You Booze, You Lose

YOU BOOZE, YOU LOSE

There are 60 seconds left before the ball drops and you welcome the new year. You take a sip of your third margarita when the button on your jeans snaps.

It turns out that many popular alcoholic drinks contain as many calories as a Big Mac! Here are some staggering caloric figures that might make you rethink your alcoholic choices this New Year’s Eve:

Pina Colada (6 oz): 310 kcals
Mud Slide (6 oz): 575 kcals
Margarita (10 oz): 500 kcals
Mai Tai (9 oz): 620 kcals
Long island Iced Tea (10 oz): 543 kcals
White Russian (6 oz): 432 kcals
Dirty Martini (4.5 oz): 240 kcals

(Note: Numbers are approximate; calories vary according to ingredients and portions.)

To make matters worse, some studies have shown that the consumption of alcohol can significantly slow fat metabolism. How? When alcohol is ingested, it is the first fuel the body burns. While this process occurs, the body will not burn fat. This, in turn, postpones weight loss.

Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. There’s still good news: you can still have your party and drink there, too. Here are some better options that won’t wreak as much havoc on your waistline:

Red Wine (5 oz): 120 kcals
Champagne (4 oz): 90 kcals
Rum & Diet Coke (6 oz): 65 kcals
Whiskey Sour (4 oz): 192 kcals
Michelob Ultra (1 bottle): 95 kcals
Gin and Tonic (6 oz): 145 kcals

If you can’t live without your high-caloric favorites here are a few ideas to lighten the caloric load of the classic offenders:

Slender Pina Colada: Swap coconut cream for a can of evaporated fat-free milk.
Low-calorie Mudslide: Skip the cream and supersized glass for a skinnier version of the original.
Simple Margarita: Stick to three simple ingredients – tequila, triple sec and lime juice – for a 153-calorie drink.
Light Mai Tai: Mix diet lemon soda, 1 oz rum, almond extract, 1 tsp sugar and pineapple/orange juice for a drink that’s not as catastrophic to your diet.
Skinny White Russian: Combine 1 oz each of vodka and Kahlua along with 2 oz almond milk and enjoy!

There you have it. Feel free to unlock the liquor cabinet and have a good time. Just don’t forget to drink responsibly and never drink and drive. Happy new year!

Celery has many health benefits which include lowering inflammation and aiding in digestion. Whip up this celery/cilantro concoction and impress your guests this new year!

CELERY CILANTRO COCKTAIL
Ingredients:

• 1 oz Absolut Citron
• 3 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
• 2 tbsp simple syrup (or 1 tbsp agave, 1 tbsp water)
• 5 inch piece celery
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tbsp seltzer
• ice

Directions:

1. In a mixing glass or pitcher, combine celery and cilantro and muddle together with vodka, lime juice and simple syrup.
2. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a glass filled with ice and top with seltzer.
3. Garnish with celery greens and cilantro.

Serving Size: 1 glass
Calories: 135
Fat: 0g
Protein: 0.2g
Carbs: 19.9g
Sugar: 15.8g

(Recipe as seen on skinnytaste.com)