If it fits through a straw, it can’t contain very many calories, right?
Wrong!
With the exception of water, I find it easy to forget that what I drink adds to my daily calorie tally—and maybe more so than you’d think. For example, a 5-ounce glass of wine has 125 calories and a 12-ounce beer 150 calories. That’s enough to tip even a disciplined dieter over the top.
But what I find downright disturbing is that some of my favorite summer cocktails are chock-full of calories, to the point that I could trade just one of them in for a meal. Yep, that’s right, a meal.
Here’s how much “damage” your favorite summer sipper can do. (Plus, find more than 20 delicious lower-calorie summer drink recipes here. [7])
Monkeylada [8] – A pina colada boasts about 403 calories. That’s about as much as a hamburger (397 calories). Try this lower-calorie version of a pina colada, made with ripe bananas, fresh pineapple and coconut milk—the Monkeylada.
Blueberry-Lime Margarita [9] – A margarita contains 375 calories, but you could have a hot dog with chili and cheese for 367. Try EatingWell’s Blueberry-Lime Margarita for just 125 calories, plus you’ll get some potassium, vitamin C and antioxidants.
Peach Wine Cooler [10] – You could trade your wine cooler at 200 calories for a scoop of potato salad (203 calories). Save yourself a few calories with this easy homemade Peach Wine Cooler.
TAGS: Brierley Wright [2], Diet Blog [3], Diet [11], Entertaining [12], Weight loss [13]
Brierley's interest in nutrition and food come together in her position as nutrition editor at EatingWell. Brierley holds a master’s degree in Nutrition Communication from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. A Registered Dietitian, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont.
Links:
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[5] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/diet_blog/3_drinks_that_wont_bust_your_diet
[6] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/diet_blog/3_drinks_that_wont_bust_your_diet?section=comments#tabs
[7] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/summer_drinks
[8] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/monkeylada.html
[9] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/blueberry_lime_margarita.html
[10] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/peach_wine_cooler.html
[11] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/diet
[12] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/entertaining
[13] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/weight_loss
[14] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/healthy_cooking_blog/4_ways_to_cook_dinner_faster
[15] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/66309?section=comments#tabs
[16] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/super_fast_valentine_s_desserts
[17] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/65938?section=comments#tabs
[18] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/health_blog/4_health_reasons_to_eat_chocolate_and_cons_to_consider
[19] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/65494?section=comments#tabs
[20] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/healthy_cooking_blog/how_to_cook_without_a_recipe
[21] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/65068?section=comments#tabs
[22] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/health_blog/healthy_hearts_challenge_tip_7_be_choosy_about_your_chocolate
[23] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/61318?section=comments#tabs
[24] http://www.eatingwell.com/user
[25] http://www.eatingwell.com/print/10089
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