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Heart-Healthy Valentine's Day Cocktail: Rio Royale

Michele Foley — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:45:14 PST

This Valentine's Day I'll be making Rio Royales: bubbly and pink-hued, this cocktail sets the perfect mood for the heart-filled holiday. What I'm really loving about Rio Royales is that a major component of the drink is antioxidant-rich açaí liquer. The berry-infused liquer gives the drink a subtle taste of chocolate-covered cherries, but its health benefits are even more enticing. Açaí pulp has more antioxidants than you'll find in blueberries, pomegranates, or red grapes, and also contains lots of fiber, amino acids, and heart-healthy fatty acids.

Learn how easy it is to make this recipe after the break!

Beer Breakdown

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:17:12 PST

With Super Bowl Sunday this weekend, I'm sure you're planning on washing down your bowl of chili with a cold one. I sometimes call beer "liquid bread" because of all the carbs, so it's good to know that not all beers are created equally, especially when it comes to calories.

If you're watching your waistline and enjoying an ice cold brew, you'll probably want see how they compare. The numbers may surprise you. Keep reading to find out which beer contains the fewest calories.

A Low-Cal Happy Hour: Elderflower Gin Cordial

Michele Foley — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:25:00 PST

It may be my obsession with Downton Abbey and the BBC's Sherlock, but lately I've been craving classic English cocktails: gin and tonics, for example. The problem is, tonic water is not diet-friendly. Most store-bought brands contain corn syrup and just as many calories as a sugary soda.

This gin and tonic variation substitutes zero-calorie soda water for the tonic, and the splash of elderflower liqueur complements the juniper flavor of the gin, giving it a clean and refreshing finish. The next time you are in need of a G and T, opt for an elderflower gin cordial instead - it's free of corn syrup and falls under the 200-calorie mark.

Learn how to make this cocktail after the break!

Choose a Brut Champagne to Save on Calories

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:55:34 PST

We'll be ringing in the New Year soon, and for many of us that means a champagne toast, or two, or three! While the average glass of champagne contains 91 calories, if you're watching your weight, try toasting with brut champagne. Brut is champagne speak for "dry" and signifies a lower sugar content, resulting in a glass of champers that only contains about 65 calories. And the drier the champagne, the better it tastes with salty and savory foods like low-calorie oysters and caviar!

Toast the New Year With the Women of Vintage Champagne Ads

Tara Sharp — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:01 PST

It's time to break out the bubbly! Even if you don't have any extravagant plans for New Year's Eve, there's no better way to ring in 2012 than with a Champagne toast. So this NYE, take an uber-glam cue from the ladies who've graced Champagne ads over the years. See the evolution of women in Champagne ads, from the vintage to the modern, and cling some glasses to the New Year!

Ring In the New Year With These Helpful Hangover Tips and Cures

Michele Foley — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:03:18 PST

New Year's Eve is days away, and while a Champagne toast at midnight is customary, many of you will be having more than just one glass - maybe even four or five before the night is out. Come morning and you have quite the hangover on your hands. You wake up with a pounding headache, parched mouth, and a room that seems to be spinning. What - if anything - can you do to make it stop? Read up on our helpful hangover tips to see what works, what doesn't, and if it's possible to plan a hangover remedy the night before.

How to prevent a hangover altogether: If you're going to go all out this NYE, you're probably going to pay the price: our bodies aren't designed to binge on bad stuff and feel great the next day. There are a few things that you can do that may prevent a hangover from happening - or, at least make it less painful. Check out these tips for preventing a hangover.
Too late, the hangover hit: If you aren't able to take our advice on preventing a hangover this New Year's holiday, there are ways to make it more bearable. Remember: lots of water, but mostly just time. Here are five fixes to help you better cope with a hangover. And from a sour stomach to a pounding headache, here are specific fixes for common hangover ailments.
Common hangover myths busted: From hair of the dog to raw eggs, there's a lot of commonly held hangover cures. But do they really work? Here's everything you need to know on the truth about hangovers and which hangover myths are just that - myths.

Guess the Calories in Your New Year Nibbles and Sips

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:44:33 PST

Whether you're hitting a bar or inviting friends over to your place to ring in the New Year, knowing how many calories are in that glass or appetizer can prevent unnecessary weight gain. Let's see if you know which drinks and foods are lowest in calories.

Take the Quiz

Ring In the New Year With These Healthy Cocktails

Michele Foley — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:03:00 PST

If you're planning a night out (or even in) for New Year's Eve, chances are you might imbibe a little‚ or a lot. If you're watching your weight, keep in mind that cocktails can be filled to the brim with hidden calories. That's not true of all drinks though. If you're looking for a few low-calorie drinks (heavy on the bubbles, of course) to enjoy this New Year's Eve, we've got you covered - cheers!

Bottoms Up: 5 Festive Nonalcoholic Drinks to Serve Knocked-Up Friends

Natasha Dantzig — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:28:03 PST

Drink up! 'Tis the season for holiday and New Year's parties, and for the pregnant walking amongst us, that generally means some boring old ginger ale while everyone else is guzzling down special holiday cocktails. Make your pregnant friends feel like honored guests by whipping up one of these delicious, nonalcoholic libations for your next soiree.

6 Ways to Enjoy Cocktails Guilt-Free

Health — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:43:21 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Tina Haupert

For me, it wouldn’t be the holiday season without enjoying a festive cocktail or two. But unfortunately most of these drinks are heavy on calories and fat, which isn’t good when I’m trying to maintain healthy eating habits.

Instead of just sipping seltzer and missing out on all of the party cheer, I follow a few simple tricks to keep the holiday cocktails from showing up on the scale.

Start With Some Bubbly
Sorry, not champagne! On a night when I know there are a few drinks in my future, I like to start off with a glass of no-calorie seltzer (or still water). The bubbles from the carbonation give my stomach a full feeling, which helps me slow down and think about my food choices as the night progresses.

If I pace myself, I have better control around all of the delicious holiday goodies. Plus it's no surprise that the calories in cocktails quickly add up, so I also like to alternate seltzer between rounds.

Diet Tricks the Pros Tell Their Friends

Order It With Extra Ice
I like to order my cocktails with extra ice, since melting cubes dilute the drink. This creates more liquid, so I can sip longer without increasing my calorie intake.

Occasionally, I'll order my drink on the rocks, which takes me longer to consume than a mixed cocktail. Sometimes it lasts so long, I don't bother with a refill, which saves me calories in the long run.

Keep reading for more tips!