Chocolate Fondant

Last week was Valentine's day and I wanted to bake something new for once. Now to be honest, I am a huge fan of molten chocolate cake (aka fondant au chocolat) and I am definite that this dessert contains ample amounts of calories, saturated fats, sugar, you name it!

According to the Calories Lab, one molten chocolate with vanilla ice cream at Chili's restaurant is 1270 calories! That's approximately the entire caloric intake I can have per day! I have never actually ordered it, it's just too much of a burden to burn all this!

Therefore, I decided to make my own - at least I would know what raw ingredients went into it. As a first attempt, I did not modify the butter, I wanted mine exactly the same but I wanted to control what went into it (kind of a cleaner home-made version).

Now I had to look for a really good recipe, Lindt recipe it is!

This recipe actually serves 8, but my ramekins are considered bigger than usual, so it served me 4.

Molten Chocolate Ingredients

• 260 grams of 70% dark chocolate (you can go for Lindt, Poulain, Hershey's, etc.) But make sure to get the extra dark one - even if you're not a fan of dark chocolate, it sure deserves it!
• 70 grams of margarine or unsalted butter
• 50 g of castor or powdered sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 3 eggs
• 30 grams of plain flour

Method of preparation:
To be honest, I'm not a regular cook - so I really wanted a simple recipe. This Lindt recipe was it!

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C

2. Slightly butter the ramekins to prevent fondant from sticking

 

3. Use the bain marie (water bath) method to melt together the butter and the chocolate

4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and salt thoroughly, until the yellow color looks pale

Exactly how they'll look when done!

5. Let someone help you on this one: fold in the chocolate & butter slowly into the pale yellow mixture - someone will be folding them together and the other will be mixing thoroughly

6. Sift in the flour and gently fold in until all ingredients are combined

7. Divide mixture into the ramekins and place in the preheated oven

8. Cook for 7-9 minutes. The cake with start to pull away slightly from the edge and feel dry on top but remain molten in the center - yum!

Serving this deliciousness!

Allow the hot ramekins to to sit just for 30 seconds, place a plate on top of it and then turn out. I wasn't expecting that it will come perfect, but to my surprise, it did!

I served the molten chocolate with London Dairy Lite vanilla ice cream which is 79 calories per serving. And it was delicious! I must admit, this is not the healthiest recipe for chocolate fondant! This recipe, that gave me 4 ramekins, yielded 600 calories per one molten chocolate! Now the recipe was intended to make 8 servings, according to the Lindt website, so sharing it was a must. I know, Joey doesn't share food, but my ramekins were huge giving 679 calories (fondant + ice cream) to it had to be shared to give you 340 calories. Always, always, moderation is the key.

*Now after having half of this, make sure not have this often! Bon appetite!

Avoiding Constipation this Christmas!

Christmas is almost here -12 days to go, yes I am 'countdown-ing'.

During the holidays, we are bombarded with deliciousness everywhere - I mean my mom and tetas make the most amazing food and resistance can get quite hard! Therefore, our dietary habits tend to change, often to the worse. We tend to ditch the water for alcohol and coffee as well as salads for more fat-drenching cuts and fries, ending our masterpiece with overdosing on that buche we’ve been putting our eyes on all night! Aaaand voila! Constipation.

So long story short, here’s how constipation can be avoided!

Don't neglect your fruits and veggies - The most common cause of constipation is a diet low in fibers! Fiber is necessary to help move food around your digestive tract and thus alleviates constipation. Therefore, whether you are preparing Christmas dinner this year or you are helping in devouring it, make sure to include vegetables in your main meal as well as fruits as dessert. And make sure to eat them as well.

