Title-3: Low-Calorie Cocktail Ideas

Summary:

Today the media urges us to double check the fat and sugar counts of everything from organic soup to our favorite beverages. All of the negative reports can affect having fun-suddenly, a trip to your local lounge becomes headache inducing, because you're unsure of the calorie intake of your favorite cocktails. Don't despair, though, because there are ways to enjoy drinking cocktails without gaining unwanted weight.

Body:

Today the media urges us to double check the fat and sugar counts of everything from organic soup to our favorite beverages. All of the negative reports can affect having fun-suddenly, a trip to your local lounge becomes headache inducing, because you're unsure of the calorie intake of your favorite cocktails. Don't despair, though, because there are ways to enjoy drinking cocktails without gaining unwanted weight.

Choose diet soda

It's generally a good idea not to drink things like whiskey and coke or seven and sevens because they are mixed with soda, which has a high sugar and calorie count. However, you will count down the amount of calories if you choose diet soda as a mixer.

Drink slowly or take breaks

Who says you have to drink nonstop all night long? Just because your size five girlfriend drinks cocktail after cocktail doesn't mean that you have to follow her lead. Enjoy your Mojito or brandy by savoring it instead of gulping it down. If you finish your first drink quickly, imbibe a glass of water before ordering your second round-you'll keep hydrated that way, too.

Be knowledgeable about low-calorie mixers

If you are planning a party, you'll want to serve cocktails. Most of your friends are probably health conscious like you are, so help yourself and them by knowing which mixers are best. Yummy sugar-free Torani syrup, which comes in such flavors as raspberry, chocolate, hazelnut, blueberry, and more, has zero calories! So does Baja Bob's sugar-free margarita or sweet 'n' sour mix-what a fabulous alternative to traditional margarita mixes that have gargantuan calorie counts. If you need some juice, just choose a light or no-sugar-added version.

Feel free to indulge with a Bloody Mary

It might seem like Bloody Marys would contain a plethora of calories, but they actually don't. Consuming a Bloody Mary will only add a hundred or so calories to your intake for the day. These are one of the tastiest, most popular cocktails around, so it's great that they are a low-cal option-even with garnish, as celery and pickles are virtually fat free!

Get creative

Lots of people serve Cosmopolitans or the high calorie Margarita at social events, but you can stand out by trying out some new drinks. One everyone will like is the Caipirinha, which is composed of water, lime, rum, ice, and optional Splenda. Another is the Moscow Mule, which uses tasty ginger ale, vodka, lime, and ice. Don't forget the uniquely named Lava Flow, flavored with strawberries, bananas, coconut, rum, no-sugar-added pineapple juice, and ice. Bourbon lovers will enjoy the Alleghany Bank, which pairs the bourbon with vermouth, Blackberry brandy, lemon and ice. Finally, how could you go wrong with refreshing Sangria? There are different ways to make this one, but you basically just need to choose several different fruits, include oranges and limes, and a few others, and combine them with some nice red wine and seltzer water.

It's a great escape to enjoy a fresh cocktail! Just know that the higher amount of alcohol in a drink, the higher the calories will be. So, be aware of what is in your drink, use these tips to keep yourself from overindulging, and you'll avoid feeling guilty about a sipping on a beverage or two.