Be mindful of cocktails’ high-calorie count

Tall and slender. Bubbly and bright. Luscious and cool. Ah, the temptations of cocktail hour.

From retro whiskey sours and Kir royals to trendy pomegranate martinis and green tea-infused vodkas, the clever concoctions created by bartenders can entice you long before the dinner menu hits the table. The hospitable greeting, “Would you like to start with a drink?” introduces the first challenge to diners.

Here’s how to do the metabolic math on alcohol: The standard 1-ounce serving of 80-proof alcohol has 96 calories before you add any mixers. And whether you’re drinking a beer or a bellini, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories. For example, an ounce of 80-proof vodka (40 percent alcohol, the most common) is 64 calories, and an ounce of 100-proof vodka (50 percent alcohol) is 82 calories.

And it’s real easy to overdo it with alcohol calories. Here’s why: 1 gram of alcohol has 7 calories. Compare that to 1 gram of fat, which has 9 calories. So even though you won’t find the number of grams of alcohol per ounce on a wine list, you get the idea that alcohol is a pretty concentrated source of calories.

Green tea’s good, right?

The restaurant’s bar often isn’t far from the kitchen these days, and modern mixologists are borrowing from popular culinary trends. Enter the pomegranate martini. Sure, pomegranate juice is super high in anti-oxidants, and research shows that the kind of nutrients it contains can be heart-healthy. But most studies looked at the effects of 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day for 45 days, not eight drops in a martini on a Friday night. Same goes for green tea-infused vodkas or other concoctions including green tea in the recipe. There’s generally not enough to pack a health-promoting punch. It’s a cocktail, not a cure.

Dessert in disguise

Frozen strawberry pina coladas and Key lime pie martinis served with graham cracker cookie crumbs on the rim are creamy, delicious and loaded with calories. If you must imbibe, say hello to your liquid dessert and goodbye to any other splurge items on the menu. If you want to end the meal with a sweet drink, order a small (1-ounce) after-dinner liqueur such as Grand Marnier or amaretto over ice and sip slowly for 120 calories.

SLENDER SIPPING CLUB

These beverages are 200 calories or less.

> Martini (2 ounces), 160 calories.

> Port wine (3 ounces), 128 calories.

> Bloody Mary (5 ounces), 118 calories. Watch the sodium, though.

> Red wine (5 ounces), 120 calories.

> White wine (5 ounces), 120 calories.

> Champagne, cava, prosecco or other methode champenoise wine (5 ounces), 106 to 120 calories.

> Wine spritzer with sparkling water (5 ounces), 100 calories.

> Spiced cider with rum (8 ounces), 150 calories.

> Vodka, gin or rum and tonic (8 ounces), 200 calories. Order with diet tonic or club soda and save 100 calories.

> Screwdriver (8 ounces), 190 calories. Sub half of orange juice with club soda and cut 50 calories.

> Mimosa (5 ounces), 100 calories.

BOTTOM’S UP?

400-plus calorie splurge club: The fat in the cream ups calorie counts.

> Pina colada (5 ounces), chocolate martini (5 ounces), white Russian (5 ounces),

> Eggnog with rum (8 ounces), hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps (8 ounces).

300-plus calorie caution club: The sugar in the mix drives up calories.

> Mojito (8 ounces), margarita (8 ounces), whiskey sour (8 ounces), mai tai (6 ounces), cosmopolitan (5 ounces), coffee or chocolate liqueur (4 ounces).

Carolyn O’Neil is a registered dietitian and co-author of “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!” E-mail her at carolyn@carolynoneil.com.