Eat wisely - Mindful eating goes down to the ‘non-existing’ level when we are confronted with all these food options! I know how Christmas dinner looks like, I’ve seen ours. We have almost every type of food you can think of, making us want to have a bit (or a lot) of everything. So to avoid getting constipated all the way to New Year’s (and to watch your weight and health), choose the foods that you love the most and have them within reason. Listen to your body and eat when hungry, not to socialize. Instead of nibbling on roasted nuts, chocolate and alcohol, try to stick to lighter options like nibbling on green veggies, carrots, bell pepper, cauliflower or a bit of raw nuts. And if you are hosting this dinner, please have these crunchy munchies available for us, with mustard, lemon, vinegar, soy or low fat sour cream dip, please.

Stay Hydrated - Without enough water, your body extracts the needed liquid from your colon – leaving your stool dry and increasing your risk of constipation. During the festivities, we tend to prefer alcohol or coffee which intensifies the dehydration process since these 2 make you lose more water! Therefore, to combat these dehydrating effects, try to limit your coffee intake to 1 or 2 per day and if you decided to have some alcohol, try to either dilute it with water/ice or have 2 cups of water for every drink you have!

Squeeze in some exercise! Exercise is known to improve your bowel movements, but during the holidays, it seems like we take a holiday off of exercise as well! Steady exercise can regulate intestinal muscle contractions and reduce the time food stays in your digestive tract and thus can be a very efficient natural way to relieve constipation. So try to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise and if you are way over your head celebrating, try to split the 30 minutes into 2 15-minute workouts or dance your time away with family & friends!

Don’t ignore the urge to go – If you’re busy hosting dinner and family & friends are all around your place, you tend to ignore the fact that you really need to use the bathroom! Ignoring bowel signs can leave food longer time in your colon, resulting in more water absorption from the stools. So when you feel like going, just go!

If you're traveling for Christmas,
don't tell us!

And last but not least, if you are traveling for the holidays, I hate you. Nevertheless, traveling can disturb the microflora in your intestines, damaging beneficial bacteria. So watch your diet, avoid the booze on the plane, drink lots of water, have lots of fruits and vegetables and help yourself with some yogurt, it contains probiotics that  can stimulate the growth and activity of bacteria in your guts!

Forget About Yearly Resolutions, Make It a Monthly Habit!

We may still have one month to New Year's Eve, but everyone around has already started thinking where the party is going to be! So resolutions are just around the corner! If you’re like most people, you don’t even think about making New Year’s resolutions anymore. I know it was exciting the first couple of times for me, but just like Pick the brain indicated, it becomes too depressing to feel like a failure when I couldn't stick to a diet, lose weight or exercise properly for a long time! Well, maybe it works out for the first month, but then it’s just too much of a commitment to handle every day, especially that we have dinners and parties everywhere in Lebanon! Well, here’s a way to have resolutions that stick. Pick the brain came up with an absolutely excellent idea last year to say goodbye to New Year’s resolutions and hello to monthly habits!!

Keeping a goal for for 365 days is pretty hectic! However, Pick the brain's smart idea is that if you can stick to a habit for 28 days, the habit becomes permanent. You no longer think of it as a difficult task for it just becomes part of you and your daily habits. 

So, how do you come up with 12 habits rather than 1 unachievable big resolution? Well, again Pick the brain was smart enough to break up that big resolution into 12 “mini-very-possible” habits? Let’s say your huge resolution – the one we tend not to keep – is to “lose weight.” So why not break this huge goal into the smaller steps that constitute it! Don't just say I want to lose weight because once khalto or teta invite us to that huge dinner and the food looks absolutely good, we'll overeat and ditch our resolution.

Instead, this year, I am committing to easier, more achievable goals! All I am going to do is commit to one thing at a time, for 28 to 30 days.  Here are the mini resolutions I am sticking to, some were originally in Pick the Brain's article, but you can find them helpful or you can make up your own!

