The skinny on cocktails

My college girlfriends and I made a pack when we were in college that no matter where our lives went that we needed to stay in touch. So here we are 12 years later and we make it a priority to do one weekend trip together. This year’s trip is at the river one town over from our college town. It’s always so refreshing to take time to reconnect and nourish those friendships. Since the trip is in a few weekends, I decided to do some research on clean low calorie cocktails so I can enjoy myself but still feel confident in my bathing suit.

How to enjoy any cocktail with friends without high sugars and calories?

I found Bethenny Franklin’s fixologist formula to be the easiest to apply to any social setting. Just  apply these 4 step to any drink and you will feel lighter with the fewer calories.

1.   Fill a short glass with ice. Always use a lot of ice

2.  Add clear liquor as it is cleaner and lighter with fewer impurities than     dark liquor. Vodka is a good one because it is clear and you can make a vodka version of just about any drink.

3.  Fill the glass rest of the way with club soda. This will reduce the strength of the drink and help keep you hydrated.

4.  Add a splash of the sweet or fruity component – typically this will be a sweet liqueur, a sugary mix, or fruit juice.

Examples

Margaritas  - Ask for a clear tequila on the rocks with club soda and just a splash of that frozen

machine mix everyone is drinking

Daiquiri or pina colada – a shot of rum, club soda, and a splash of daiquiri or pina colada mix

New Orleans hurricane – A shot of clear run over ice with club soda and a splash of the hurricane mix

Vodka and cranberry – Vodka and soda on the rocks with a splash of cranberry

Martinis – Gin or vodka, club soda on the rocks with a splash of olive juice

At home margaritas – Clear tequila, club soda on the rocks with a splash of citrus liqueur

Rum and cola – Clear rum, club soda on the rocks with just a splash of cola

See it’s that easy. Don’t be afraid to ask the bartender for the modifications. More than likely you aren’t the first one who has asked him for a skinny girl cocktail.

In addition to Bethenny’s fixologist formula here are some great tips to consider when out drinking.

·      Only drink clear liquor

·      Have a two-drink maximum

·     Alternate a glass of water with every alcoholic drink.

·     Wine goes down too quickly so beware of the  wine refill

·     Eat protein and veggies with alcoholic drinks rather than starches

·     If you have a dessert liqueurs, enjoy one over a lot of ice after dinner instead of dessert

These are the tips I plan to follow on my girls trip. It’s nice to know I can still enjoy a tasty drink but with fewer calories!! I highly recommend Bethenny's book The Skinnygirl Dish if you are looking for more naturally thin tips.