Are you a social drinker that has an eye out on your weight? Experts from the city give us a piece of their mind on what to watch out for on your next tipsy outing!
With drinks being fermented and distilled in starch and sugar resulting in a caloric boom, did you know a pint of beer can have as many calories as a slice of pizza and a glass of wine as four biscuits? “I actually didn’t,” says Rohini Abraham, a marketing executive. “With the common question every time I step out for a party being ‘Where’s your drink?’ it’s taking a severe toll on my gym routine,” notes the habitual wine-drinker. So what is it that’s adding flab to your fab? “It’s the addition of flavoured/ coloured syrups, juices (canned) and sugar syrup which almost doubles or triples the sugar content. Thus, straight drinks (especially spirits like vodka and gin) with only a dash of lime squeezed in or on the rocks have way less calorie content than cocktails or ones served with mixers,” says Shashank Sharma, food and beverage manager and master mixologist from The Oberoi.
The key to enjoying a drink, as with most things in life, is moderation, and that’s what nutritionist Shalini Manglani suggests. “I wouldn’t suggest drinking as a social activity in the first place. But if you have to, throw out those sugary mojitos and margaritas and try spirits with salt, lime and chilli instead. Most social drinkers would love to extend their evening, so what better way than to take it slow and pace yourself? Do this by alternating one glass of your drink with water,” says the doctor. Experts also stand by ‘quality not quantity.’ “It’s better to treat yourself to high quality liquor, something that you will savour slowly. This way you won’t wolf down lots of it so as to not taste it,” says Anup Krishnan, a dietician from the city.
If neat is too rocky for you and you savour cocktails, here’s a refreshing tipple trend that’s doing the rounds. “The use of fresh herbs and aromats is playing a key role. Tea infused martinis is a raging trend. Natural ingredients and fresh fruit extracts are the choicest of ingredients being used in the cocktails. Flavoured waters like maple water, birch water and coconut water are the latest mixers in bars,” adds Shashank, thus looking at fresh and low sugar mixer alternates.
