Tag Archives: alcohol

Our Exclusive Recipes Featured at HelloGiggles.com

There are few people having as much fun online as the girls over at HelloGiggles.com. Created by actress Zooey Deschanel and a few of her wildly talented friends, HelloGiggles is a safe place for girls and women to be themselves. Whether it’s a live bunny cam or a creative “nail of the day” art, or a seriously introspective look at progressing the feminist movement in a positive direction, the site is a delicious place to feel like you’re hanging out with your girls. And no quality girlfriend time is complete without good snacks and drinks, which is where we come in.

Each month our recipe development team conjures up a tasty new treat to share with our giggling friends. In true DietsInReview fashion, it’s always simple, light, good for you, and totally shareable.

Click through each link to find our exclusive creations for HelloGiggles.

Raspberry Lemon Pops

Tart and tangy, absolutely refreshing, and only three ingredients – meet the easiest and best tasting homemade popsicle you’ve ever had! We use a lemony Greek yogurt with plump, fresh raspberries in a recipe so simple that you’ll have no choice but to let the kids get their make on. You get to indulge too, as each pop has only 77 calories!

Mango Agua Fresca

It doesn’t get much more refreshing than this, nor do many other drinks scream summer as much as our mango agua fresca. We use real, whole mangos with a bit of naturally sweetened water to create a beverage typically saved for your favorite local tacqueria. Make it home and enjoy it beach-side all summer long!

Prosciutto and Apple Waffle Paninis

Your next brunch won’t know what hit it when you serve these delightful little breakfast sandwiches. Savory prosciutto, sweet apple slices, and creamy Laughing Cow cheese are piled between our toasty cinnamon apple waffles for a big breakfast that feels delicately gourmet.

Berrier Perrier Slush

In our very first recipe for HelloGiggles, we crafted a refreshing little mocktail that’s as pretty as it tastes. With your choice of fresh berries and a bubbly splash of Perrier’s grapefruit sparkling water, we blended up a little slush that will cool down the hottest of summer days.

Pumpkin Hummus

There are few things Americans are obsessed with more than hummus and pumpkin-flavored-anything. So we figured, why not? We use a creamy, pure pumpkin puree with fresh sage leaves to craft a rather simple yet exceptionally flavorful hummus.

Vegan Irish Cream

For St. Patrick’s Day, we wanted to celebrate in a way that felt truly Irish without being too naughty, which is why we spun up a homemade Irish cream free of animal products. Of course it’s got Jameson, but we used a rich and creamy coconut milk in place of regular cow’s milk. A strong espresso and a splash of vanilla will make you forget you ever bought the stuff at the liquor store.

Blackberry and Basil Martini

Since we’re in the friend zone at HelloGiggles, making fresh cocktails makes us all feel right at home. This Blackberry and Basil Martini was as succulent in color as any of the gowns on this year’s Oscar’s red carpet, and tasted as sweet as victory for the winners! The irresistible flavor of blackberries muddled with basil leaves is topped off with vodka and lemon for your new favorite ‘tini.

Try More of Our Original Recipes Right Here:

Sriracha Oven Fries

Jalapeno Cheddar Burger Bite Kabobs

No Bake Cookie Chia Bars

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Natalie K

Sippable Sangrias for Summer: Try These 3 Fresh Recipes!

Red wine was fine to keep us a little warm and cozy all winter, but now it’s time to chill out! Sangria is one of my favorite summertime indulgences, partly because it’s a healthier way to imbibe when I’m by the pool. No really, it’s true! While most cocktails are just booze and processed mixers, void of any nutritional value, a glass of homemade sangria has a lot more to offer in the way of fresh juices, fruits, herbs, and other ingredients that not only enhance flavor but add fiber and vitamins.

Now, I know as well as you that when we’re pouring a drink we’re not usually considering the health value. I mean, it’s not a salad! And just because you made it with fresh berries doesn’t meant the calories don’t count. BUT, as with all things, if you’re going to do it, there is a way that’s ultimately better for you. Homemade wins every time; and our recipes will be fool-proof winners!

