Spring break is just around the corner and visions of sipping cocktails in the sun may already be playing in your mind. We have some thirst-quenching alcoholic treats to share that are lower in calories than the traditional varieties and spiked with a little antioxidant love. Sick of studying? Our cocktails are so simple that you can prepare them without using notes! And don’t worry, we have something here to please everyone’s alcohol palates.

Stormy Spring Beer
This is an offshoot of your traditional “dark & stormy” and here at Nutritious Life, we forecast this will be the only storm cloud rolling in this spring break, so soak up some rays while you sip! Pour 5 oz pale lager, 5 oz ginger beer, and top off with a splash of ginger ale. Benefits? Beer has heart-attack fighting powers along with flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Not only do we love the zingy flavor, but ginger is also an impressive anti-inflammatory and a winner for treating car sickness, nausea and, let’s be honest, easing the pain of the occasional hangover.

Ty-Ku Iced Green Tea
Your spring break may be due for some Asian-infusion! Brew a pitcher of unsweetened green tea and pop it in the fridge to chill overnight. When it’s time for happy hour, fill a pint glass halfway with ice. Over the ice, pour 1 oz Ty-Ku Premium Liqueur and fill to the rim with your green tea. Garnish with a twist of lemon. Benefts? Ty-Ku is low sugar, low in calories and infused with superfruits like honeydew, mangosteen and goji berry. Although there may not be enough melon and goji berries to reap loads of antioxidant benefits, it certainly does make this sulfite-free liquer taste great. And, let’s not neglect green tea’s catechins that may help our bodies burn calories! A perfect cocktail for bathing-suit season. Can you say spring break superstar??

Strawberry-Watermelon Mint Mojito
Fruit Lovers, we did not forget about you. This drink requires minimal muddling. Layer the bottom of a pint glass with fresh mint leaves and cover to the half-way point with crushed ice. Take a spoon and crush the mint and ice together to release the flavor. Add ¼ cup sliced strawberries, ¼ cup cubed watermelon and mix in with ice. Pour 1 oz light rum over the fruity slush and top off the glass with club soda. Garnish with a bright, red strawberry. The benefits? Malic acid in the strawberries may help remove teeth discoloration – a fabulous perk when you have a tan – and you are still getting vitamin C and fiber even if your teeth don’t glow after imbibing! Bonus? The strong, refreshing aroma of mint can help ease nausea and headaches and promote smooth digestion.

Beyond Better Mango Pina Colada
This post would be missing something if we didn’t include this spring break staple. We have great news for you. You don’t need high-cal coconut to make a tasty Pina Colada! In a pint glass, toss in ½ cup soft, cubed pineapple chunks and fill the glass halfway with crushed ice. Pour 1 oz light rum and fill the remainder of the glass with Zico pure premium coconut water in their mango variety. Garnish with a pineapple wedge. The benefits? Zico coconut water has more potassium than a whole banana, supports rapid hydration and contains zero grams of fat or added sugar. Pineapple is also the only known source of bromelain, an enzyme whose anti-inflammatory properties may ease joint pain.

Spiced Sangria Soda
We thought it would be nice to spice up sangria! Start with 5 oz red wine, such as cabernet, as a base. Add ¼ cup sliced green apples and ¼ cup sliced peaches. Top with club soda for a refreshing pop of bubbles. Benefits? Red wine is known for the antioxidant resveratrol, but it can also help raise HDL (good) cholesterol. The fruits provide a variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and potassium. For a unique twist, add a dash of ground cinnamon, which is known to ease frustration, curb fatigue and increase alterness. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, add a dash of ground cloves which can contribute another healthy dose of antioxidant power to this cocktail.

Spring break is just around the corner and visions of sipping cocktails in the sun may already be playing in your mind. We have some thirst-quenching alcoholic treats to share that are lower in calories than the traditional varieties and spiked with a little antioxidant love. Sick of studying? Our cocktails are so simple that you can prepare them without using notes! And don’t worry, we have something here to please everyone’s alcohol palates.

