and exercising versus drinking. With Marathon Monday, Modstock, Cinco de Mayo, and that random Saturday when you have nothing to do, drinking (responsibly) becomes slightly more prevalent. But for us girls who hope to be on the beach in a little over a month, every calorie counts. I’ve come up with some great at-home recipes for pregaming in the spring months, as well as some help tips about what to avoid once you leave the house and get to Cleveland Circle.
Cranberry-Zinfandel Punch (for sharing)
Combine:
1 bottle cranberry juice cocktail
1 bottle red wine
1/3 of limejuice (squeezed or pre-made)
1 bottle of seltzer
Serves between 15-20 people
90 calories, 16 g carbohydrates
Why it’s better than a Margarita:
Especially with pre-made Margarita mix (however handy they may be), a standard margarita is packed with sugar, on top of the 96 calories you’re getting from an ounce of tequila alone. Keeping the ingredients simple in the Cranberry-Zinfandel Punch makes room for the calories straight from the alcohol, while keeping that summery taste and feel!
Raspberry Rickey (for sharing)
Combine:
1 1/3 cups of raspberries
3 tbsp of sugar (or substitute with Splenda!)
½ cup limejuice
Mix these together to make a “syrup”
Mix with:
2 cups seltzer
1 cup (8 ounces) or Raspberry vodka
Serves 4-6
64.6 calories, 16.9 carbohydrates
Why it’s better than a Pina Colada:
Like Margaritas, it’s easy to settle for the pre-made mixes, which are packed with extra sugar. Even if you aren’t using a mix, coconut milk has 450 calories alone, and that’s on top of the rum and added sugar. This throwback to a summertime favorite Raspberry Rickey is made with fresh syrup that you make yourself, sparing you extra calories and made with seltzer (no calories) instead of a dairy-based product. Perfect for a sunny day on your deck, or a great pre-party cocktail with friends!
Now that’s what you can do at home to save calories. However, heading out to bars, you never know how each bartender makes their drinks, what brands they use, and if they add any secret ingredients to their specialty drinks. Because you can’t control what they do, you can at least know some basics:
1. Avoid dairy-based drinks or drinks containing liqueur. Drinks with milk in them, like White Russians, or anything with Bailey’s Irish Crème, add unnecessary calories and are usually added to another liquor. Save yourself the trouble, and just cut them out of the drink.
2. Be mindful of your mixers. Many fruit juices have a surprising amount of calories, even though a lot of the time they make the best mixers. When ordering something to compliment your vodka or gin, try Orange Juice (84 calories), or Grapefruit Juice (90 calories) if they have it.
3. Beware of the Beer. I know some girls don’t generally like beer, but a lot of the time it’s the only thing available, and it’s also usually cheaper than mixed drinks. Look for beers that have a higher alcohol content with the lowest amount of calories to get the most bang for your buck. Try Coors Light (4.2 %, 102 calories) or Miller High Life Light (4.2%, 110 calories) instead of Bud Light (4.2%, 151 calories). And, my personal favorite if it’s available where you are is Bud Light Platinum (6%, 137 calories).
4. It says it in the name. Although it might be an “acquired taste,” club soda and diet soda (0 calories) as well as tonic water (10 calories for each 1.1 ounce) are great mixers for all different liquors, especially paired with a lemon or lime. Try Rum and Diet Coke (100 calories) or a Gin and Tonic (200 calories) to see how you like it. It might save your wallet and your waistline.
Sources:
http://www.delish.com/entertaining-ideas/party-ideas/low-calorie-alcoholic-drinks
http://www.calorieking.com/calories-in-alcohol.html
http://www.lowcalhq.com/mixers/
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/low-calorie-cocktails?page=3
http://id-rather-have-food.tumblr.com/post/47636870355
http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/cranberry-zinfandel-punch-2284
http://www.weightwatchers.com/images/1033/dynamic/foodandrecipes/2011/11/raspberrylimerickey_600.jpg
http://scan.lusu.co.uk/files/2010/10/negative-stereotype-bar.jpg