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Diet Detective: Lower-calorie drinks quench summer thirst

By Charles Stuart Platkin

Published: June 24, 2009

Updated: 06/23/2009 08:10 pm

It's summertime, and that means barbecues, sun, water and fun. It's also time for delicious, cold thirst quenchers. We tend to drink more during the summer, and many of those drinks are high in calories, but it doesn't have to be that way. Here are a few lower-calorie choices.

Cotton Candy

Recipe from SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes (Wiley, 2009).

2 ounces vanilla vodka

2 ounces light ruby red grapefruit juice

1 ounce 2% milk

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10 to15 seconds. Strain into a 5-ounce martini glass.

Makes 1 serving.

Calories in one serving: 145.

Exercise equivalents in minutes:

Walk: 38

Bike: 21

Run: 15

Swim: 18

Yoga: 50

Dance: 25

Skinny Chocolate Martini

Recipe from SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes (Wiley, 2009).

2 ounces strong brewed coffee, cooled to room temperature

2 ounces vanilla vodka

1 ounce 2 percent milk

2 teaspoons fat-free hot cocoa mix

Combine the cooled coffee with ice in a cocktail shaker. (Hot liquids can have an explosive effect when shaken in an airtight container.) Add the remaining ingredients and shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a 5-ounce martini glass.

Makes 1 serving.

Calories in one serving: 148.

Exercise equivalents in minutes:

Walk: 38

Bike: 21

Run: 16

Swim: 18

Yoga: 51

Dance: 25

Mexican Mojito

Recipe from SkinnyTinis by Teresa Marie Howes (Wiley, 2009)

¼ ounce agave nectar

1 lime wedge

Fresh mint sprigs

1½ ounces white tequila

3½ ounces club soda

Add the agave nectar, lime wedge and mint sprigs to a cocktail glass and muddle (mash up) the ingredients to bring out the flavors and pull the mint flavor into the liquid. Add ice and top with the tequila and club soda.

Makes 1 serving.

Calories in one serving: 128.

Exercise equivalents in minutes:

Walk: 33

Bike: 18

Run: 14

Swim: 16

Yoga: 44

Dance: 22

Red Cherry Spritzer

Recipe from Cool Waters by Brian Preston-Campbell (The Harvard Common Press, 2009).

1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and finely chopped One (4-inch) cinnamon stick, crushed

1 cup still water

4 cups chilled sparkling water

Ice cubes

Place the cherries, cinnamon and still water in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher. Add the sparkling water and stir. Serve over ice.

Makes 5 servings.

Calories in one serving: 25.6.

Exercise equivalents in minutes:

Walk: 6.6

Bike: 3.6

Run: 3

Swim: 3.2

Yoga: 9

Dance: 4.5

Diet Detective fit tips

□ Use more or larger ice cubes.

□ Use smaller glasses.

□ Add extra club soda or any other low- or no-calorie soda. (Keep in mind, tonic water has calories.)

□ Drink red or white wine at 25 calories an ounce, or ultralight beer.

□ Steer clear of drinks that are really desserts (creamy liqueurs, anything with cream or ice cream).

□ Alcohol is a double whammy: It lowers your inhibitions so you end up not only drinking more (more calories) but also eating more food (more calories).

■ Charles Stuart Platkin is the founder of DietDetective.com.