Posts

…Summer Champagne Cocktails…

Ok… Lets be realistic. The sun is coming out which means the summer cocktails are going to come out. I feel that with my clients their biggest battle is figuring out how to balance living a healthy lifestyle with a FUN lifestyle.  I am not saying that you have to give up ALL things to reach your health and fitness goals.  BUT MODERATION IS KEY!

So yes…if you have been working your butt off for weeks and you have your gals coming over for a girls night, enjoy one or two drinks.  The best suggestions is to always stick with low sugar options.  Red wine carries a great nutritional profile and some are even low in sugar and carbs. Do your research and see what nutritional values are in the drinks you want to consume.  In the mean time… here is a guest post providing some delicious options for you and your friends to try!

summer-cocktails

Impress your guests with champagne cocktails

In a circle of adults no important celebration is complete without champagne. In our minds it is associated with memorable moments of life. But don’t feel afraid to mix up your next soiree with some elegant champagne cocktails.

Champagne cocktails were served traditionally as an aperitif before a festive dinner, though you can serve them any time. So to get you started, we have prepared for you some of the most accessible recipes that we believe are the best.

General tips:

  • champagne in cocktails should not be shaken (it foams strongly), if necessary, it should only be slowly stirred with a spoon;
  • before preparation all the ingredients and the glass should be cooled down;
  • use only big glasses capacity of which is 20-30% higher than the total volume of all added components;
  • It might sound obvious, but the higher the quality of the champagne, the tastier the cocktail will be

Lemon Cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 100 ml of dry or semi-dry champagne
  • 20ml of lemon juice
  • 1 piece of sugar
  • a slice of lemon
  • ice

Preparation:

In the glass on a thin stem put a piece of sugar, pour the lemon juice, pour champagne on top, put an ice-cube and decorate with lemon.

 

Champagne ice

Ingredients:

  • champagne (brut or dry, e.g. Lanson Champagne) – 50 ml;
  • ice cream (white) – 100 grams;
  • strawberry – 50 grams;
  • mint – 2-3 leaves.

Preparation:

Slice strawberries in big pieces and finely chop mint. Mix strawberry, ice cream and mint in a glass. Pour in the champagne.

Drink cocktail through a straw. Remains of strawberries can be eaten with a spoon.

Champagne with ice cream and strawberries is usually served for dessert.

 

AMERICAN GLORY I

Ingredients:

  • 20 ml of pomegranate syrup Grenadine;
  • 40 ml of orange juice;
  • 10 ml of lemon juice;
  • Any champagne on offer;
  • For decoration: 1 slice of orange.

Preparation:

Mix grenadine syrup, orange and lemon juices in a glass for champagne by one-third filled with crushed ice. Top up with champagne. Decorate the edge of the glass with a slice of orange.

 

Martini Royale

Ingredients:

  • 75ml of white vermouth;
  • 75 ml of dry sparkling wine;
  • Lime – 30grams;
  • Sprig of mint;
  • Ice cubes – 160 g

Preparation:

Fill a wine glass with ice cubes till top. Pour in white vermouth and dry sparkling wine. Squeeze a quarter of lime there and gently stir with a cocktail spoon. Decorate the glass with a slice of lime and sprig of mint.

 

Sparkling Strawberry Sangria

Ingredients:

  • 4-10 strawberries;
  • 1 apple;
  • 1/2 of lemon;
  • 1 lime;
  • 1 cinnamon stick;
  • 2-6 leaves of mint;
  • 50 grams of sugar (preferably yellow cane);
  • 1 bottle of champagne (Brut or Asti) very chilled.

Preparation:

Slice strawberries into 4 pieces and the rest of the fruit cut into cubes. Add mint, cinnamon, sugar and put the mix in refrigerator for several hours until the sugar dissolves and forms a “syrup” on the bottom of the bowl. Add the champagne 30 minutes before serving. Everything should be very well mixed and put back in the fridge. The drink should be served very chilled!!! (Depending on the season, strawberries can be replaced with peaches (peeled beforehand) or you can add some wild berries (blackberries) which with give the drink very beautiful shade.

Bon Appetit!

ec2dbeac2d82456da9d91a5373ba22c4

/by

…Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks…

As the warmer months are quickly approaching, this is the perfect time of year to meet up with new and old pals and grab some drinks. Making good food decisions during these times are very important and one way to help out your festive food/drink  decisions is to make your favorite  cocktails but in a  healthier way! Let’s be honest…everyone will want to enjoy a few treats throughout their weight loss journey to just relax and let loose.  But there is a way to still enjoy a few of your favorite drink and still stay on track with your healthy eating!

Thanks to Fitness Magazine here are some great low cal drink recipes

Pomegranate Martinis

Flavored martinis have gone the way of the pom’. Pomegranate syrup can be found in the coffee or baking aisle of well-stocked supermarkets.

