Enjoy a Good Cocktail!!!

What, enjoy a cocktail while also losing weight?  YES, it is possible!!  There are a lot of reasonable cocktails out there that will not take up your entire day or week of points.  Some of my favorites involved using Crystal Light or just sipping a shot.  Okay, yes, I enjoy a nice cocktail every once in awhile.  I usually choose to sip on a small glass of wine, which is now 4ppts for 4oz.  

Because I know the Holidays can bring with them choices about not only food, but also cocktails, I decided to share some resources and ideas here with you.

1. The wine choice, as I said above, is red.  It takes longer to sip and you are less likely to go back for another.  
2. Use fresh juices, tonic, Diet Soda, Crystal Light, coffee, or tea as a mixer.  You use less points that way.
3. Avoid the flavored vodkas, etc.  I tend to stick with Vodka and Rum.  I will splurge on the occasional Bailey's or Kahlua.     
4. Stay away from the frozen and pre-mixed mixes you find in the grocery store.  Make your own instead.

Weight Watchers put out this great resources: WW Cocktail Cheat Sheet 

I have Hungry Girl's first cookbook, and it has some great cocktail recipes in it.  A couple of my favorites are:

Kickin' Cranberry Cosmo
Ingredients:
5 ounces Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry Spray juice Drink
1 1/2 ounces vodka
1 teaspoon lime juice
5-8 ice cubes
Optional: splash of diet lemon-lime soda, lime wedge

Directions:
Combine the first three ingredients with the ice in a shaker.  Shake! Strain into glass.  Top with the splash of soda and garnish with the lime wedge. 

This is 1 serving.

Slammin' Slimmed-down Strawberry Daiquiri
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces rum
1 packet sugar-free powdered drink mix (any strawberry blend)
3 frozen strawberries
1 tablespoon lime juice
5-8 ice cubes OR 1 cup crushed ice

Directions:
Dissolve drink mix into 4 ounces of water and sir thoroughly. 

In a blender combine drink mixture with all the other ingredients.  Blend to desired consistency.

ENJOY!

I hope you can enjoy some fun holiday cocktails while still keeping with your weight loss plan!! 

~Marsha