The trick to a good cocktail is the right combination of ingredients. The trick to not over-drinking is moderation. Our food pro, Devin Alexander, shows how to create cocktails that are as healthy and filling as they are delicious – so you can stay the life of the party!
"In my kitchen, I focus on what I can eat, not what I can't," says Devin. "Although it's not smart to sip too much alcohol, the occasional cocktail is definitely okay. I'm going to show you how to make a cocktail that will work for you, instead of against you."
Alcoholic beverages tend to be filled with empty carbs. Devin suggests bulking them up with fruit. It adds fiber to your diet and gets rid of all those empty sugars.
One option is filling a champagne flute with frozen grapes before you add the champagne to lighten up on the alcohol.
"You still have this amazingly festive drink that still allows you to participate," Devin adds. "But you're not having too much alcohol! And then you also get champagne-soaked grapes."
Tropical drinks can be the worst. A typical pina colada can easily have as many as 500 calories. For a healthier version, try Devin's fiber and protein-packed pina colada:
Punched-Up Pina Colada by Devin Alexander
Most cocktails contain a lot of calories and empty carbohydrates. Here I've replaced calorie-dense coconut crème with light coconut milk and used frozen pineapple chunks and dried egg whites to thicken the drink. The frozen pineapple retains more nutrition than the sugar-sweetened pineapple juice typically used in a piña colada, and the egg whites add about 5 grams of protein. In the end, you save a whopping 307 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 12 grams of saturated fat over a typical same-size piña colada!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup light coconut milk
- 8 ice cubes
- 3 cups frozen pineapple chunks
- 2 tablespoons 100-percent dried egg whites (I used Deb-El Just Whites)
- 3 tablespoons light rum
- 2 pineapple wedges for garnish (optional)
To the jar of a blender with an ice crush setting, add the coconut milk, ice cubes, pineapple chunks, egg whites (if desired), and rum. Blend on high just until the mixture is smooth. Divide it between 2 chilled Collins glasses or other tall, thin glasses. Garnish with the pineapple wedges, if desired, and serve immediately with straws and/or drink umbrellas.
Makes 2 servings
Per serving (with egg whites): 219 calories, 6 g protein, 33 g carbohydrates (23 g sugar), 4 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium
Per serving (without egg whites): 204 calories, 1 g protein, 33 g carbohydrates (23 g sugar), 4 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 8 mg sodium
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