Coming March 2016, True Bar

In response to guests' requests for more alcohol education and as a means to provide helpful tools for encountering everyday situations with alcohol, Hilton Head Health is adding a cozy bar to our dining room in March 2016.

Healthier Approaches to Alcohol

By the end of this month, True Bar will afford guests an opportunity for not only lectures and education on incorporating alcohol in a healthier, more manageable way into their lifestyle, but the ability to practice these healthier approaches while at H3. This idea of presenting guests with healthier choices and practices to take home has been one of our best strategies to help guests create and maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

Fresh Ingredients, No Added sugar

Our same portion control philosophy and moderate alcohol consumption guidelines will be in play as guests are able to choose drinks to complement their healthy, gourmet meals. Guests will enjoy house made cocktails using fresh ingredients without added sugar and excess calories during their stay.

 Check out the new photos below:

Staining the wood

 

It's almost complete!

Our barn door is up!

We can hardly believe True Bar is almost complete! Thanks to our amazing Maintenance Team. Final project photos coming soon!

Wine and Weight Loss

Today's post is from Laura McCann. You may have seen Laura while enjoying one your meals in the Palmetto Point Dining Hall or at a culinary experience in the Culinary Arts Center. Laura is Hilton Head Health's dining room manager and wine expert.

So you have done the hard work here at H3; Adam Martin and the rest of the fitness staff have put you through your paces and given you new workout techniques. Bob Wright has opened your eyes and enlightened you and given you new tools to handle your eating patterns. Chef Jen Welper and her crack staff of chefs have taught you that eating healthy can be delicious. Now you are headed home – home to face….. A bottle of wine!!!!!!
We know that “resolve dissolves with alcohol;” so how do you manage the real world? Should you give up a beautiful glass of wine with dinner? Will you ever have a glass of wine again? Of course you will, the question is how will you manage it? With a few tricks from a restaurant insider and a little focus you can have your wine and drink it too.
KNOW YOUR WINE PERSON – Find a local shop you like, frequent them often, let them know what you like to drink: sweet, tart, red, white, inexpensive, or a splurge. A good wine salesperson will send you into new and exciting directions; ones you didn’t even know existed.

PLAN- you are already planning out your menu for the week why not plan out what nights you will have some vino. Stop by your local wine merchant they can help you pair your meals with a great wine. And remember you have already spent a lot of time, money and effort, you are worth a good bottle of wine; don’t skimp on yourself!!!

MEASURE – Get a measuring cup; use your measuring cup; learn what 3 oz look like. If you pour 3oz at a time it slows down your drinking. Calories per pour vary depending on the wine but you can’t go wrong with tricking yourself into thinking you’re drinking more than you actually are. Be as thoughtful about what you are drinking as what you are eating. If you take the time to really appreciate what is in your glass, the smell, color, the flavors on your tongue, you will be too busy appreciating the quality to miss the quantity.

GOING OUT - A little secret from a restaurant professional – you can order half a glass of wine!!!!! All you have to do is ask. Restaurants allow it because they can then sell higher end wines at reasonable prices; also, a restaurant would rather have some of your money than none at all. So that means you can have 3oz of white with a salad or during cocktails and 3oz of red with a grilled filet and steamed veggies – it’s the best of both worlds. This also allows you to explore more wines at half the price.
So now what do you drink this summer? Here are some of my recommendations for the summer porch sipping:

• Rose – no, not wine zin; these wines are crisp, clean, with hints of berry fruits that are evocative of summer.


• Crisp whites – perfect with seafood and summer’s lighter fare; again, ask for advice from your favorite, local wine merchant they will introduce you to some delicious treats. My top three picks; Altadonna, Grillo, Sicily, crisp and a bit salty; Hughes Bealieu, Picpoul, Langudoc refreshing and delicious; Pierre Boniface, Apremont, Savoy, like sipping on springtime daffodils. Plus, the often lower alcohol content of these wines can mean a lower calorie level.


• Big Bold Reds – perfect with smokey bbq; a great wine can always help turn the most humble fare into a work of art. My summer favs; Susanna Balbo Malbec, Argentina, big and juicy. Immortal Zinfandel, California, dark and smokey; Bozzanti Chianti, Italy, rustic and uncomplicated.


• Moscato d’Asti - a dessert wine that is like drinking in a lowcountry evening – all peaches and intoxicating jasmine; a great dessert.

So cheers and enjoy!!!!!

Managing Social Drinking

One challenge to weight loss or weight management that our guests frequently bring up is pressure to drink at social gatherings. The pressure is either direct, with friends or family offering you a drink, or indirect when you feel tempted to drink while being around others who are drinking. It’s important to strategize how to handle these situations because calories associated with alcohol add up fast. Just one 4oz cocktail averages 175 calories and a 5oz glass of wine has 100 calories.

When trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, unmonitored social drinking is one of the fastest ways to get derailed. With that said, a good plan and a few tips allow you to enjoy time with friends without alcohol taking center stage.