• January: Only have low-calorie snacks, I'll have to read my labels for this resolution
• February: Drink skim milk instead of whole milk
• March: Exercise 30 minutes at least 3-4 times a week
• April: Bring my lunch to work instead of eating out (my mom will be happy!)
• May: Have whole fruit for dessert
• June: Perform 25 to 50 crunches before going to bed
• July: Have beans and legumes at least 3 times a week
• August: Have a salad before every lunch and dinner
• September: Eat fish, nuts, soy products and legumes instead of red meat
• October:  Skip the soda, alcohol or iced tea
• November: Switch my bread, pasta, kaak, toast and rice to whole grains (am7a kemle) instead of white and refined breads
• December:  Buy me some new holiday clothes to show off what I have achieved!!

One key thing to consider is to keep thee new habits realistic. Don't go putting impossible goals and overwhelming yourself too soon! You'll end up stressed about too many mini goal. Moreover, try to make these habits fun! Turn them into a challenge between you and your friends or siblings or even get a partner! I know my sis will be my partner and coach! When the next month comes, focus on your new goal. You don’t have to keep doing what you were doing the previous month, but you may find you want to, so be it! Long story short, small steps will help you reach your goals rather than large impossible ones! So Happy New Month!

Photos:

I can!

Comic

Smart Dining at Parties and Buffets!

Food is everywhere during the holidays! In December and January, it’s a food fiesta everywhere! These couple of months seem to dump – delicious - food on you wherever you go and whatever time of the day it is! So, even though it’s quite a “health mess”, there is, in fact, lots of ways to control your calorie intake. They key is moderation and portion control! These helpful tips can help you during these holiday parties and dinners without totally depriving yourself or feeling guilty.

·        Try to maintain a regular eating schedule, starting with breakfast. Don’t skip meals because this lowers blood sugar levels and causes you to overeat the rest of the day to make up for those missed calories.

·        Balance party meals with other meals during the day. Eat small, healthy meals with fewer calories so that party foods won’t cause you to exceed your total calorie intake for the day.

·        Never go to a party hungry. Take the edge off your hunger by eating a healthy, filling snack (e.g. fruit, small peanut butter sandwich or low fat yogurt) beforehand so you won’t overeat at the site of the deliciousness.

·        Drink plenty of water throughout the day, including a glass before your dinner or party. It helps fill you up and offsets upcoming dehydrating drinks  like coffee or alcohol.

·        Take smaller portions, and eat only the foods you really like. Don’t go on wasting precious calories eating unpleasant foods because they’re just there.

·       Architect your plate: Fill half the plate with simple vegetables and a quarter with carbohydrates. The remaining quarter should be protein foods, which help you to feel full longer and help curb the carbohydrate cravings.

·        Enjoy the night and enjoy your food! Eat small bites, chew slowly, and savor each delicious bite. You will probably enjoy the food more, get full faster and won’t overeat.

·        Don’t drink your calories. Consume alcohol in moderation, if at all. Alcohol is full of calories, can increase your appetite and it reduces the number of fat calories you burn for energy!

·        Don’t hang out next to the buffet and before going back for seconds, wait 20 minutes for your food to “settle.” It takes that long for your stomach to tell your brain that you’re full.

·        Save calories by skipping dessert or choosing fresh fruit when it is available. Now if you want dessert, eat fewer calories during the meal and try to share one dessert with a friend!

Last but not least, get plenty of exercise! During holidays, most tend to ditch their healthy habits, eat like there’s no tomorrow and “slob” around! Remember, you gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn, eat your holiday fiesta and make sure to burn it off!

Christmas dinner photo

Pumpkins this Halloween!

Yesterday I was intrigued to buy me some pumpkin to carve! You see them everywhere during Halloween but I actually never carved one myself, especially that it's not a tradition in Lebanon. However, it is sure gaining some popularity so why not have some fun!

I googled how to carve a pumpkin and got this step by step carving technique, it was pretty helpful and I have to admit, it turned out to be a fun - and not sooo messy - activity! 

My sister with our masterpiece
and a weird spooky ghost that
came out of nowhere!

