Keep your resolution with natural and low calorie cocktails

By January 21, statistics say that 80% of us will have abandoned our new years resolutions. This is especially true for resolutions revolving around improving our health by exercising and losing weight.

Fortunatly, you don't have to quit drinking to keep your resolution! Even better, you're not condemmed to vodka sodas all year either. Here are some ideas for reducing calories and not taste:

• Drink low calorie cocktails - Mojitos are one of my favourite cocktails and, surprisingly, they're low in calories (122 calories).  Compare this to something like a Long Island Iced Tea (780 calories) and the difference is clear. Here's an article on some other low calorie cocktails.
• Less is more - When you're out for the night drinking highballs, screwdrivers, etc.. a lot of the calories come for the sugar in all the pop and juice you're drinking.  One option is to just reduce the amount of juice/pop in the drink.  Vodka soda with a splash of grapefruit juice is one of my girlfriend's favourites.  You still get the flavour, but with way less sugar and calories.  This really adds up over the course of a night.
• Insist on natural ingredients - cocktails using real fruit, vegetables, and syrups contain way less refined sugar and preservatives and often have the added bonus of vitamins and anti-oxidants.  If you're going out, visit Lauren Mote at the Refinery or Shaun Layton at L'Abittoir for some great natural cocktails.  Or if you're feeling creative, here are some healthy syrup recipes for cocktails you can make at home.
• Low carb beers - Admittedly, most of these are not very tasty.  Watery and more like soda water is what you typically get. Amstel Light is pretty good though difficult to get in Vancouver.  Regardless of which one, you want to stick to the ones in dark bottles or cans (they stay fresh longer) and drink them ice-cold, preferably in a frosty mug.  This helps enhance the light flavour.
• Low carb wines - There are low calorie wines out there, but I have yet to taste a really good one.  For the most part, wine is generally pretty safe as long as you're staying away from the super sweet ones.  The average glass has between 75-90 calories. If you're numbers kind of person, here's a table on calorie count by wine type.

If you've got any comments or some other healthy or low-cal cocktail suggestions, please share.


And, good luck with those resolutions.