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Cocktail Hour? 3 Summer Slimmers & 3 Summer Sabotagers

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June 30, 2010
	JoWehage : Head Operations Ego

This weekend kicks off a host of summer events and celebrations. My own recent celebration pool-side got me to thinking about fun yet healthier choices for those spirited summer cocktail hours.

Here are my picks for the top 3 “summer slimmers” and the 3 “summer sabotagers.” (Yes, yes, we are making up words for this post.)

Let’s start with the sabotage and just get these out of the way. While I’ve loved them in the past the new “ingredient-reading” me has a hard time choosing these beverages any time of year but they go straight to the top of the watch list during bathing suit season.

Summer Sabotage

1. Margarita. Oh, that pains me just to type the words but, yes dear friends, the typical margarita boasts up to 900 calories per glass and upwards of 17 to 25 grams of sugar in just one pretty salt-rimmed glass. Adios amigo!
2. Mudslide. When I was 21 I thought I found my cocktail heaven. Still young enough to crave chocolate milk and now legal to add spirits. Holy cow, little did I know I was also adding 850 calories and, according to Dr. Oz, a whopping 27 grams of fat per drink. Down go the alcohol-infused milk shakes.
3. Pina Colada. According to most sources a single pina colada has around 650 calories and loads and loads of health-crushing sugar.

Honorable mentions in the sabotage category include Long Island iced tea (at 520 calories) and daiquiris (over 300 calories and almost all sugar).

But before you call me a buzz-kill, let’s take a gander at the slimmer side of cocktail hour.

Summer Slimmers

1. Mimosa. Typically slated for the holiday brunch celebrations, consider this cocktail for your hot summer spots. One part champagne, one part orange juice. Weighing in at 130 calories, you can enjoy tropical flavors and a strong boost of vitamin C.
2. Sangria. This combination of wine, fruit juices, club soda is typically served with whole fresh fruits. Choosing this little number will provide added antioxidants and fiber from the whole fruit infusions and weigh in at just 80 calories.
3. Watermelon Mixer. Mix this juicy, sweet and cancer-fighting lycopene fruit with a little ice and a touch of rum for a low calorie summer sensation. This baby rings in at around 65 calories.

Honorable mentions in the slimmer category include mojitos which, depending on the sweeteners, can be had at around 150 calories and bloody Mary’s which ring in around 120 calories with the added bonus of a serving of vegetables.

Here’s to a summer full of friends and laughter. 

Cheers!