High-carb culprits, low carb substitutes

The high-carb culprits
From eDiets

Had a bad day? Feeling tired and cross? Why not pep yourself up with a nice cup of zero-carb coffee doctored with just a dollop (or two or three) of a sweet coffee flavoring? Or hey, like the commercial says, how about letting one of those instant flavored international coffee mixes, like Suisse Mocha, whisk you away to another land?

Not so fast, thou would-be-virtuous low-carb dieter! You may think those beverages are harmless. But if you’re counting your carbs, a little cuppa’ll cost ya. To guide you on the path to righteous drinking, here are five sneaky high-carb beverages -- and five delicious, low-carb substitutes:

1. The high-carb culprit: That old-time favorite, lemonade. So you’re sitting in a restaurant, and you spy lemonade on the menu. Gee, that sounds tasty. And it’s gotta be low carb, you think. So you order a tall, frosty glass of sour-sweet lemonade, topped with a maraschino cherry and a pretty red straw. Stirring and sipping, you feel oh-so-happy that you didn’t succumb to the coffee milkshake. Well, kudos for skipping that high-carb milkshake -- but not so fast with the pats-on-the-back for the lemonade, my friend! Lemonade contains that high-carb ingredient: sugar, which is NOT on your diet. Drink water in the restaurant and promise yourself a treat later at home, thanks to...

The low-carb substitute: Wyler's Light Lemonade and Wyler's Light Pink Lemonade. They’re de-lightful, without any carbs and with just five calories per serving! A thirst-quenching refresher that’s so tasty, you won’t even miss the sugary kind.

2. The high-carb culprit: The standard coffee house beverage. Yes, we know, there’s a Starbucks or other coffee house on every corner these days. And who orders just a plain ol’ coffee anymore? Flavored coffees with chocolate and syrups are the typical order of the day, and ahhhh, those irresistible fragrances. Skip it (and save your money!). Instead, aim for home and...

The low-carb substitute: Brew-your-own coffee with a spoonful of sugar-free Da Vinci syrup, in a flavor like sugar-free White Chocolate or sugar-free Hazelnut. Luscious and (ta da!) zero carbs! Here’s to your health. We recommend: try the Da Vinci sugar-free sampler, so you can enjoy carb-free variety. Now who said dieting was difficult?

3. The high-carb culprit: Hot chocolate. So it’s Sunday morning, you’re lingering over the Sunday newspaper, and visions of hot chocolate with marshmallows are dancing in your trying-to-be-low-carb head. Not so fast!

The low-carb substitute: Whip out something that every low-carb dieter should keep on hand: one of the new sugar-free, low-carb flavored coffee drink mixes from General Foods International. The Suisse Mocha (my favorite) tastes like a combination of full-bodied coffee swirled with dark chocolate. And at 2 carbs a cupful, there’s no guilt!

4. The high-carb culprit: You’ve just worked out, and you hike yourself to the beverage bar at the gym and buy one of those sugary flavored waters in order to "compensate" for all that sweat. The bad news: sorry, Charlie, but you may have just gulped down more calories than you burned if you go for that bevvy! Wise up, and head for...

The low-carb substitute: New All Sport Zero is a no-carb, no-sugar, no-calorie thirst quencher that tastes fabulous! Flavors include Lemon Ice, Mixed Berry, Tangerine, and Fruit Punch. Fill a glass with ice, pour in the Tangerine All Sport Zero, and enjoy a deliciously good treat!

5. The high-carb culprit: regular soda. It’s a hot summer day, and a cold drink really sounds good. So you walk up to the soda dispenser at the office or the snack bar at the ballpark and ask for a Coke or a Sprite. Gulping down that fizzy, icy beverage just feels so great. Unfortunately, buddy-roo, you just mindlessly swallowed more carbs than your total day’s allowance, depending on the phase of your low-carb diet! Next time, go for...

The low-carb substitute: diet soda. Almost all vending machines and snack bars have diet soda options these days. And if you’re not sure whether diet soda will be available (for example, at a ball game or movie), pop a bottle of water or diet soda into a purse or knapsack for a just-in-case back-up beverage. That way, you’ll have no excuses!