Talenti Frozen Sangria

We’ve found the secret to easy, bold, creamy frozen sangria that you can make at home – Talenti Sorbetto! We just combine their blood orange and Roman raspberry flavors with fresh berries and red wine for a concoction that’s less than 225 calories per glass (compared to more than 500 for Abuelo’s frozen sangria). Take the blender to the pool because it’s party time! (more…)

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Natalie K

The Great Gatsby Recipe Guide: 10 Party Foods Inspired by the Roaring Twenties

The roaring twenties will no doubt be a theme of many a summer party this year as The Great Gatsby film release has everyone reconnecting with this classic novel that embodies one of the most fabulous periods in our history. When most people think of the 1920s in the U.S. they think of the flappers, Prohibition, gangsters, and jazz. What people often overlook are the great advancements in home cooking and recipe development during this period. A comprehensive listing of the top rated diet plans can be seen when you click the link here.

The availability of “sliced bread,” refrigerators, and other convenience foods that are dogged today helped (mostly) women spend 44 hours each week in their kitchens preparing meals. By 1965, women were only spending 25.7 hours per week cooking, and research in 2024 revealed women today spend only 13 hours each week on all household chores.

If you plan on hosting a Great Gatsby party this summer, you’ll want to dress the part of course, but the food can play a major role in pulling together the theme. If healthy is your goal, stick to the recipes we’re sharing. But if authenticity is most important, you’ll appreciate the homemade, healthified versions of many of these processed foods that are still popular today.

Thai Blueberry Old Fashion

Alcohol was banned for much of the 1920s during a period known as Prohibition, but that didn’t keep the booze from flowing. The Old Fashion, a tart whiskey-based cocktail, was a creation of this decade that we still raise a glass to today. Guests will easily celebrate with this jazzed up version with fresh blueberries and a Truvia simple syrup. See what diets were rated as the best when you follow the link here.

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Posted on May 15, 2023 by Natalie K

7 Cinco de Mayo Recipes for Your Guilt-Free Fiesta

Cinco de Mayo is one of the unofficial starts of summer and one of the most food-focused holidays in the US. Who would want to pass up a day where tacos, guacamole, and margaritas flow like fireworks on the Fourth of July? If you’re a calorie counter, that might be you.

Mexican food is known to be rich and heavy and full of fat and calories. A meal at On The Border could push you past 2300 calories for two margaritas, chips and salsa, the three ground beef enchilada dinner with chile con carne, rice, and refried beans, and a sopapilla to round it all out. You know that’s more than a day’s worth of calories, right? And we won’t remind you how bloated you’ll feel afterward.

We plan on celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year, and want you to do so, too! That’s why we’re sharing a few tips and recipes to do so with much less guilt. (more…)

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Natalie K

Talenti Frozen Sangria Kicks Off Spring Break Celebrations

In college there was a bar near campus called The Mont. I say was, it’s still very much there. When I visit campus I like to sit on The Mont patio, order the frozen sangria half of their famous Swirl, and catch up with old friends. I know it’s a lot of sugar and a lot of calories, but it’s not something I get to do very often. In college, I did it a lot more often and well, it showed. Discover what diet plans were rated as the best by reading the list of the highest rated diets.

With spring break next week, it’s got me thinking about my favorite college dive. It’s not so easy to just run to campus for a Swirl, but I can make my own, and even control those pesky calories. Since, you know, I’m a little older and I care a little more!

I don’t have a frozen drink machine at home, but I do have a blender and access to Talenti Gelato and Sorbetto. Yes, I’m going there. Talenti is one word that will bring a girl to her knees, at least this girl. Mix it with wine and I’m done. Click the link here to see a comprehensive listing of the best diet plans.

