Low Calorie Alcohol Options

Carrying a diet into the weekend is not an activity a friend would wish on you.

 Like everyone else, you look forward to letting your hair down and partying hard after a long and strenuous work week. And what is a party without appetizing snacks and alcoholic drinks?

Invisible Calories

While anyone can 'see' the calories in a chocolate cake, alcohol seems harmless. But don’t get fooled by the watery façade. One pint of beer has 182 calories; a glass of medium white wine or champagne has 95 calories. An easy rule to remember is that the higher the alcohol content, the higher the number of calories. For example, one ounce of 80-proof Vodka has 64 calories while one ounce of 100-proof Vodka has 94 calories.

And while only a small percentage of alcohol calories gets directly stored as fat, a majority of the alcohol gets converted to acetate, which, in turn, replaces fat as an energy source. So, acetate gets burned to provide energy instead of fat. And you can plainly see how counterproductive that is.

And, alcohol is a potent appetite stimulant. It has been found that men tend to eat more if they are served food with the accompaniment of alcohol. When drunk, you will grab anything to satiate your hunger without any memory, or concern for for dietary restrictions.

The Tipping Point

Here are five tips to help you enjoy your Friday night bash  without compromising your diet.

• Make the right choice – drink wine, beer and simple cocktails. Wine and light beers have the lowest calorie counts. If you are a cocktail aficionado, try and keep them simple. Don’t go for a chocolate martini (438 calories); try a sour apple martini (148 calories) instead.
• Alternate your drinks – alcoholic beverage followed by a non-alcoholic one. Not only will you consume fewer calories, the hydration will stave off a hangover.
• Mix cocktails with low calorie mixers, like water, diet soda, light orange juice or lemonade and lemon juice. Cocktails can be very potent. 6 oz of Pina Colada is loaded with 378 calories.
• Avoid the mixer. Try flavored alcohol instead.
• Follow a plan. Decide how many cocktails you are planning on having. Stretch the number to last through the party. 

If you are the kind who doesn’t believe in sacrificing the buzz to win the battle of the bulge, don’t lose heart. If cocktails do it for you, choose the right mix. Your choice of the mixer decides what the final calorie count of your drink is going to be. Here are some low calorie alcoholic drinks for your Friday night party-on-a-diet.

Vodka Cranberry

This drink is also known as the CapeCodder. Cranberry juice is high in calories. Substitute it with diet cranberry juice you have only 140 calories. The cranberry juice will give you the added benefit of flushing the alcohol out of your system.

Gin and Tonic

Thirsting for a Tom Collins? Remember, that’s 208 calories. Substitute the sour mix and club soda with diet tonic and you are down to 100 calories.

Mojito

You made the right choice by opting for a mojito over a margarita. That’s a saving of close to 132 calories. But you can do better. Use sugar substitutes, like Sugarfree, instead of sugar and make sure the bartender pours fresh lime juice to mix it. Need an added benefit? Mint and lime juice are rich in anti-oxidants.

Watermelon Martini

While most other martinis are loaded with sugar and calories, this delicious cocktail has only 105 calories. Concocted with vodka, simple syrup and pureed watermelon, this drink is popular among the weight watchers.

Light beer and White Wine

The lighter the beer, the lower the calories it packs. Sure, an ultra light beer may taste like beer flavored water. But think about the calories you are saving. A pint of most light beers clock around 96 calories. A glass of white wine comes a close second, at 100-120 calories. Don’t let your diet restrictions ruin your weekend of R and R. Drink judiciously and keep your wits about you. A diet is no reason to miss all the fun.