The 5 Best Cocktails for Dieters
By Corrie Pikul
Tired of wine spritzers but wary of eggnog? Raise a glass filled with one of one of these lower-calorie cocktails instead.
What You Want: A Dirty Martini
(220 to 330 calories*)
A better choice: Hot-pepper-infused vodka over ice with an olive (105 calories)
Like the suave gentleman who bought this for you at the bar, martinis can be sneaky. A 4-ounce drink has around 220 calories, and many generous bartenders serve martinis in larger glasses. "The bigger a drink, the more alcohol it has and, therefore, the more calories it has," says Stephanie Clarke, MS, RD, a Best Life nutritionist and co-owner of C&J Nutrition in Manhattan. The addition of olive brine in a dirty martini only adds about 20 extra calories, which isn't a big of a deal- but the sodium is, says Clarke. "It can increase your thirst, which you may try to quench with more alcohol, and can also make you feel bloated the next day." The pepper in this drink is subtle; it's not like drinking a bottle of hot sauce. At home, try infusing vodka using this recipe from Emeril Lagasse.
*Calorie sources: NIH Alcohol Calorie Counter, USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
RELATED: See How Oprah Throws a Christmas Party
What You Want: A Cosmopolitan
(212 Calories per 4-Ounce Serving)
A better choice: Raspberry-infused vodka with club soda, a splash of cranberry and a lime (115 calories)
A little vodka, a little Cointreau, some cranberry juice-you may as well be sipping a pack of liquefied fruit chews. And the more splashes of juice and shots of alcohol you add, the higher the calories climb. This still doesn't mean that you need to give up your favorite cocktail. "We tell clients who are trying to lose weight to have that drink but to treat it like a treat or a piece of cake," says Willow Jarosh, MS, RD, a Best Life nutritionist and Clarke's partner at C&J Nutrition. If you opt for this lower-calorie version of your signature drink, you could even have two of them. Jarosh also suggests acting like a mixologist and experimenting with different fruit-infused vodkas and amounts of lime or lemon juice (both very low in calories).
RELATED: Kitchen and Dining Room Clutter Checkups
What You Want: A Gin and Tonic (120 to 166 Calories)
A better choice: Equal parts gin and soda water and a splash of tonic (100 to 140 calories)
Tonic water-that bitter-tasting bubbly mixer whose key ingredient, quinine, was once used as an antimalarial medicine-has almost as many calories and sugar as soda. "Most people think they're making a better choice by ordering a gin and tonic over a rum and Coke or a vodka and Sprite," says Jarosh, "but it's not true." She recommends cutting the quinine beverage with soda water rather than ordering diet tonic (or diet anything) because research suggests zero-calorie artificial sweeteners can throw off the body's natural response to intense sweetness, which can lead to weight gain.
RELATED: 6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Small Kitchen Space
What You Want: A Mojito
(Starts at 160 Calories)
A better choice: A Revitalize cocktail (134 calories)
Clarke and Jarosh say that almost all mojito recipes involve sugar (be it confectioner's or agave), and some bartenders use more than the usual tablespoon. They suggest asking for your drink with "just a touch" of simple syrup (or none at all) and extra lime juice. They also came up with their own refreshing alternative, the Revitalize, which sounds like something you'd receive in an expensive spa (without the alcohol). Combine the following into a shaker: 1 ounce vodka muddled with 2 chunks cucumber, 1/2 ounce honey, 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice and 2 ounces cold green tea. Shake, pour over ice and garnish with a lime twist.
RELATED: Find the Perfect Balance in your Busy Day
What You Want: Spiked Eggnog (Starts at 246 Calories, 9 Grams Fat, 6 Grams Saturated Fat)
A better choice: Coconut milk nog (per half-cup serving: 90 calories, 3 grams saturated fat)
Compared to the traditional recipe made with milk, cream and eggs, dairy-free nog made from coconut milk has about half the calories and a fraction of the fat. It's surprisingly creamy, and the coconut flavor may trick you into thinking you've already added a shot of rum (saving you about 100 calories). For traditionalists, Clarke suggests making your own recipe at home using 1 percent milk instead of whole and trying evaporated skim milk instead of cream.
RELATED: Is Your Friendship Making You Gain Weight?
KEEP READING: 5 More Drinks for Dieters
More from Oprah.com:
• The Uh-Oh Feeling: Sticky Situations at Work
• What Women Can Learn From Men
• How to Declutter Your Home for the Holidays
• What to do with the Most Underused Corners of Your Home
• Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine and save up to 78%
Like O, The Oprah Magazine on Facebook