It may be said that the remarkable nutritional value of the orange-yellowish pulp of the pumpkin is due in part to its composition, but also for what it does not contain! Pumpkins are among the lowest of any foods in fat and sodium! The nutrient content of a pumpkin is quite low - 6 % carbs, 1 % proteins and virtually no fat! However, it stands out for its fiber content which increase satiety and its richness in beta-carotene (provitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus and calcium. All these give pumpkins - no matter what their shades of yellow or orange is - their ability to aid in regulating blood pressure and coronary heart disease, to act as a laxative as well as a mild diuretic.

As for pumpkin seeds, which mom is currently sun-drying them, they are one of the most nutritious and flavorful seeds! They are a good source of beta carotene, vitamin K, omega 3 and minerals like magnesium and manganese, zinc and copper.

So over all, pumpkins are not just a pretty face - they can be nutritious as well! Vegetarian pumpkin kebbe, a dish made from pumpkin, bulgur and stuffed with swiss chard or spinach from Chicho's kitchen is my all time favorite! There's also my teta's favorite: pumpkin kebbe stuffed with labne or feta which I got from The Food Blog!

Barcelona is Del-iiii-cious!

Barcelona is an amazing historical city! It is pretty easy to move around it even if you haven't been there before thanks to their touristic buses! There's a lot to see here -from monuments, beaches, parks, ancient churches and all the beloved work of Antoni Gaudi, you cant' but fall in love with the city! 

Better yet, the food is not to be missed! Barcelona is famous for many: Tapas, Paella, Churros, Sangria, and the list goes on and on so I couldn't but have "me" some, right?

Tapas Tapas, yum yum!

Tapas are small snacks given when ordering a drink in a bar, in our case it was given with wine Sangria (as opposed to champagne Sangria). As you can see in the photo, any kind of food -seriously- can be served on a delicious baguette as a form of a snack or appetizer served either with or before your meal/drink! In some restaurants, they are offered for free (so we've heard) but in the resto we visited, we ordered them - you just can't visit Spain without having yourself some good Tapas! With any round of drinks, tapas are usually presented, even if it's just a small tapa. They can be served both hot or cold, depending on the type of food served on your tapa.

My 2 favorites were Tortilla de patatas (potato omellete) made from potatoes and eggs served on a white baguette with onions, spinach and cheese as well as the Gambas al ajillo (shrimps) served cold with some creamy garlic bed, yum!

Seafood paella, all the seafood you can have

Paella is another seriously good meal you have to taste when in Spain, after all it's the Spanish daily dish! There are three widely known types of paella: Valencian paella (paella Valenciana), seafood paella (paella de marisco) and mixed paella (paella mixta), along with other types of course.

Valencian paella consists of white rice, green veggies, meat (could be chicken, duck or rabbit) with snails and beans, while seafood paella has no veggies, beans, meats, snails, but instead some an exquisite bouquet of seafood! As for the paella mixta,it's actually free styler with a combination of meats, veggies, seafood and beans! 

What makes the rice yellowish is the addition of saffron to the dish.Some olive oil could go into this dish as well so yes, peeps, it is super delicious!

Churros with molten chocolate

Churros are the Spanish desserts, their version of doughnuts! These are delicious, although I would have to say: the fact that they are deep fried pastries = unhealthy refined sugars! You can even dip them in hot molten chocolate, like how I tasted mine! We bought ours while walking back from the annual Fiesta de Gracia, but they can also be dipped/eaten on the side with cafe latte! So when in Spain, have a taste of their famous Churros, but in moderation, of course!

Zesty Sangria with freshly cut fruit

Last but least, we had some Sangria!

Sangria is a wine punch served everywhere you go in Spain! There are many types of Sangria and lots of ingredients can go in this famous drink: white wine, ginger ale, 7 up, amaretto, etc. But it is usually made of:

• Red wine, although there are some Sangria's made from champagne - the wine version tastes much better!
• A small amount of brandy
• Chopped fruit, like oranges, lemons, apples, cherries, strawberries, grapes, pineapple or - the best part - whatever fresh fruit you feel like!
• With some orange juice or honey, sugar or syrup as a sweetener

Fruitful, colorful Mercat

Either way, when in Spain, have yourself some good time, the beach is amazing, the churches are majestic, the monuments are historical and Gaudi's work is not-to-be missed! Bicycle around the city, enjoy some seriously Del-iii-cious food and make sure to pass by the colorful public market in Barcelona: La Boqueria Mercat!

