Nutritious Bartending || Watermelon Mojito and More

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"A whole day of eating right can go down in the swirl of cocktail -- with crazy-high calories and weakened willpower. So we've put a few drinks on a diet, starting with the Cuban mojito. Instead of using sugar, use a wooden pestle or a big spoon to gently crush cubes of watermelon with fresh mint leaves. Add rum and sparkling water for a sweet mojito with half the usual calories."

If you are looking for more cocktails with fewer calories and more nutrients, check out this slideshow: http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-skinny-cocktails

Nutritious Bartending || The Healthier Sangria

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The sangria is an alcoholic punch that is usually served during the summer at an informal social gathering.   The typical version has a base of red or white wine, an assortment of fruits, a sweetener, and some sort of seltzer, citrus soda, or brandy.  So how does one make a healthier sangria? Use a sweetener that contains minimal sugar.  Opt out of using soda like Sprite, which is also a source of sugar and calories.  Incorporate fruits that contain more antioxidants.  And, if you're up to it, use organic fruits instead conventional ones.

Here are two different recipes for a healthier sangria:

LOW SUGAR SANGRIA (Source)

Ingredients
1 Bottle of red wine
1 Lemon cut into wedges
1 Lime cut into wedges
1 Orange cut into wedges
3/4 cup of raspberries or strawberries
2/3 cups agave nectar as a sugar substitute
2 cups sparkling water or club soda (this has no sugar, compared to ginger ale)

Instructions
Once you have your ingredients together, you'll need a large glass pitcher to mix them in. Start by pouring the wine into the pitcher. After the whole bottle is in your pitcher, squeeze in the juice from your fruit wedges, then drop them in whole. Once you have all of your fruit wedges in the pitcher, add in the agave nectar to sweeten it up, and mix well before refrigerating.  For best results, you'll want to refrigerate for about 24 hours. This will allow the fruit juices to permeate the wine, and the sugar to mix in completely. Wait until just before serving to add in the club soda and your more delicate fruits like berries, peaches or apples. This will make sure the club soda stays fizzy and your fruit won't get soggy.

Video demonstration for this recipe.

HIGH ANTIOXIDANT SANGRIA (Source)

Ingredients
1 cup pomegranate juice, chilled
1 (750 ml) bottle red wine, chilled
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup red seedless grapes, frozen
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
1 cup club soda, chilled (or seltzer water)

Instructions
Combine first 6 ingredients in a large pitcher.  Let chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.  Stir in seltzer/club soda, and pour into ice-filled glasses. Enjoy!

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Nutritious Bartending || The Healthier Mimosa

The mimosa is a relatively simple alcoholic drink that makes a great sidekick with a Sunday brunch.  The typical version contains 1/2 to 2/3 Champagne.  Depending on where you go, some mimosas may not be mixed with freshly squeezed orange juice ... and if they are, the oranges are more than likely not organic.  So how do we make the mimosa more healthy?  Well, I suggest the following concoction which involves freshly squeezed organic oranges and the smaller Champagne to juice ratio.  (Organic oranges are said to contain 30% more Vitamin C than conventional oranges.)  Additionally, this recipe calls for less orange liqueur, or none if you wish, thus reducing your sugar and calorie intake.

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THE HEALTHIER MIMOSA

Ingredients:
Dry, chilled Champagne
2-3 fresh organic oranges
1-2 tbsp of orange liqueur, e.g. Triple Sec

Instructions:
Using a juicer, squeeze your fresh organic oranges.  Fill a chilled Champagne flute 1/2 of the way with your freshly squeezed juice and almost the remainder of the way with the dry Champagne.  Then add the the orange liqueur and voila!  (Refrigerate any remaining orange juice for later.)  NOTE: To reduce your sugar and calorie intake even further, opt out of using the orange liqueur.

Serving size: 1

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For an even healthier mimosa that is packed with Vitamin A, check out this SPICY CARROT SUNRISE MIMOSA:

RECIPE for Spicy Carrot Sunrise Mimosa

MORE READS:
ORGANIC VS. CONVENTIONAL ORANGES