Be a SMART Party Animal

The Healthier Way To Booze :)

We all like to have a few drinks here and there, and we don't want weight loss to throw off our social life, so here are some great tips I like to keep in mind during happy hour with the girls...

1.  Use only fresh squeezed, 100% fruit juice, or whole fruit when possible - Although fruit juice can still be dangerous, you will cut out any "added" sugars.  It is best to dilute it with either ice or water.  Fruit itself will also add fiber and vitamins.

2.  Choose light alcohol over dark - The dark stuff contains more compounds know as congeners, which worsen hangovers.

3.  Choose seltzer water over other carbonated waters - This will eliminate added sodium and additives.  If using soda for a recipe, choose diet or natural versions.  But be careful, artificial sweeteners have there downfall too!

4.  Limit yourself to one shot per drink - Multi-alcohol cocktails pack in loads of calories, so in this case, size DOES matter.  Try to keep all your drinks around the 8 ounce mark.

5.  Choose nutritious ingredients - Lemon, coffee, ginger, natural honey... they have their own proven health benefits.  You can make your own simple syrup (sugar) with a 1/2 T. honey mixed with 3/4 T. warm water to give you better control of your sugar content.

Now for the best part:  Let's start with 5 of my favorite happy hour drinks that keep the hour happy!

1.  Bloody Mary from scratch - 3/4 cup low-sodium, no sugar added tomato juice, juice from 1/2 a lemon, dash of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, fresh ground pepper, and 1 shot of vodka.  Garnish with celery and a lemon wedge.

2.  Cape Codder - Pour 1 shot of vodka and 2 shots cranberry juice (100% juice) over ice, add 2 shots seltzer water and garnish with a lime wedge.

3.  Light & Stormy - Over ice, combine 1 shot light rum and 2 shots of ginger beer.  Add a squeeze of lime for freshness.

4.  Fruit Mojito - muddle fresh mint leaves in the bottom of a glass, add the juice of 1/2 a lime, 1 T. simple syrup, ice, and pour in 1 jigger of light rum with 3/4 cup seltzer water.  To make it a fruit Mojito, also muddle fresh or frozen fruit in the glass before adding the liquid.

5.  Tequila Sunrise - Over ice, combine 1 shot tequila and 2 shots orange juice (100% juice).  Splash with 100% cranberry juice.

Bottoms up!  Do you have a favorite drink that you have given a healthy twist??

oxox, Em