EGGS this Easter!

Easter is a time of family gathering, celebration, and like all lovely occasions: Good Food! So it's pretty known that no Easter weekend would be complete without an Easter egg or two. This is why the Sohi w Sarih team sent us this smart Easter newsletter to increase our awareness about EGGS!

Eggs in moderation are fine. They are a rich source of protein, B vitamins and lutein.

When it comes to hard-boiled eggs, which are eaten during Easter, the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Egg Board advice discarding them after one week! So it's smart to boil a limited amount of eggs and not keep them for weeks and weeks to come. 

  

Cooking eggs in water washes away an egg’s protective coating, and this leaves tiny pores open in the shell through which bacteria can enter and contaminate the egg. Uncooked fresh eggs last longer because they retain their protective coating—either the natural coating produced when the hen lays an egg or a mineral oil that egg producers spray on after the eggs are washed at processing plants. Keep in mind, hardboiled eggs should be refrigerated at 4°C or below within two hours of cooking.

Now that you know how to eat eggs safely, here are more tips from SWS team!

• Shell color is determined by the breed of the chicken. Brown eggs are not more nutritious than white, so don't eat more brown eggs just because they are brown!

• The color of the yolk depends on what the chicken ate:
- Wheat and barley produce a light yolk
- Corn produce a medium-yellow yolk
- Marigold petals produce a deep yellow yolk
Note that darker yellow yolks often have more carotenoids.

• A blood spot indicates that a small blood vessel on the yolk’s surface broke while the egg was forming. It does not mean the egg is fertile. It is harmless, but you can remove it with a tip of a knife.

• Cloudy albumen (egg white) indicates a very fresh egg. It is due to carbon dioxide inside the egg that has not yet escaped. Pasteurized eggs also have cloudier whites.

• Another sign of freshness is the stringy white filaments inside some eggs called chalazae. They keep the yolk centered in the albumen and lessen over time. It is okay to eat them.

• A gray-green trace around a hard-boiled egg yolk is caused by a reaction of iron and sulfur compounds. It is harmless but means the egg was cooked too long or not cooked quickly. Eggs scrambled at too high a temperature or sitting too long on a steam table may also turn a harmless green.

Now for calories! A large egg has only about 75 calories. The only concern is that egg yolks are rich in cholesterol. BUT, the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that eating one whole egg per day does not result in increased blood cholesterol levels and recommend that individuals consume, on average, less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day.
A single large egg contains 185 mg cholesterol! Therefore, enjoying an egg a day can fall within current cholesterol guidelines! 

Just keep in mind that during these holidays, we tend to consume a large variety of foods that are also rich in cholesterol, saturated fats and refined sugars. So watching your whole day diet is crucial, including your egg intake, chocolate eggs, yes, the unforgettable maamoul intake! And believe it or not, it is healthier to have one hard-boiled egg compared with 1, even healthy maamoul (Easter cookies)!

St. Patrick's Day Green Cookies!

Courtesy of Taste of Beirut

It's pretty known that on March 17th,  St. Paddy's Day, you either Go Green or Go Home!

So in order to celebrate this day in a delicious crispy way, I think it's definitely fine to have something sweet. This is why I found this chocolate-minty cookies recipe which I highly recommend to check here, especially if you love the mixture crispy-chocolate sweet-refreshing minty taste!

However, you know I can't but add: A little chocolate is good for the heart, so have these cookies in moderation and try to avoid beer binge drinking on this lovely day!

