Healthy Ways to Flavor Your Cocktails

DietsInReview

By Maris

Callahan - DietsInReview.com

Mixed drinks have a bad reputation for being chock full of empty calories and void of any and all nutrition. While wine, beer and cocktails certainly fall under the "occasional indulgence" category on the food pyramid, there are a few ways that you can add a little bit of nutrition to your glass, whether you're planning a cocktail party or enjoying a simple beverage to unwind after a long week.

So, what can you do to make your cocktails a little bit more substantial? Claire Smith, head of Spirit Creation & Mixology for Belvedere Vodka and 10 Cane Rum, offered some of her favorite tips to help us keep our cocktails slimmer without sacrificing taste or quality.

Add Egg White
Drinks that are shaken with egg white increase the viscosity of the drink and at the same time, add protein to a cocktail. "This will help keep you a little fuller when you're drinking cocktails," Smith said. Adding a little protein to your beverage may even curb the post-cocktail munchies.

Go for Garnishes
Smith suggests adding olives, slices of fruit or slices of cucumber to your favorite cocktails to complement their flavor - and give you a little something to nibble on. If you're making a pitcher of a beverage, such as sangria, add double the amount of fruit the recipe calls for - and maybe you can even pack in some extra vitamins.

Ditch Diet Sodas
"Despite appearances, diet sodas are often not the best choice for those looking to watch their diet," Smith said. "The artificial sweetener in these sodas can trick the body into thinking sugar has been consumed without receiving the benefit of the energy that sugar brings. Your body then seeks that energy elsewhere, making you crave sweet ingredients/food items." Instead, deepen the flavor of your cocktails with flavored teas that pair exceptionally well with lighter spirits like vodka and gin.

Green Thumb
Adding fresh herbs to cocktails is a great way of increasing flavor without adding calories. Try adding mint, lemon thyme or cinnamon to cocktails and reduce the amount of liqueurs used to sweeten the drink. Fresh herbs such as rosemary or sage are used to create more complex versions of a Vodka Tom Collins.

Comforting Cocktails
With the economy still in flux, there has been a return to simple, well-constructed cocktails over the past years. "The days of overly complicated drinks or molecular style mixology seem to be behind us," Smith aid. "Certainly, cocktails tend to follow fashion and the economy and since the downtown we have noticed a return to drinks that are safe and familiar." Without unnecessary ingredients you'll also cut unnecessary calories from your glass.

Try these other fun, healthy and even stylish entertaining ideas:

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Spice Up Your Kitchen with Sea Salt

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