Yes, Taleni Frozen Sangria is a thing. Or, I’m making it a thing. You’re going to want to make this your thing. (more…)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Natalie K

10-Calorie Fresh Sweet and Sour Mix for Your Skinny Cocktails

We keep experiencing these little glimpses of spring, which immediately puts me in the mood for summer. Does that make me an over achiever or impatient? Either way, both seasons make me want to sit on my patio, sip something delicious, and revel in my family and friends. I can’t be alone in this – just look at the Mason Jars full of beverages on Pinterest. We’ve all got the itch.

The scratch? My Sweet and Sour Vodka. It’s as light and refreshing as a tart glass of lemonade but has that little somethin-somethin to bring you back down after a long day. It’s. Amazing.

I stopped buying the jug o’ drink mixer at the grocery store years ago. Master of Mixes’ Sweet ‘n Sour has 110 calories and 25 grams of sugar per four-ounce serving. Our recipe has TEN calories and LESS than 1 gram of sugar. That neon yellow color, ridiculous after taste, and undesirable ingredient list left me thirsty for something better.

The answer was in front of me all along – my own lemons and limes squeezed to cocktail-mixing perfection. (more…)

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Natalie K

Drunkorexia: College Students Save Calories for Binge Drinking

“The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

While we all aspire to be eternally young, one part of youth we can all do without is the irrational sense of invincibility. That, and the overpowering need to be accepted by the “in crowd.”

With that in mind, it’s not hard to believe that the highest percentage of problem drinkers is college students. Heavy drinking, mixed with youthful hormones and naivety, leads to violence, careless sexual activity, and now something that is being called drunkorexia.

Recent Canadian research has found that young men and women are skipping meals, yet are also consuming a day’s worth of calories in alcohol. In other words, young people who want to lose weight, but still want to party, cut out the meals in order to do so and stay thin. They may also be drinking excessively with the intention of purging previously consumed food.

While it’s not yet a recognized eating disorder, the health risks of drunkorexia are very real. Weight-conscious drinkers are risking nutrient deprivation, liver damage, and death.

It’s not a problem exclusive to the U.S. or college-age kids for that matter. (more…)

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Jason

The Real Way to Cure a Hangover

The New Year’s celebration is one of the biggest in the world. For many, the revelry involves alcohol, and lots of it. But when a new day (and year) dawns, party goers often feel the aftereffects of their festivities in the form of a nasty hangover.

If this is your predicament, don’t reach for greasy foods, caffeine, or medications, which can worsen the effects of alcohol on your body. Use these natural remedies instead for a fast and healthy hangover recovery.

1. Water

One of the most tried-and-true, widely recognized remedies for too much alcohol is to drink lots of water. Many hangover remedies sound strange and follow bad logic, and will probably not do any good, but this simple tip makes sense. Water will dilute the alcohol in your body, minimize alcohol’s dehydrating effect on your body, and flush out toxins. Try to stay hydrated before, during, and after drinking and its negative effects will diminish considerably.

2. Fruit and fruit juice

Once you’re properly hydrated, start replenishing the vitamins you’ve lost and get your blood sugar back to normal with a tall glass of juice. Orange or tomato juice will replenish lost vitamins and contain natural sugars to help your body metabolize alcohol faster. Bananas are great for restoring depleted potassium levels associated with overindulging, and they have magnesium, beneficial for headaches. If you don’t have any fruit juice, down a Gatorade or other electrolyte-containing sports drink.

3. Ginger

Ginger has been used for centuries as an aid for motion sickness, nausea, and vomiting. Brew some ginger root tea for soothing relief, or pop open a ginger ale for a quick fix. (more…)

Posted on January 1, 2024 by SarahS

The Diet Booze Trend Continues with Fergie’s Endorsement of Voli Vodka

Fun-loving Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas is not only the perfect party guest because she always knows which song to spin next, but she’s also got the inside skinny on the best cocktails. She’s the face of Voli Vodka, a line of lower calorie flavored vodkas. She told Chelsea Handler this fall that her daily vodka consumption varies by the week, saying, “If I have one drink a day, I feel better the next day than if I don’t drink at all. I’m just gonna start drinking daily.”