How to Manage Your Diet This Lent

It’s the first day of Christian fasting (aka Lent) here in Lebanon, and most people are confused about how this could affect their overall health. So I got a good straight to the point newsletter from Sohi Wa Sarih Clinics and elaborated on it a bit. You can actually check their website and apply to get their healthy weekly newsletter as well.

Now there are mainly 4 types of fasting that can be applied separately or together, depending on your own preference, physical condition, age and/or religious sect:
• Fasting until 12 pm
• Deprivation of food(s) you like
• Abstinence from meat for the whole fasting season
• Deprivation of all types of animal products, including meats, dairy products and eggs

Fasting until 12 pm:
Well, it has no effect on health at all since your body will not reach its starvation mode yet. It may be harder on night workers or people who wake up really early but it’s usually not recommended to exceed a period of 14 hours without food between dinner and breakfast. So keep track of how long you are staying without providing your body with food and fix your diet accordingly!

Giving up chocolate

Deprivation of food you like (could be chocolate, potato chips, soft drinks):
These foods are not necessary, and yes guys, they can be left out of your diet. They will sure not affect your health or physical well-being, on the contraire, they will push you to focus on healthier food options such as fruits and vegetables as snacks! This way you'll cut the junk and increase your intake of vitamins, minerals, fibers and anti-oxidants!

Abstinence from meat:
Some people could also choose to cut down on their meats. Meats contain iron, a mineral essential for the body, found in legumes and vegetables too, but in a different and less effectively absorbed form. So when you give up meats, make sure to have enough legumes (7boub, such as beans, chickpeas, peas and lentils, along with dark green leafy vegetables). Throw a lemon on the side because Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron whether it's in its meaty or vegetable form! Moreover, make sure to have at least 2 servings of grilled or canned fish (I mean if you haven’t given them up as well) to ensure appropriate amount of proteins and omega 3 in your diet.

All vegan diet

Deprivation of all types of animal products (Vegan Diet):
This type of fasting consists of abstinence from red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, butter and all animal products whatsoever. This would compromise protein, calcium, zinc and vitamin B 12. Animal foods provide all 9 “essential” amino acids (protein building blocks) needed to make “complete proteins”, whereas plant foods are considered as incomplete, meaning they lack one or more essential amino acids. 

Lentils and Rice. Don't forget
the complementary lemon-y salad
on the side!

Now to outsmart this >> Go for “complementary” protein sources, such as grains and legumes consumed together in the same meal, thus providing adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids. For example mix beans with rice (fasolia w rez) or lentils with rice (mjadara or mdardara) along with cabbage salad with lemon juice on the side (remember the Vitamin C effect on iron in legumes) 

As for milk and milk products, calcium should not be a concern if abstinence is limited to the 50 days’ fasting period. Osteoporosis takes much longer than 50 days to develop!  However, keep in mind that dark green vegetables such as broccoli and canned sardines (with bones) provide considerate amounts of calcium in your diet.

Drink at least 8 to 10 cups
of water per day

Last but not least, consume slow-digesting foods having fibers such as vegetables, legumes, whole wheat carbs and fruits more than fast-digesting food like juices, white bread, sweets and sugary drinks because the fast digesting ones make us feel hungry again (low filling effect) after 2 to 3 hours of eating and increase the risk of constipation!

And even if you are fasting till 12 noon (and maybe fasting from drinking water as well) make sure to drink enough water, 30 ml/kg X your weight in kilograms throughout your day!

New Year’s Drinking Fiesta

New Year’s is a big deal in Lebanon! Actually, it’s a big deal everywhere. Spending time with friends and family is a great way to celebrate a new year coming, and for most of us, that means getting together and sharing dinner especially with a few cocktails. And yes, holiday drinking is enjoyable, but not for those of us who are trying to watch our waistlines because even few drinks can set that diet back!

All alcoholic drinks contain calories, whether we like to admit it or not, and for those living in denial that drinks are just like water, I hate to burst your bubble. Whether the calories come from alcohol containing 7 calories per gram or from mixers added like soft drinks, fruit juices, sugar or cream, they all definitely count!

