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No Time to Mix? The Healthiest Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

Michele Foley — Thu, 24 May 2012 22:02:28 PDT

Since carting around multiple bottles, glassware, and fresh ingredients isn't always practical, here's a buying guide to the healthiest ready-to-drink (RTD) bottled cocktails. And while these won't taste as good as our homemade 150-calorie margarita recipe or when mixing alcohol into one our favorite all-natural cocktail mixes, RTD cocktails are a simple solution to drinking whether you're camping, hiking, or heading outdoors to a picnic.

Shake Things Up: Healthy Premade Cocktail Mixes That Actually Taste Good

Michele Foley — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:24:56 PDT

A good handmade cocktail is a thing of beauty, but it's not practical when you're hosting a large party, going camping, or heading to the park for a picnic. But let's be honest: most premade mixes are pretty gross. Made largely of high-fructose corn syrup and other unhealthy ingredients, they're an easy way to waste calories - and good liquor. If you can't have it fresh, then choose one of these store-bought cocktail mixes for your next get-together. Whether you want a mojito or a margarita, there's a healthier version for everyone.

Source: Thinkstock

Go Ahead, Drink Up: 9 Warm-Weather Cocktails Under 200 Calories

Michele Foley — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:18:39 PDT

My idea of a hot day is definitely one that includes cocktails. But for those concerned with calories, a good happy hour doesn't have to ruin your diet. Here are some of my favorite Summer cocktails, all which clock in at under 200 calories. And we're not talking vodka sodas, either. These drinks celebrate Spring and Summer fruits, tropical destinations, and warm-weather nights.

Drink Up: 7 Healthy Mocktail Recipes

Lizzie Fuhr — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:46:30 PDT

If you're looking to cut out a chunk of sugar or empty calories from your diet, letting go of alcohol is a great place to start. But I also know the pain of saying no to all the gorgeous cocktails your friends are enjoying at weekend BBQs and sunny happy hour extravaganzas. Each of these seven mocktail recipes will give you the color and freshness you're missing without any of the booze. Click through to see the seven beautiful mocktails I'd love to enjoy ASAP!

Drinking Red Wine May Help Keep You Slim, Study Says

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:42:41 PDT

Great news for everyone out there who loves a big, bold red! A recent study shows that a compound found in red wine may block fat cell formation. Just another example of how wine is beneficial to your health!

As reported by the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a team out of Purdue University, piceatannol is the name of the compound you should get acquainted with. Kee-Hong Kim, an assistant professor of food science, found that the piceatannol compound actually binds itself to insulin receptors and blocks the insulin's ability to control cell cycles. By blocking these pathways, immature fat cells are unable to evolve and mature. Piceatannol could help delay the formation of mature fat cells, or even stop the formation completely. While the ongoing study is in its early stages, the findings could lead towards a method to help control fat growth in humans.

While we love a good glass of vino as much as the next girl, luckily drinking is not the only way to ingest the compound. It's also found in some of our favorite fruits like red grapes, passion fruit, and blueberries. What do you think of this study? Will you grab an extra glass of wine tonight to celebrate?

Guinness - It Really Is Good For You!

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 18:40:08 PDT

Whether you're Irish or not, many of us will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day by knocking back some Jameson whiskey and a pint or two of Guinness - and don't forget the Irish soda bread! Before you start feeling too bad about the alcohol and carb overload, you'll be glad to know that all those ads from the 1920s that read "Guinness Is Good For You" had some truth to them.

Researchers from a University of Wisconsin study discovered that drinking Guinness reduced blood clots and the risk of heart attacks. Like red wine and dark chocolate, and unlike other beers, Guinness also contains immune-boosting antioxidants. Some other reasons you may want to enjoy a pint of beer on St. Patty's Day: better bones, weight management, and a better memory. This is not a license to go out and get blitzed though. As always, everything is better in moderation, but if you end up kicking back a few too many, check out these hangover cures.

Source: Flickr User Stijn Debrouwere

A Low-Cal Basil Gimlet Makes For a Happy St. Patrick's Day

Michele Foley — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:20:22 PDT

A basil gimlet might not be the natural choice for a St. Patrick's Day drink, but it's got two things going for it: it's green, and it's a nice low-calorie alternative to the traditionally served whiskey or beer. For those of you who are counting, a pint of Guinness will set you back 210 calories and the average shot of Jameson whiskey is around 140 calories.

On the other hand, when made with shochu, our basil gimlet recipe doesn't even hit the 100-calorie mark! Making the cocktail with soju (an alcohol commonly distilled from rice) brings the recipe to about 165 calories, while using gin or vodka results in a 215-calorie cocktail. All things considered, this isn't too bad for a cocktail. Best of all, a basil gimlet feels light going down - the combination of basil and lime gives the cocktail a nice refreshing taste that isn't heavy at all.

See the recipe when you read more.

Make St. Patrick's Day a Booze-Free Affair For Pets

Sara Yoo — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:00:00 PST

While many of us will be imbibing in merriment on St. Patrick's Day, it's important to keep the booze out of reach of your pet. Just as it does in humans, alcohol causes damage to an animal's brain, central nervous system, and liver, but since pets are much smaller than us, the effects can occur faster and more intensely and even lead to death. If your pet gets their paws on your bevvie, watch them closely for coordination problems, the inability to walk or stand up, drowsiness, vomiting, increased urination, and slowed, shallow breathing. If they display any of these symptoms, get them to a vet right away: these are signs of alcohol poisoning! But the best cure is to avoid it altogether: the luck o' the Irish may not be on your pet's side if he ingests that unattended Guinness.

Source: Flickr User celynek

Don't Waste Calories at a Bar: the Best Cocktails For Weight Loss

Michele Foley — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:59:52 PST

When you're worried about calories, drinking the wrong cocktail makes all the difference. Two drinks out with the girls suddenly turns into a 1,000-calorie night. Vodka sodas are always a safe bet, but get boring quickly. The next time you're out at a bar or restaurant, order one of these cocktails - all good and all well under 200 calories!

Source: Flickr User StuartWebste

Faux Beer at School: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Lisa Horten — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:04:00 PST

Could you fathom a teacher giving your preschooler a play beer stein - as part of a lesson plan, no less? That's what happened to parents in one Ohio town. When Elyse Bulla's 4-year-old son, Braden, came home from his school, Children's House, with a miniature green beer stein, she immediately set up a meeting with the principal to find out what was going on. Bulla was told that it was part of a January lesson about countries and cultures around the world. The "Germany" lesson featured an accordion player in lederhosen and apple juice in beer steins.

The meeting escalated into an argument and Bulla ended up pulling Braden from the preschool. When Karen Lyman, the owner of Children's House, was asked if she'd change anything about the lesson for next time, she replied, "Definitely, no."

Do you think that Elyse Bulla overreacted? Would you be upset if your child came home from school with a toy representing alcohol consumption?