ALCOHOL WITH THE LOWEST CALORIES
If you are trying to cut down on some weight and maintain a healthy diet, cutting down on alcoholic drinks especially those with high calories can boost your efforts.
Some alcoholic drinks are known to contain a lot of calories; empty calories per se that are (7 per gram versus 4 per gram for carbohydrate and protein) and few nutrients.
Low calories alcoholic drinks are considered very helpful when trying to decrease the number of calories you’re acquiring from alcohol.
The good news is that some alcoholic drinks can be lightened up if you know how to mix them. When trying to order alcohol in a bar or restaurant, it is important that all alcoholic drinks whether wine.
Liquor or beer are calorie dense but when mixed correctly, the calorie content can be lightened.
Many mixed drinks like cocktails contain a lot of juices, simple syrup, or liquor which all add extra calories to your drink. So when ordering a cocktail, keep it simple. Ask the bartender to skip the sugary syrups and go easy on mixers like juice.
A mixture of kombucha with vodka is highly recommended as kombucha has a very delicious apple- cider taste and half a bottle contains about 25 calories only.
PORTION SIZE OF ALCOHOL
Portion size is something you should also pay attention to. Know what a standard drink looks like. The sizes of alcoholic drinks at a bar or restaurant are often larger than the standard amount which looks like this;
- 12 ounces (355ml) of beer
- 5 ounces (145ml) of wine
- 5 ounces (45 ml or one-shot) of hard liquor
If you are served a drink larger than the standard size, skip a second glass or drink to cut down your calorie intake. At home, use smaller glasses to serve your alcoholic drinks.
IT IS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO EAT BEFORE YOU DRINK
When trying to cut down on calories, drinking on an empty stomach will get you feeling tipsy faster and this can make you drink more than you may have planned to.
Having some food before you drink will help your stomach absorb the alcohol slowly and will also help you cut down on the quantity of alcohol you will be taking.
Some studies have proved that people are prone to make poor food choices when drinking alcohol.
To avoid piling on the calories after a drink or two, eat some healthy snacks or eat a healthy meal when you get home like vegetables, fruits, and air-popped popcorn after drinking.
7 BEST ALCOHOLIC DRINKS WITH LOW CALORIES
- Vodka seltzer with lemon or lime
(97 calories per 1.5 oz)
If you are in the mood for hard alcohol. This is a perfect and healthy choice. There is a common misconception that tonic water is the same as seltzer water but tonic water actually contains a lot of calories and sugar than seltzer water which is just water with bubbles.
It is a good cocktail mixer because it contains zero artificial sweeteners or sugar plus the bubbles may slow you down so you don’t slam the drink.
Order for a shot of vodka with seltzer, squeeze in some lime or lemon to give the drink a healthy boost of flavor.
- Light Beer
(103 per 12 oz)
We are very familiar with the term “beer belly” given to people who see their weight increase after drinking beer regularly.
Beer is often thought to be the ultimate bloat- bringer but it may not be as bad as we thought. Research has proved that people who drank a moderate amount of beer had lower blood pressure than those who drank spirits and wine.
Beer contains calcium, magnesium, vitamin B, and selenium which is a very important antioxidant.
Beer provides the most volume for about the same total of calories and alcohol as wine and spirit meaning it takes longer to drink and therefore helps moderate total alcohol consumption.
- A glass of Pinot noir or Champagne
A glass of red wine preferably a pinot noir is highly recommended as it contains a high concentration of antioxidants including flavonoids, polyphenols, and resveratrol.
For champagne, a Peach Melba cocktail is recommended. This Melba cocktail is made from raspberries that are packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants and peach nectar for sweetness.
- A version of cosmopolitan with low-calorie content
This version is a raspberry-infused vodka, club soda, a splash of lime, and cranberry juice.
Although, fruit juice contains antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. They also contain a high amount of sugar which can add up to your drink. So a splash of cranberry juice will add flavor to your drink and also keep the calorie content in check.
- A toned down Mojito
Some places make mojito too sweet regardless of the mint and lime content. Get a sugarless mojito with extra lime. For extra sweetness, add a little amount of sugar.
- Silver tequila with soda and lime or a slice of orange
Silver tequila contains less sugar than brown tequila or other brown liquors. Preferably, skip the sugar mixes and drink it with no calorie club soda and add a splash of citrus for better flavor.
- White wine
121 calories per 5 oz
Dry white wine such as a sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio is more preferable as they have low sugar content. Riesling is a sweeter type of white wine but it contains more calories (close to 165 calories per serving).