Stormy Spring Beer
This is an offshoot of your traditional “dark & stormy” and here at Nutritious Life, we forecast this will be the only storm cloud rolling in this spring break, so soak up some rays while you sip! Pour 5 oz pale lager, 5 oz ginger beer, and top off with a splash of ginger ale. Benefits? Beer has heart-attack fighting powers along with flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Not only do we love the zingy flavor, but ginger is also an impressive anti-inflammatory and a winner for treating car sickness, nausea and, let’s be honest, easing the pain of the occasional hangover.

Ty-Ku Iced Green Tea
Your spring break may be due for some Asian-infusion! Brew a pitcher of unsweetened green tea and pop it in the fridge to chill overnight. When it’s time for happy hour, fill a pint glass halfway with ice. Over the ice, pour 1 oz Ty-Ku Premium Liqueur and fill to the rim with your green tea. Garnish with a twist of lemon. Benefts? Ty-Ku is low sugar, low in calories and infused with superfruits like honeydew, mangosteen and goji berry. Although there may not be enough melon and goji berries to reap loads of antioxidant benefits, it certainly does make this sulfite-free liquer taste great. And, let’s not neglect green tea’s catechins that may help our bodies burn calories! A perfect cocktail for bathing-suit season. Can you say spring break superstar??

Strawberry-Watermelon Mint Mojito
Fruit Lovers, we did not forget about you. This drink requires minimal muddling. Layer the bottom of a pint glass with fresh mint leaves and cover to the half-way point with crushed ice. Take a spoon and crush the mint and ice together to release the flavor. Add ¼ cup sliced strawberries, ¼ cup cubed watermelon and mix in with ice. Pour 1 oz light rum over the fruity slush and top off the glass with club soda. Garnish with a bright, red strawberry. The benefits? Malic acid in the strawberries may help remove teeth discoloration – a fabulous perk when you have a tan – and you are still getting vitamin C and fiber even if your teeth don’t glow after imbibing! Bonus? The strong, refreshing aroma of mint can help ease nausea and headaches and promote smooth digestion.

Beyond Better Mango Pina Colada
This post would be missing something if we didn’t include this spring break staple. We have great news for you. You don’t need high-cal coconut to make a tasty Pina Colada! In a pint glass, toss in ½ cup soft, cubed pineapple chunks and fill the glass halfway with crushed ice. Pour 1 oz light rum and fill the remainder of the glass with Zico pure premium coconut water in their mango variety. Garnish with a pineapple wedge. The benefits? Zico coconut water has more potassium than a whole banana, supports rapid hydration and contains zero grams of fat or added sugar. Pineapple is also the only known source of bromelain, an enzyme whose anti-inflammatory properties may ease joint pain.

Spiced Sangria Soda
We thought it would be nice to spice up sangria! Start with 5 oz red wine, such as cabernet, as a base. Add ¼ cup sliced green apples and ¼ cup sliced peaches. Top with club soda for a refreshing pop of bubbles. Benefits? Red wine is known for the antioxidant resveratrol, but it can also help raise HDL (good) cholesterol. The fruits provide a variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and potassium. For a unique twist, add a dash of ground cinnamon, which is known to ease frustration, curb fatigue and increase alterness. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, add a dash of ground cloves which can contribute another healthy dose of antioxidant power to this cocktail.

Even though the holidays are long behind us, you don’t need to put away the bubbly… Keep the celebrations going on February 14th with a couple flutes of champagne. Recent studies show that champagne can help protect against Alzheimer’s, stroke and Parkinson’s disease. So what’s the secret? Champagne contains polyphenols, antioxidants that work as anti-inflammatory power tools to protect brain cells.

NLT: No need to avoid champagne because of that dreaded morning hangover, a result of dehydration and vitamin depletion. Just don’t forget to drink a full glass of water for every glass of champagne…cheers!

Ingredients:

• 6 cups steeped green tea, cooled to room temperature
• 1 cup champagne
• 1 cup 100% cranberry juice
• 2 limes
• 1 red grapefruit
• 2 navel oranges

Directions:

1. Mix tea, champagne, and cranberry juice in a large pitcher or punch bowl.
2. Slice limes, grapefruit, and oranges into thin wedges.
3. Reserve one sliced orange for garnishing glasses.
4. Toss remaining fruit into tea mixture and stir.
5. Chill until ready to serve.

