4 minute read
After Hours
Healthy happy hours
YES, YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL
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BY IWANA BEVVIE
If you don’t want to give up your after-work drinks
Ibut want to make healthier choices, you can make a few tweaks to your routine and still enjoy the camaraderie and cocktails. Fitsugar.com and
Health.com shared these strategies:
TIPS TO SIP ON
1. Know your calories. Do some quick research before you head to the patio. And don't fool yourself — that chicken quesadilla is almost 1,500 calories! 2. Strategize splurges. If you know you are heading out after work, make smarter decisions throughout the day, like opting for the salad at lunch instead of a burger. This will help make sure your total calorie count for the day doesn't dip into dangerous territory. 3. Choose low-calorie liquor. Going for one of the many lower-calorie liquor options can often make the difference and help you save calories. PRO TIP: George Clooney’s brand Casamigos is a great choice. As a top-shelf tequila, it’s easier to drink straight, thus sparing yourself of the need for mixers. 91 calories per 1.5-ounce serving 4. Alternate with water. Chances are you don't drink enough anyway, and in any case, alcohol is dehydrating. If you're in for a long happy-hour session, sip slowly and don't keep going back to the bar for refills; alternate with a glass of water instead. 5. Don't come hungry. If you're starving after work, you are more likely to binge when you hit the patio. Have a healthy snack in the afternoon so you won't be tempted by all the happy-hour specials on the menu. 6. Have a limit. Make post-happy-hour plans so you don't stay so long that you start to get tempted by too many drinks. Even walking the dog is a good excuse to leave early. 7. Go for natural. Certain mixers can contain high amounts of refined sugars or overly processed foods. Choose cocktails sweetened with fresh fruit for a healthier libation.
8. Have a different kind of happy hour. It's about having fun with your friends, and that doesn't always have to mean cocktails and calories. Meet up for a walk around the park on a nice day, or take that gym class you've all been dying to try. 9. Choose something strong. You'll be more likely to sip slowly if you choose stronger tasting drinks like a scotch on the rocks or a Bloody Mary.
TRY THIS!
Passionflower grows wild on the beach on Hilton Head and is known to ease anxiety, quiet the mind and promote restful sleep. This recipe from the team at Hilton Head Distillery features the medicinal vine, along with several other healthy ingredients. Kombucha aids in digestion and decreases inflammation. Blueberries and ginger are great for their superfood/digestive properties. Mint also aids in digestion and improves brain function. It is safe to say this cocktail is full of self-care, even if the main ingredient is tasty platinum rum.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 1/2 ounces Hilton Head Distillery Platinum Rum • 3 ounces GT’s Gingerberry Kombucha • Handful of mint leaves • 1 lime, sliced • 1 dropper of passionflower bitters or 1 tablespoon of elderberry syrup* DIRECTIONS Muddle the lime and mint in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, rum and either passionflower extract or elderberry syrup and shake. Strain rum into glass and top with GT’s Gingerberry Kombucha. Garnish with mint and lime wedge. Note: While passionflower is not available locally in bitters form, you can purchase dried passionflower from The Herb Room on Hilton Head Island and make your own. Out of the Weeds in Charleston makes a great passionflower syrup. You also can substitute the passionflower bitters with 1 tablespoon of elderberry syrup, which is great for immune support. Many people use it to prevent the flu.
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