Day 16 - Appetizers are your friend!

New Year's is just around the corner and we're all thinking about what we're going to do on or after the big day. I'm personally hoping for a whole lotta joy on the day and very little searching for lost clothing on the day after. With that in mind, let's talk cocktails! As someone with PCOS, it is recommended you follow a Diabetic-friendly, low-GI/No gluten diet. If you read the diabetic idea of a cocktail, it is tap water with a sliver of lemon in it or preferably an onion. That just does not work for me. So! Here are some things you can do to enjoy a few libations at the last party of the year:

 1. Rum is not a good choice. It really just isn't. There are all kinds of alcohol sugars in it and very few ways around it. If you must have rum, pair it with a diet drink *gag* or soda water. Finding a better libation might be the best option if those don't sound good.

 2. Wine, though a good choice, is only as good as its sugar content. Dry wines will be your best bet. Also, in your worship of the grape, dilution might be a good bet. I know it might not sound like fun, but you can be the ultimate wino this way. Think how many glasses you can have without being drunk, much to the awe and wonder of your friends. You may end up Queen of the ball with all others on the floor worshiping your greatness! Amazon and Wine.com have some good reds if you want to look through: Quintessential Reds Wine Gift Collection

 3. Avoid mixed drinks that come out of a pre-mix bottle. They are LOADED with sugar. The simpler the drink, the less chances you have of ingesting enough sugar to make a 3-snickers a day person say, "Whoa, I've had enough!"

 4. When possible, if you want a "sweet" edge to your drink, go for the natural stuff. Stay away from fruit juices that have "cocktail" in the title because it means you are basically getting a blind mash of fruit varieties, syrups and sugar. Apparently the cocktail part of it comes from the guy who got drunk before throwing random items in the blender to make the "juice".

 5. Find the savory drinks. The first one that comes to mind is a Bloody Mary. If it is made well, you get good-quality tomato juice (like V8), vodka and Tobasco with a nice side of celery or similar to stir. As long as it didn't come from a pre-mix (Bad! Bad! Bad!), you should be pretty okay on this one.

 Lastly: 6. Appetizers are your friend. I'm not talking the deep-fried-onion-ring-cheese-doodle-twinkies, here. I'm talking cheese cubes, sausage, corn chips and fresh salsa. When you are going to imbibe, make sure you have food in your stomach. If you are going out, eat a healthy meal filled with protein before you go. If you are going to a friend's house, do not pass on all the appetizers or snacks (just make good choices). Yes, bread is filling but it isn't the best choice. Go for the cheese and meat (and get your mind out of the gutter)!

 One more word to the wise: avoid the stuff heavy on the onions, garlic or hot sauce if you want that midnight kiss. Or, better yet, make sure your kissee/kisser has had plenty of the same so neither one of you notices when the big ball drops and the drunken mouths meet. More to come this week with maybe a few sneaky drink recipes or appetizers you can serve.

 ** I am not a medical professional. I cannot diagnose or treat any problems from this syndrome, I am simply a sufferer like you who does internet and book research and shares my findings. I do not endorse getting drunk and/or having a clothing scavenger hunt and/or dancing naked to entice your midnight kiss. I simply seek to share the information I find and offer a place for you to share your efforts/ideas. I take no responsibility for your decision to attempt naked Twister or that a lemonade pitcher is your drink glass of choice. **