Skinny lattes, skinny jeans…now here come the skinny cocktails to add to the list. The well-known chain of The Cheesecake Factory has just announced the addition of a skinny cocktail list soon to be gracing their menu. The drink options will not be cutting back on the size or alcohol content of the beverages, but rather the calorie and sugar content of the mixers in them. They will be adding some sweeteners like sucralose and some natural sweeteners such as stevia, honey, etc. to the mix to cut back on the calories, but still keep the flavor. This will cut down the average calorie count for their drinks from roughly 300 to now about 150 calories per cocktail.

While I do think that cutting back on the calories and sugar content for drinks is wise, since many dieters still want to have a nice quality of life and enjoy a drink every once in a while, consumers still need to remember portion control. Just because the cocktails are now lower calorie amounts, does not justify having two or three of them (adding right back up to 300 or 500 calories). Also, be prepared to encounter high calorie appetizers, meal items and of course cheesecake too. A 150 calorie cocktail added onto a 1000 calorie appetizer, 800 calorie meal and 1200 calorie slice of cheesecake is not still a ‘skinny’ option! Even choosing all items from the weight conscious menu will not get you at a normal calorie count for a meal, as seen below.

Beverage: 150 calorie skinny cocktail
Appetizer: Fire Roasted Fresh Artichoke – 1028 calories
Main Course: Weight Management Pear and Endive Salad – 574 calories
Dessert: Low Carb Original Cheesecake sweetened with Splenda – 570 calories
Total: 2322 calorie outing!

Lower Calorie Cheesecake Factory Outing:
Beverage: 150 calorie skinny cocktail or water for zero calories
Appetizer: Ahi Carpaccio – 260 calories
Main Course: Simply Grilled Salmon – 484 calories OR 1/2 Turkey Sandwich with Mixed Greens – 525 calories OR Grilled Mahi with Green Beans – 522 calories
Dessert: Peach Smoothie – 199 calories OR Goblet of Strawberries – 108 calories

Jessica Hummel, Nutrition Counselor