Weighing In: The Skinny on Your Favorite Beach Drinks

Each week, our own fitness fanatics Christina Monteleone and Sabrina Evans will explore the latest workout crazes, diet fads and dish out tips for healthy living. Managing your schoolwork is tough enough- let us take care of your health.

When you’re sitting on the beach this Spring Break, the last thing you’re craving is that bottle of lukewarm water sitting untouched at the bottom of your tote bag next to your sunscreen and broken flip flop (yes – singular ‘flop.’ Stuff happens.). Sand and sun are supposed to add up to fun, but being the little Miss Calorie Counter of your group is sure to turn your vacation into a total drag.

You’ve been told the same thing approximately 1,000,003 times (give or take): sugary drinks are bad news. So does that mean your favorite beach beverages are officially off the menu if you want to maintain that bikini-bod you worked so hard for?

Thank the sweet Pinterest gods watching over cyberspace, Valley has rounded up a few tips and tricks from your favorite website to get you through break.

Peach Mango Smoothie

The smoothie is a warm-weather staple, but more often than not you’re likely to find this drink loaded down with excess sugar and calories from dairy. Whenever possible try to stick to smoothies that are strictly fruit and ice, or try having your drink prepared with low-fat milk and yogurt.

This recipe for a peach mango smoothie (think Irving’s Joe Papaya smoothie) is low fat, low sodium and a good source of protein. (Serves 2)

2 cups low fat milk
2 peaches, peeled and sliced
½ mango, sliced
½ cup low fat yogurt
8 ice cubes

Strawberry Iced Tea

Or maybe you’re looking for something a little more on the refreshing side of the spectrum than a smoothie, in which case an iced tea will do just the trick! Pre-bottled teas come loaded down with sugar and sticky syrups, but making your own pitcher of sweet tea to bring pool-side can be just as tasty but with half the guilt.

Just mix, refrigerate and serve with some country music for best results. (Serves 4-6)

What you need:

2 tea bags (like regular Lipton tea)
1 pound strawberries, hulled and quartered, plus more for garnish
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup water
1/3 cup sugar

What to do:

1. Steep tea bags in 4 cups boiling water according to package instructions, discard tea bags and let tea cool

2. In a large saucepan, combine strawberries, lemon juice, sugar and ½ cup water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before straining through cheesecloth or a fine sieve

3. In a large pitcher, whisk together strawberry syrup and brewed tea. Place in refrigerator until cooled.

But what we’re sure many of us hope to get out of our Spring Break refreshments is a kick. Most alcoholic mixed drinks are higher in calories than we’d like to admit, but by applying these easy fixes from Fitness magazine, you can get buzzed without busting your diet:

• Substitute simple syrups with agave nectar
• Stick with low-calorie fruit juices such as Minute Maid Light
• Blending drinks with ice will give you all the fruity flavor without the calories
• Alternating between cocktails and “mocktails” can cut down on calories
• Try creating a Splenda syrup instead of using simple syrups

For chocolate flavoring, instead of mixing chocolate syrup in with the whole drink, just line the rim so you get a bit of sweetness with every sip

You wouldn’t put a limit on your fun this Spring Break so why put a limit on the tastiness of your drinks? Sip with the security of knowing you’re not breaking the calorie-bank this year ladies, and as always, do so responsibly.

Photo credit: pinterest.com