Summer is a time for cold, refreshing drinks of all kinds. Great for hydration, right? But what are these liquid calories doing to our waistlines? That's the topic of my Today Show segment, a fun nutrition game with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford.

What's your summer drink IQ? Play along with us!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

QUESTION 1:
What has more calories?

• A glass of sangria
• A glass of beer

QUESTION 2:
How many wine spritzers does it take to equal the calories in a 16 ounce frozen margarita?

QUESTION 3:
How many calories do you save if you use diet tonic water for your gin and tonic, instead of regular tonic water?

QUESTION 4:
A large vanilla milkshake has the same amount of fat as an order of:

• Medium French fries
• Large French fries
• Extra large French fries

QUESTION 5: A large vanilla milkshake has:

• 600 calories
• 800 calories
• 1000 calories

QUESTION 6: How many packets of sugar are in a 32 ounce (Big Gulp) soda?

QUESTION 7: How many calories does a 16 ounce smoothie have?

• Less than 250
• More than 250

CONTINUE READING FOR THE ANSWERS

Who doesn't love carnival food? It's one of the most fun parts of summer eating! Carnival foods are not off limits, and you can happily indulge a bit for a special occasion, if you choose, and still remain committed to your personal weight control plan. Sharing also automatically cuts the calories in half, or more!

As you all know, I am a big fan of being an "informed eater".. So, I've planned a carnival food nutrition game, to both entertain and inform. 

Watch the segment from TODAY

QUESTION 1: How many calories does a typical soft pretzel have?

• 200 calories
• 500 calories
• 750 calories

QUESTION 2: How many grams of fat does this churro have?

• More than 20 grams of fat
• Less than 20 grams of fat

QUESTION 3: Which has less calories?

• Regular Popcorn
• Caramel Popcorn

QUESTION 4: How many teaspoons of sugar are in a candy apple?

• 10 teaspoons
• 20 teaspoons
• 30 teaspoons

QUESTION 5: How many pats of butter equal the fat in this bag of nuts?

• 25
• 40
• 65

QUESTION 6: How much cholesterol is in this bag of nuts?

• 200
• 100
• 50
• 0

QUESTION 7: How many miles would you have to walk in order to walk off the calories in a funnel cake?

• 3 miles
• 5 miles
• 7 miles

QUESTION 8: What has fewer calories?

• A corn dog on a stick
• A chili cheese dog

QUESTION 9: How many calories are in a typical order of cheese fries?

• 400 calories
• 600 calories
• 800 calories

Continue reading to see the answers!

Salad is the best choice when you're trying to save calories, right? I give you a qualified "yes". While salad greens are the basis of a calorie controlled meal, a variety of adds ons can contribute loads of extra calories and fat. Let's find out the truth about salads.

Watch the segment from TODAY

Here's a quiz to test your salad IQ:

QUESTION 1: Which has more calories?

• Taco Bell salad in a tortilla shell
• 2 chili dogs

QUESTION 2: Which of these 5-ounce salad proteins has the lowest amount of calories?

• Cheese
• Egg
• Ham
• Tofu
• Turkey

QUESTION 3: Which of these salad toppings has the most calories?

• Sunflower seeds
• Bacon Bits

QUESTION 4: Which of these salad dressings have the highest calories (1/4 cup each)?

• Balsamic vinaigrette
• Blue cheese
• Fat-free ranch
• Lite French

BONUS QUESTION: Which of these salad favorites is less than 100 calories per serving?

• 1/2 Small sliced avocado
• 1/3 Cup craisins
• 1 oz chopped walnuts
• None of the above

Continue reading to find out the answers!

Do you know what your partner likes to eat? Are you the same type of eater, or total opposites? That's the topic of my Today Show segment. It's a fun segment with a real-life couple - Kathie Lee Gifford and her husband, football legend Frank Gifford.

Kathie Lee and Frank will compete in a game testing their nutrition knowledge on a variety of foods that they both like to eat. From cocktails to dessert, we'll see how well this long-married couple knows each others eating habits.

Watch the segment from TODAY

Play along by answering these questions...

QUESTION 1: Which fish has the highest mercury content and should be avoided?

1. Swordfish
2. Salmon
3. Shrimp
4. Catfish

QUESTION 2: How many pieces of bacon would it take to equal the calories of a cheeseburger on a buttered bun?

1. 10
2. 15
3. 20

QUESTION 3: Which of these drinks has the fewest calories?

1. California chardonnay
2. Italian chianti
3. Vodka on the rocks

QUESTION 4: For the same serving size of tiramisu and cheesecake, which one has less fat?

QUESTION 5: A large bakery sugar cookie and 6 oz of rice pudding have the same calories, but which one has more fat?

QUESTION 6: How many pints of Breyers ice cream is equivalent to the fat in a bowl of fettuccine alfredo?

1. One
2. Two
3. Three

QUESTION 7: Which of these candies are under 100 calories per serving?

1. Tootsie Rolls
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Continue reading for the answers!

Fast food gets a bad rap from us nutritionists—and with good reason. Many (but not all!) choices are loaded with fat, calories, and salt, usually in giant portions. But, "fast food" doesn't have to mean "fat food". With some healthier add ins, smart deletions, and portion control, you can enjoy the convenience and fun of fast foods without expanding your waistline, raising your blood pressure, or clogging your arteries.

That's the topic of a fun Today Show segment with Hoda and Kathie Lee. You'll find some eye-popping information about fast foods of all kinds. From burgers to chicken, salads to tacos, sandwiches to pizza, we'll be comparing the most popular foods from fast food eateries. You'll get some good tips on how to eat when in a fast food restaurant, and not derail healthy eating.

Watch the segment from TODAY
Here's the truth about fast food quiz:

Which is worse? French fries or onion rings?

• French fries: 360 cals, 20g fat
• Onion rings: 300 cals, 15g fat

What is the best drink to get at a fast food restaurant?

• Small milkshake: 420 cals
• Large regular soda: 310 cals

When it comes to fat grams, here’s the ranking from the healthier option to the most fattening:

1. Large chili and crackers: 9g fat
2. Kids meal hamburger/fries: 22g fat
3. Small meatball sub: 24g fat
4. Extra crispy chicken breast: 28g fat

Here’s the ranking of 4 items with calories in mind, from the best to the worst:

1. Grilled steak taco: 260 cals
2. Asian chicken salad: 380 cals
3. Turkey sub: 560 cals
4. Mini cheese pizza: 620 cals

So what is the best option out there when it comes to fast food? Here are some tips:

• When in doubt, avoid anything fried
• Go for thin crust pizza light on cheese and toppings
• Grilled chicken is a better choice, skip sauces
• Skip desserts
• Drinks: go for diet soda or water

What's your view of fast food? I'd love to hear your opinions - pro and con!

More from Madelyn Fernstrom:

• Test your caffeine smarts
• Are liquid calories packing on the pounds?
• Calorie counts on fast food menus

Confused about all the caffeine information out there?

Is decaf coffee really caffeine free? Does espresso have more caffeine than regular coffee? What about the caffeine in soda? How about other foods?

I challenged TODAY's Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford to take some "caffeine quizzes" to test their caffeine I.Q.

Watch the segment from TODAY

Read on to see the quiz answers for yourself and to see how much you really know about caffeine. Do the answers surprise you?

Post a comment and let me know your thoughts.