Start to Finish: 10 minutes
Makes: 8 servings

1/2 of a medium orange, cut into wedges
Sugar
1 1/2 cups vodka or gin
1/3 cup pomegranate syrup (grenadine)
3 tablespoons dry vermouth
Ice cubes
Small pomegranates (optional)

1. Rub orange wedges around rims of 8 martini glasses. Invert glasses into a dish of sugar to coat rims; set glasses aside. In a small pitcher, combine the vodka, pomegranate syrup, and vermouth. Place ice cubes in a martini shaker. For each drink, add 1/4 cup of the syrup mixture; shake. Strain into one of the prepared martini glasses. Garnish with a small pomegranate, if desired.

Nutrition Information per serving: 146 calories, 0g protein, 11g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber

Orange Martinis: Prepare as above, except use 3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed, in place of the syrup. Omit garnish.

Apple Martinis: Prepare as above except use 1/3 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed, in place of the syrup. Garnish with fresh orange peel curls.

 

Tangy Citrus Lemonade

Prep: 25 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Makes: 10 servings

6 large lemons (1 1/2 cups juice)
3 medium limes (1/3 cup juice)
3/4 to 1 cup honey
6 cups water
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
Ice cubes
Lemon and/or lime slices (optional)

1. In a 2-1/2-quart pitcher, combine lemon juice, lime juice, and 3/4 to 1 cup honey. Add water and raspberries. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

2. Just before serving, gently stir to combine. Pour into ice-filled glasses. Add lemon and/or lime slices, if desired.

Nutrition Information per serving: 101 calories, 1g protein, 28g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 2g fiber

Lemonade Tea: Add equal parts freshly brewed iced tea and Tangy Citrus Lemonade to ice-filled glasses. Sweeten to taste with additional honey, if desired.

 

Frozen Lime Margaritas

Start to Finish: 10 minutes
Makes: 10 servings

12-ounce can frozen limeade concentrate
2/3 cup tequila
1/2 cup light orange juice or orange liqueur
4 cups ice cubes
1/2 of a medium lime
Coarse salt
Orange slices (optional)

1. In a blender container combine limeade concentrate, tequila, and orange juice. Cover and blend until combined. With blender running, add ice cubes, one at a time, through opening in lid, blending until mixture becomes slushy.

2. Cut a thick lime slice; cut slice in half. Rub slices around rims of eight glasses. Dip rims into a dish of coarse salt to coat rims. Pour mixture into prepared glasses. Garnish glasses with orange slices, if desired.

Nutrition Information per serving: 122 calories, 0g protein, 22g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber

Strawberry Margaritas: Prepare as above, except blend half of the mixture at a time adding 1 cup frozen unsweetened whole strawberries along with 2 cups of the ice cubes. Repeat with remaining mixture, 1 cup additional frozen strawberries, and remaining 2 cups ice cubes. Continue as directed, substituting coarse sugar for the salt on the glasses. If desired, garnish each glass with a whole strawberry.

Make-ahead directions: Prepare as above through Step 1. Pour into a 1-1/2-quart freezer container. Cover and freeze overnight. To serve, use a large spoon to scrape across frozen surface and pile into salt-rimmed glasses.

 

White Wine Spritzer:
Try diluting your drink with club soda or sparkling water.  This in the end means that you get more glasses for fewer calories.  These are about 100 calories per serving. Dry wines are better because they usually contain fewer calories.

 

Vodka Cranberry:
It has about 65 calories, but the cranberry juice also helps to flush the alcohol you consume out of your system. Try to request the light cranberry juice for the lower calories. For an extra zesty flavor (without adding calories) squeeze a lime wedge in your drink.

 

Vodka and Diet Red Bull:
Request to have it made with the sugar-free Red Bull. It’s only about 75 calories.

 

Here are some more mixers that you can choose at the bar that carry small calorie content (Thanks to WebMB):

  • Diet soda or diet tonic: 0 calories
  • Orange juice (6 oz): 84 calories
  • Cranberry juice cocktail (8 oz): 136 calories
  • Light orange juice (8 oz): 50 calories
  • Light cranberry juice (8 oz): 40 calories
  • Light lemonade (8 oz): 5 calories
  • Coffee, tea: 0 calories
  • Lemon or lime juice (1/2 oz): 10 calories

Consider mixing up a pitcher of your favorite crystal light  drink and use that to mix in with your hard alcohol!  This option adds zero extra calories, taste great, and will keep you from racking up the extra calories and sugar for the day.

So feel free to treat yourself EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE to a nice cocktail with your friends or just at home after a long day.  The key is to be smart and to enjoy these things in moderation!

/2 Comments/by