1. Before you go out, ask yourself how you want to feel when the afternoon or evening is over. Connect with your personal intentions. It creates an acknowledged expectation for yourself.


2. Before going out, calculate the possible calories from the drinks you intend on having. That way, the numbers are in your head and drinking more than desired will require you to recalculate. It’s a simple mind trick that helps.


3. In the event that someone offers you a drink, and you previously had decided to abstain or reached your limit, say “no thanks” without hesitation. Be simple and firm with your response. Don’t use long explanations that prolong the conversation because this often increases social pressure. Also, look people directly in the eyes when declining a drink.


4. Have non-alcoholic drinks always in hand if you're abstaining or as "drink spacers" between drinks if you want to limit the amount you drink.


5. Keep track of every drink if you're cutting back so you stay within your limits. Bring a food journal and write down each time you have a drink. This will force you to stay accountable.


6. Ask for support from others to cope with temptation. Let them know that you are cutting back the alcohol for health reasons and you could use support in your efforts.


7. Plan an escape if the temptation gets too great. Remember, your environment can be a powerful determining factor in your success. Sometimes, it’s necessary to change your environment to stay on track.


8. Focus on the conversation at social events. Being an active listener takes effort and moves the emphasis of the evening away from alcohol consumption.


9. If your social circle hosts a lot of alcohol-related events, suggest planning other events on occasion that do not involve alcohol.

Cheers to a New Year

Just a quick reminder as we ring in the New Year – celebrate responsibly!  Here at Hilton Head Health, we recommend that you drink in moderation or not at all.  Actually, many health experts have said that having one drink a day can help decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.  A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. 

Even though there are healthful benefits of raising your glass, there are a few things to remember:

• Alcohol is basically empty calories.  Some alcoholic beverages have a pretty high calorie count (especially mixed drinks) and hold no real nutritional value.  So, if you are trying to lose weight, you may see how this may stand in the way of reaching your end goal.  A 5 ounce glass of champagne is roughly 100 calories!


• A good party tip is to alternate your drinks with water.  Not only will this help deter you from a second drink, it will also help keep you hydrated.  (Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes water loss and dehydration.)


• Alcohol not only lowers your inhibitions, it also stimulates your appetite.  After a few drinks, you may not be able to make the best decisions, which could result in making poor food choices or overeating.  Another favorite from our Director of Lifestyle Education Bob Wright, “Resolve dissolves in alcohol!”


• Few medical experts, if any, advise nondrinkers to start drinking for health benefits. But if you do drink and you’re healthy, there’s no need to stop as long as you drink responsibly and in moderation.

Finally, if you are going to be drinking, be sure to have a designated driver.  Have a safe and healthy New Year from your friends at Hilton Head Health!

In case you were wondering, see the calories for many of your favorite alcoholic beverages below:

Beverage	Serving Size (ounces)	Calories
Regular Beer	12	150
Light Beer	12	110
Distilled (80 proof) Gin, rum, vodka, whisky, tequila	1.5	100
Distilled (80 proof) Brandy, cognac	1.5	100
Distilled (80 proof) Liquers	1.5	190
Red Wine	5	100
White Wine	5	95
Champagne	5	100
Martini	6	240
Manhattan	6	280
Daiquiri	6	240
Whiskey Sour	6	240
Margarita Cocktail	6	280

Alcohol: It's all about moderation

Every Monday, we hold a ‘mock-tail’ party before dinner.  It’s a chance for the guests to meet staff members while sipping on a freshly made drink – showcasing that you can make ‘best’ choices when deciding to indulge in a fruity cocktail.  (PS – our happy hour is alcohol free!)

 

Yesterday, I met a guest who was very interested in the calorie counts of all of the different alcohols.  Not having a chance to attend the Alcohol and Weight Control seminar, we took a guess at a few of the most popular drinks of choice.  Calorie counts aside, alcohol is not good for you in mass quantities, however it is perfectly fine to enjoy a glass of wine, cold beer or even a mixed drink occasionally and moderately.  Actually, many health experts have said that having one drink a day can help decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. (A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)

 

Even though there are healthful benefits of enjoying a cocktail at happy hour, there are a few things to remember:

 

- Alcohol is basically empty calories.  Some alcoholic beverages have a pretty high calorie count (especially mixed drinks) and hold no real nutritional value.  So, if you are trying to lose weight, you may see how these types of calories will stand in the way of reaching your end goal.

 

- A good party tip is to alternate your drinks with water.  Not only will this help deter you from a second drink, it will also help keep you hydrated.  (Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes water loss and dehydration.)

 

- Alcohol not only lowers your inhibitions, it also stimulates your appetite.  After a few drinks, you may not be able to make the best decisions, which could result in making poor food choices or overeating. 

 

-  Few medical experts, if any, advise nondrinkers to start drinking for health benefits. But if you do drink and you're healthy, there's no need to stop as long as you drink responsibly and in moderation.

 

Read on to find out the calories in the average alcoholic drink.