Summer Drinks That Won't Weigh You Down
Whether you're entertaining or just relaxing on a hot summer day, a cool drink is a refreshing way to chill out. But it can also be a real diet-buster, because many people don't realize how high in calories some drinks can be.
Want to go lighter?
Senior food and nutrition editor at Health magazine Frances Largeman-Roth shared some drinks that won't weigh you down Wednesday on "The Early Show."
Here are some light options Largeman-Roth suggested, and the exercise equivalent to work off the drinks' calories:
Lemonade
Light - Vitamin Water Multi-V (lemonade); 8 ounces, 50 calories: refreshing and packed with 11 essential vitamins
Ride a bike for 6 minutes
Sweep the floor for 13 minutes
Water the plants for 20 minutes
Lightest - Snapple Diet Pink Lemonade; 8 ounces, 10 calories: tart and tangy, plus it's low in sodium (10mg)
Wash the dishes or iron for 4 minutes
Walk for 3.5 minutes
Iced Tea
Light - Lipton Pureleaf White Tea with Tangerine; 8 ounces, 60 calories: White tea is very mild in flavor and has the least amount of caffeine of all teas. Made with sustainable tea leaves.
Run up stairs for 5 minutes
Golf for 10 minutes
Swim leisurely for 9 minutes
Lightest - Crystal Light Antioxidant Raspberry Green Tea; 8 ounces, 5 calories: Great for on the go at the beach, pool, or gym.
Vacuum for 2 minutes
Walk for 2 minutes
Take a 5 minute nap
Coffee drink
Light - Dunkin Donuts Coffee Coolatta with skim milk; 16 ounces, 140 calories: delicious way to get your caffeine fix
Mow the lawn for 22 minutes
Jog for 18 minutes
Swim leisurely for 20 minutes
Lightest - McDonalds iced nonfat latte with sugarfree vanilla syrup; 12 ounces, 40 calories: has more than 10% of your calcium for the day. Great for people with a sweet tooth.
Garden for 9 minutes
Tai chi for 9 minutes
Shower for 18 minutes
Sparkling cocktail
Light: Cranberry mimosa (champagne, cranberry and orange juice) 146 calories: Ideal for brunches with a nice tart kick.
Jog for 21 minutes
Jump rope for 13 minutes
Play tennis for 37 minutes
Lightest: Sparkling Greyhound (vodka, grapefruit juice, club soda) 87 calories: Love this! It really packs a punch, but is light on sugar.
Walk a dog for 26 minutes
Stretch or do yoga for 30 minutes
Play table tennis for 20 minutes
Frozen Cocktails (to make at home)
Light: Pina colada (pineapple, pineapple juice, light coconut milk, sugar, rum) 194 calories: The classic drink, but we've made it with light coconut milk and no syrups, which is what you'll get at most bars and restaurants.
Swim breaststroke for 17 minutes
Rake the lawn for 43 minutes
Walk uphill for 30 minutes
Lightest: Strawberry Daiquiri (strawberries, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, rum) 140 calories: Another summer favorite. You can make it even lighter if you make your simple syrup with Stevia or Splenda.
Do push-ups or sit-ups for 15 minutes
Hike for 20 minutes
Play table tennis for 30 minutes
RECIPES:
Light: Cranberry Mimosa:
Yield 6 servings (serving size: 1 cup)
Ingredients
1 (25.4-ounce) bottle chilled Champagne or sparkling wine
1 1/2 cups chilled fresh orange juice, strained
1 1/2 cups chilled cranberry juice cocktail
Whole fresh cranberries and orange slices for garnishing drinks (optional)
Preparation
1. Fill a chilled Champagne flute halfway or slightly more with chilled Champagne or sparkling wine. Top with 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup cranberry juice.
2. Float a cranberry or two in each glass, and place orange slices on the rims of or inside the glasses. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 146
Fat: 0.0g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.0g)
Lightest: Sparkling Greyhound:
Yield Makes 8 servings (serving size: about 1/2 cup)
Ingredients
1 pink grapefruit, cut into 16 wedges
1/4 cup gray sea salt
Crushed ice
1 cup vodka
1 1/2 cups unsweetened white grapefruit juice
1 cup club soda, chilled
Preparation
1. Rub rims of 8 (8-ounce) martini glasses with 8 grapefruit wedges.
2. Place sea salt into a shallow dish and dip martini-glass rims in the salt.
3. Fill martini shaker halfway with crushed ice. Add 1/2 cup vodka and 3/4 cup grapefruit juice; shake to chill.
4. Strain evenly into 4 of the martini glasses. Stir in 2 tablespoons club soda per glass. Repeat to make 8 drinks.
5. Garnish glasses with grapefruit wedges.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 87
Fat:0.0g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.0
Light: Pina Colada
Yield Makes 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cubed fresh pineapple
1 cup pineapple juice
3/4 cup light coconut milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup light rum
8 ice cubes
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process until thick and smooth.
Divide the piña colada among the 4 glasses. Garnish with pineapple, if desired.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 194
Fat: 3g (sat 2g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.0g)
Lightest: Strawberry Daiquiri
Yield 6 servings (serving size: 2/3 cup)
Ingredients
1 cup halved strawberries
1/2 cup Simple Syrup (Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups sugar, 1 cup water - Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 1/2 minutes or until sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate until chilled. Makes 1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 cups crushed ice
1/2 cup rum
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Preparation
1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a blender, and process until smooth. Strain mixture through a sieve into a bowl, and discard solids. Combine strawberry mixture, 3 cups crushed ice, rum, and lime juice in blender, and process until smooth.
CALORIES 140 (1 percent from fat); FAT 0.1g (sat 0g, mono 0g, poly 0g);