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Published on 9/4/08
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Let’s get the bad news out of the way. If you’ve been sipping piña coladas and margaritas on patios and terraces all summer, it’s probably a good idea to put that umbrella-garnished glass down. “Not only do you have the calories of the alcohol to contend with,” Blatner says, “but there are also the gut-busting calories in the sugar/syrupy mixers.” Ditto for other mixed drinks like daiquiris. Instead of fruity beverages, Blatner recommends wine spritzers (half wine, half club soda) because they contain 50 percent fewer calories, and she’s also a fan of bottled light beer. “It’s under 100 calories and perfectly portion-controlled,” she says. Portion control is something to keep in mind when you just have to have a summer cocktail. Blatner recounts a study that found 50 percent of bartenders (from 80 bars and restaurants visited) pour at least twice the amount of booze that should be in a standard serving (which is 12 ounces for beer, 5 ounces for wine and 1.5 ounces for shots). She also advises drinking a glass of water between beverages to “decrease how many alcoholic drinks you have each night and cut down on calories.” Bonus: Amping up your water intake will make your hangover much more manageable the next day.
