Smart Swaps for Summer Drinks
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Skip This: Flavored Water
120 Calories in 16 oz.
Due to its sugar content, a 16-ounce bottle of flavored (sweetened) water adds 120 calories to your day. Not so refreshing!
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Sip This: Water with Fresh Mint & Lime
5 calories in 16 oz.
Add flavor to your water the natural way with a squeeze of fresh citrus and a sprig of fresh mint for a low-cal alternative to the sugary stuff.
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Skip That: Chocolate Milkshake
580 calories and 14 g. of fat in 16 oz.
One 16-ounce Triple Thick Chocolate Shake from McDonald's will have you gulping more calories than you'll find in a Big Mac!
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Sip This: Homemade Root Beer Float
230 calories and 7 g fat per recipe below
Consume half the calories and still enjoy a creamy treat by topping 8 ounces of your favorite root beer (try diet to save even more calories) with a half cup of vanilla ice cream. Now, that's sweet!
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Skip That: Sangria
150 calories in 8 oz.
Sangria may be a summer staple for many, but just 8 ounces of this chilled wine and fruit beverage will set you back 150 calories or more (due in large part to added sugar). Keep in mind that many chain restaurants serve sangria and other mixed drinks in 16-ounce glasses.
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Sip This: Wine Spritzer
70 calories in 8 oz.
Mix 4 ounces of chilled wine with 4 ounces of sparkling water for a light and crisp alternative to sangria for half the calories. Try adding a twist of citrus for even more low-cal flavor.
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Skip That: Sweet Tea
240 calories in a 24 oz. bottle
Tea may be filled with good-for-you antioxidants, but you'll actually get MORE antioxidants from fresh brewed tea compared to bottled. What's more, one 24-ounce bottle of store-bought sweetened iced tea contains 240 calories--and more sugar than the average soda.
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Sip This: Fresh Brewed Tea
0 calories, any size
Brewing your own iced tea at home is a healthy alternative to those sugar-laden teas you buy by the bottle. If you prefer a hint of sweetness, add a squeeze of honey or citrus juice. Try this great sun tea recipe!
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Skip That: Regular Cola
140 calories in a 12 oz. can
Sometimes nothing beats the heat or brings back a sense of nostalgia quite like a classic cola. But stopping at the recommended 8 ounce serving isn't all that easy--the average bottle contains at least 12 ounces. Gulp!
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Sip This: Sparkling Fruit Water
10 calories in 8 oz.
Add a splash of fruit juice to 8 ounces of soda water for a sweet and bubbly beverage. Orange and grape juices work wonders in creating that nostalgic soda experience--sans the calories!
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Skip That: Iced Blended Mocha
370 calories and 15 g fat in 16 oz.
Starting your morning with a 16-ounce Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks is comparable to drinking one small chocolate milkshake.
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Sip This: Iced Coffee with Vanilla Syrup
90 calories, 0 g fat in 16 oz.
Wake up the right (and light) way by trading in that Frappuccino for a 16-ounce iced coffee with 4 pumps of vanilla syrup.
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Skip That: Bottled Sports Drink
150 calories in a 20 oz. bottle
Sometimes nothing quenches your thirst better than a sports drink. Though these beverages offer hydration benefits due to their electrolyte content, one 20-ounce bottle of Vitamin Water contains 40 grams of sugar. Skip the sports drinks unless you're hydrating during or after intense exercise lasting 90 minutes or longer.
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Sip This: Low-Cal Sports Drink
50 calories in a 20 oz. bottle
The good news is that you can now find lower calorie versions of your favorite sports drinks. Try a Gatorade G2 Thirst Quencher for all of the flavor without the sugar.
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Skip That: Margarita
460 calories in 10 oz.
The average 10-ounce margarita contains a whopping 460 calories. And if you're a margarita connoisseur, you know that when dining out, margaritas tend to come in much larger glasses!
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Sip This: Mojito
160 calories in 14 oz.
You can still imbibe in the summertime by swapping a 10-ounce margarita for a 14-ounce mint mojito. Try this refreshing recipe that's big on taste--not calories!
See more nutrition slideshows
Skinny Sipping!
Written by Natalie Nichols, Staff Writer
Sipping drinks in the summertime can really pack on the pounds. Find out how many calories you're really drinking and how you can still savor the flavors of summer for a fraction of the calories!
Start Slideshow
Skip This: Flavored Water
120 Calories in 16 oz.
Due to its sugar content, a 16-ounce bottle of flavored (sweetened) water adds 120 calories to your day. Not so refreshing!
