arts & life

dining in

continued from page 39

SUGAR IN YOUR COCKTAIL
OR COOKIES FOR DESSERT?
In life, we have to make choices. Whether we like it or not,
we are all on a caloric “budget,” quite similar to our finances
— it is important to decide where we want to spend our
sugar “dollars.” By swapping out simple syrups and high-
calorie sodas in cocktails, one can save hundreds of calories
per beverage.
Swap out sugary soda for fresh juices or fresh fruit, such
as pomegranate, cherry, cranberry and orange. This will not
only lower calories but it will boost your vitamin, mineral
and antioxidant intake. Adding fresh juice also adds color to
cocktails without adding artificial colors, sweeteners or dyes.
Large amounts of sugar and alcohol may also disrupt
sleep quality and lead to increased weight gain. When mak-
ing a sangria or punch, try using unsweetened, fruit-infused
spritzer/soda water in place of sodas such as Sprite.
Use an alternative sweetener (honey, Stevia, agave) in
place of sugar. Consider limiting the amount of sugar in
your cocktail and dust the rim of your glass with sugar
instead of mixing it in.
Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice in place of lemonade.

GUILTFREE HOLIDAY SEASON
Follow these tips to help start off 2017 healthy and happy,
rather than attempting to lose the 5-10 pounds you gained
between Thanksgiving and New
Year’s.
Alternate alcoholic beverages
with a glass of hydrating water or
unsweetened sparkling water. Not
only will this help you stay hydrated
after a long night on the town, it
will decrease your alcoholic bever-
age intake and possibly your caloric
intake from food.
Be mindful of the food you eat
when you drink. Too often, we are
less conscious of our food intake
when sipping cocktails. Late-night
eating, mindless munching and
social meals all contribute to excess
weight gain during the holiday
season.
Although alcohol may initially
help you fall asleep, it contributes
to less restful sleep, night sweats,
nightmares, headaches and frequent
awakenings. It is best to limit or
avoid alcoholic beverages 4-5 hours
before bedtime, especially those that
contain caffeine.
If you do consume alcohol late
in the evening, be sure to do so on
a full stomach and drink plenty of
water to dilute the effects of the
alcohol.
Wishing you a happy, healthy
holiday season!

*

Stacy Goldberg, MPH, RN, BSN, is a nationally recognized nutritional consul-
tant, registered nurse and the CEO and founder of Savorfull (savorfull.com),
a Detroit-based e-commerce company that sources nutritionist-approved
healthy, allergen-friendly foods and provides nutrition-consulting services
to businesses and sports teams across the country. Savorfull is part of the
Quicken Loans Family of Companies. Look for more tips on eating well in her
new JN column, debuting in the New Year.

40 December 22 • 2016