She’s clearly fit, firm and fabulous (Fergalicious to be exact), so how does she do it if she’s swilling vodka on a daily basis? Certainly her 4-6 workouts in the gym every week, but she’ll also tell you it’s because she’s not drinking just any vodka. She’s drinking Voli Vodka, which has 74 calories per shot. A standard shot of vodka has about 100 calories.

Sure, 26 calories is a fair savings when you’re drinking one cocktail or a few, especially daily. But does it really matter when they are still nutritionally void, empty calories? Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, author of Read It Before You Eat It and nutrition expert in NY, says not so much.

“My take on this is that many people think that if you don’t chew — it doesn’t count — and that’s simply not true.” Those calories most certainly still count, and maybe more than most because they’re typically accompanied by a lot of sugar – like juice and other mixers.

We showed Bonnie the Fergatini, Voli’s branded version of a Cape Cod, with Voli Lyte, Fresh Lime Juice, and Cranberry Juice.

“Think about it — in this cocktail of 82 calories — only 1-1/2 oz or 1 jigger of vodka is used. How many of us pour just one shot?,” she asked. “That won’t happen at a friend’s party! It also only includes one ounce of juice. That rarely happens too because many of the calories in alcohol are contributed by the mixers.” (more…)

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Natalie K

Holiday Cocktail Calories Make More Work for New Year’s Resolutions

A new study on the drinking patterns of adults finds that the average adult American consumes 100 calories on a daily basis from alcohol alone. Does that not sound like much? It’s actually about 16 percent of total daily calories.

Nutritionist Connie Diekman, in a report by HealthDay, explains that even 100 unneeded calories per day from alcohol translates to a ten pound per year weight gain.

Not surprisingly, men aged 20 to 29 had the highest rates of alcohol consumption at 174 calories per day, and their chosen drink was beer. One 12-ounce beer is 150 calories. The study found that six percent of women and 20 percent of men consume more than 300 calories from alcohol each day.

Of course, not everyone drinks every day, and even if they do, moderate alcohol consumption is not necessarily unhealthy. The catch is what kinds of alcohol Americans are drinking, because a glass of red wine is a lot different than a piña colada.

For the approaching holidays, cut out much of the unwanted weight gain by remembering that liquid calories count and restricting your alcohol consumption or by replacing unhealthy drinks with slimmed-down options. (more…)

Posted on November 16, 2023 by SarahS

Jillian Michaels is a “Light Workout Day” in Jennifer’s Weight Loss Journey

“I’ve dropped 7 points off my BMI,” was a recent tweet posted by Jennifer S. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering in February this year, she, standing at just over five-feet tall, weighed 301 pounds. As of last week, she’s down to 265 pounds!

We introduced Jennifer last month as she took her weight loss plans from just-getting-started to hitting-it-hard. We armed her with Jillian Michaels’ BodyMedia arm band and her new Body Revolution 12-DVD series, as well as plenty of her own determination. We’re pleased to hear she’s doing so well.

“I’m trying to keep it positive most of the time,” she told us about her journey so far. It can be a struggle when you have more than 100 pounds to lose, but with the right kind of attitude it can be a healthy adventure.

She’s still using Jillian Michaels’ Body Revolution at levels one and two. She says you’re supposed to go up a level every two weeks, but she’s just not comfortable making that transition yet.

“It’s not geared toward someone in the obese category or with my knee problems,” Jennifer said of the DVD. She likes the workouts, tweets about how intense they are, but is also smart enough to listen to her body and not push herself to the danger zone (she had a partial knee replacement in June and has been cleared to workout by her doctor). She laughs telling us that she uses the Jillian DVDs for her “light days” on Wednesday and Sunday. “If you can imagine!” (more…)

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Natalie K

Tag Archives: alcohol

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