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 HOLIDAY MOCKTINIBy: Susan Irby
The season of giving, celebrating and attending holiday parties often becomes the season of putting gym time on the back burner and rich foods and cocktails at the forefront of our activities. It comes as no surprise that the average person puts on 5 to 10 pounds of excess weight during this time of year. Food gets the spotlight for being the biggest culprit in weight gain, but cocktails deserve a spotlight of their own. Cocktails can pack in enough calories in a 4.5 oz. serving as an entire meal. Before adding any type of mixers like sweet and sour, heavy cream and juices, alcohol alone boasts between 90 to 120 calories per ounce. A typical White Russian cocktail can contain as much as 319 calories and a Mai Tai can contain anywhere between a low 150 calories per 4.5 oz. serving up to 620 calories for the same serving size, depending upon how it is made. You can save on sugar and calories this holiday season by skipping the alcohol. There are many benefits to doing this for your health and your waistline. Especially during this time of year, saving a few calories here and there really adds up. Savings now means a slimmer, trimmer you as you head into the New Year. Here is a deliciously refreshing beverage sans the alcohol. For this recipe, the citric acid in the lemon and lime help give this sparkiing beverage a metabolism boost. Sparkling Pomegranate Mocktini INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS Place ice in shaker. Add pomegranate juice, sparkling apple pomegranate cider, lemon and lime juice. Cover shaker with lid and shake a few times. Pour into a martini, wine or champagne glass. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or lime slice. *For parties, make in large batches without ice and chill in the refrigerator overnight or 4 hours before serving. Serve with or without ice. **Susan Irby, the Bikini Chef, is a radio host for Bikini Lifestyles on 790 KABC, an author and specialist in healthy “bikini” cuisine. Follow her at twitter.com/thebikinichef or visit her website at thebikinichef.com. Photo by GreggEvanPhotography |