So here are some tips to follow when choosing your drinks:

·         Keep your limit to no more than 1-2 drinks for women and 2-3 drinks for men. Actually, guidelines are 1 drink for women and 2 for men, but since these are the holidays, one more drink is OK as maximum.

·         Avoid mixing your drinks with sweetened mixers which only contain huge amounts of calories.

·         If you choose to go for a beer, choose a light one.

·         Drink out of tall skinny glasses.

·         Mix drinks with water or diet soft drinks since they don’t add extra calories. A can of regular soda can add 150 calories to your drink while a diet soda has around 4 calories total, but we’ll discuss these in few seconds.

·         Know the percentage of alcohol and calories in your drink.

·         Fill your glass with ice cubes and then pour your alcohol, this way you’ll get a smaller amount of chilly, diluted alcoholic drink.

·         Drink a glass of water between drinks for 2 reasons. One, to fill up, but more importantly to re-hydrate your body since alcohol can make you lose your body water.

 

Now let’s take a look at popular drinks you will have to face during that party! I gathered the most famous drinks, whether wine, beer, hard liqueurs, cocktails and their mixers we have in Lebanon.
 

·         Wine in 114 mL as a serving size

Type	Calories per serving
Red	85
White	80
Rose	88
Sweet	105
Cabernet Sauvignon	88
Chardonnay	88
Light	50
Sherry	128

·         Beer in one bottle, around 340 mL as a serving

Type	Calories per serving
Regular	150 to 160
Light	90 to 110

·         Hard liqueur with a usual serving of 43 mL

Type	Calories per serving
Bourbon	98
Brandy	98
Gin	104
Rum	84
Scotch	105
Whiskey	104
Kahlua	161
Tequila	100
Vodka	100

·          Mixed drinks

Type	Serving Size	Calories per serving
Frozen Margarita	240 (1 cup)	404
Champagne	114 mL	91
Sangria	240 mL	169
Gin and Tonic	240 mL	195
Bloody Mary	240 mL	196
Screwdriver	240 mL	210
Bacardi Breezer lemon Light	1 bottle	96
Creme de Menthe	58 mL	250
Cosmpolitan	150 mL	327
Martini	150 mL	322
White Russian	170 mL	374
Tequila Sunrise	58 mL	75
Daiquiri	58 mL	112
Baileys Irish Cream	43 mL	108
Manhattan	58 mL	178
Black Russian	58 mL	162

·         Mixes

Type	Calories per serving
Red bull energy drink	110 per can
Mineral water	0
Perrier	0
Diet soda	0
Regular soda	150 per can
Tomato juice	25  in 114 mL
Dr pepper	100 per can
Bloody Mary mix	25 in 114 mL
Nestea Iced tea lemon	86 per can
Orange, pineapple, grapefruit, apple	60 in 114 mL

One more thing that could come in handy is this equation:
Calories in your drink = (milliliters / 28.4) x (% of alcohol x 2) x 0.8.

Let’s say you are drinking 50 mL of whiskey that has 40% alcohol (as indicated on label) thus Calories in that drink = (50/28.4) x (40x2) x 0.8 = 112 cals!
Or let’s take Arak; 70 mL of this 80% alcohol!
thus Calories = (70/28.4) x (80x2) x 0.8 = 315 calories!
So now you have actual information that will definitely help you assess whether your drink is high in calories or not. But know that even though you hear that alcohol has benefits, they just go down the drain once you exceed the guidelines we talked about earlier! 

Moreover, keep in mind that it is best that some people avoid drinking alcohol even in big parties such as New Year’s. These include women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, pregnant and lactating women, children and adolescents, people with specific medical conditions and people taking medications that may interact with alcohol.



Coffee or a cold shower will not eliminate alcohol from your blood; time only clears it, so it’s best to stop drinking 2 to 3 hours before you drive. But if you feel dizzy just sleep over wherever you are or hand in the driving responsibility to a non-drinker.
Never drink and drive!