Shocking Calories in Spring-Break Drinks (and What You Could Eat Instead)
By Hilary Meyer, Associate Food Editor, EatingWell Magazine
Spring break is the perfect time to let loose and have some fun. But its also a time when unwanted calories can sneak into your diet. That refreshing margarita may look innocent (especially on a hot day at the beach!), but what's lurking in that drink could be the equivalent of a rather hefty meal. But if it fits through a straw, it can't contain very many calories, right? Wrong! Before you say "bottoms up," check out how much "damage" your favorite sipper can do and see how much food you could eat for about the same number of calories.
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What Does a 1,500-Calorie Day Look Like?
So before you say "bottoms up," check out how much "damage" your favorite sipper can do and see how much food you could eat for about the same number of calories.
Piña Colada, 403 calories
Cheeseburger, 397 calories
Healthier Recipes to Try: Low-Cal Piña Colada & More Mexican Cocktails
Margarita, 375 calories
Hot dog with chili and cheese, 367 calories
Healthier Recipes to Try: Check out our skinny recipe below for a Blueberry-Lime Margarita with less than a third of the calories of a regular margarita. Click here to find more healthy cocktail and mocktail recipes.
Wine Cooler, 200 calories
Scoop of potato salad, 203 calories
Beer, 153 calories
8 large tortilla chips, 160 calories
Light Beer, 103 calories
Fudgsicle, 100 calories
Don't Miss: Light Beer Taste-Test Winners
Blueberry-Lime Margarita
Active Time: 10 minutes | Total: 10 minutes
Frozen limeade adds zing to this stellar blueberry margarita.
2 cups ice
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup blueberry nectar
1/4 cup seltzer
2 tablespoons frozen limeade
1 tablespoon lime juice
3 ounces tequila, optional
1 lime wedge
Coarse salt
Combine ice, blueberries, blueberry nectar, seltzer, limeade, lime juice and tequila, if using, in a blender and blend until smooth. Rub rim of 2 glasses with lime wedge and dip in salt. Divide the margarita between the prepared glasses and serve.
Makes 2 servings.
Per serving: 125 calories; 1 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 31 g carbohydrate; 0 g protein; 2 g fiber; 6 mg sodium; 147 mg potassium.
What you get: Potassium, vitamin C, phytochemicals.
What's your favorite figure-friendly drink?
By Hilary Meyer
EatingWell Associate Food Editor Hilary Meyer spends much of her time in the EatingWell Test Kitchen, testing and developing healthy recipes. She is a graduate of New England Culinary Institute.
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