Makes 8 (1-cup) servings

Why we love this recipe:

There’s nothing better than mingling with friends and sipping on a delicious cocktail–especially when it’s packed with nutrients! Fresh orange and grapefruit provides a healthy dose of vitamin C to help ward off sniffles during the busy holiday season. These citrus superstars also contain a large amount of water to keep you hydrated and counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Bonus: ORAC-packed green tea kicks your metabolism into gear and may help you speed up your weight loss.

Go ahead and raise your glass to a healthy you!

Cheers!

In honor of Oktoberfest, let’s get down to beer basics. While this Munich-based festival is heavy on the booze, new studies show that beer (in moderation of course) might not be so bad after all. Research shows that silicon, an ingredient found in dark beer, promotes bone density by aiding in the absorption of calcium and minerals. Beer also contains polyphenols, the heart healthy antioxidant found in red wine.

NLT: It seems small waistlines have been on the mind of some major brewing companies
recently. Traditionally burdened with a bad rap, beer is making a come back with low-calorie
options. Go ahead, join the festivities! Indulge in one of these, guilt-free:

Budweiser Select 55-55 calories

MGD 63-64 calories

Guinness Draft-125 calories

Acidic foods, like that AM cup of coffee, can be especially difficult on the stomach. If you’re one of many with food intolerances, you’ve probably dealt with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to full-blown heartburn. Having tummy trouble, but can’t imagine a morning without your cup of Joe? We found the perfect product for your sensitive stomach! It’s called the Toddy, a cold brewing system that holds onto the fabulous coffee flavor while eliminating much of the dreaded acidity.

NLT: Not only is it a cheaper alternative to buying ‘coffeehouse’ coffee, it’s
smooth, delicious, and easier on your stomach. Use your Toddy to make
steaming hot or ice cold coffee. Refrigerate your brew for up to 14 days, and
serve it over ice, or re-heat it in the microwave and enjoy!

Whether you’re out for a night on the town or staying in, make your drink of choice a health-conscious indulgence. Go organic! While health may not be your number one priority when having a cocktail, think about this: organic spirits are less likely to have toxins, pesticides, and chemicals, and can even minimize a hangover. So next time you’re mixing or uncorking a bottle, go for an organic variety.

NLT: Wonder whether your alcohol of choice is offered organically? You’d be surprised how many varieties are available. Here are a few to try: Square One Organic Vodka, Casa Noble Tequila, and Loft Organic Liqueurs.

It’s hot, hot, hot out there! The expected high today in NYC is 103 F, the highest temperature in nine years! On days like today, everyone needs to be concerned about staying hydrated. I’ll be on LXTV tonight talking about just that – the best foods and best tips to keep you hydrated and healthy.

Fruits and veggies have a very high water content – incorporate some of these hydrating foods into your day – all day long:

• watermelon
• strawberries
• blueberries
• raspberries
• grapefruit
• melon (cantaloupe and honeydew)
• oranges
• apples
• kiwi

• tomatoes
• lettuce
• celery
• bok choy
• bell pepper
• cabbage
• spinach
• carrots

With the launch of ZICO’s new bottle, they unveiled their new “I AM NATURAL” campaign featuring Molly Sims on a billboard in downtown Manhattan! Molly Sims replaces the “I” in ZICO, to show that she is Natural (and a big fan of ZICO!)

How natural are you? I am so excited to be on ZICO’s expert panel to help select the most “Natural” New Yorker. New Yorkers have been invited to compete in local events to find the “Most Natural New Yorker.” The winner will replace Molly as the “I” in ZICO on the billboard during the month of August. The ZICO sponsored events include an indoor cycling event at Soulcycle, as well as a yoga event.  New Yorkers who enter will also have the chance to win prizes, including a free session with me :)

Check out more on Zico here: http://zico.com/.

Here I am with the natural beauty Molly Sims!
Enjoy!