What’s the lowest calorie alcohol?
It’s natural to want to unwind with a drink at the end of a long day, particularly if you’ve had one of those days. While there’s no shame in that, it’s easy to lose track of the liquid calories you’re consuming.
Unfortunately, they may quickly pile up, especially if you drink frequently. And before you know it, you’ve ruined your own healthy eating plan.
“Alcohol calories may quickly pile up,” says Christy Brissette, MS, RD, owner of 80 Twenty Nutrition. “Alcohol doesn’t supply nutrients or fill you up, so these calories are generally in addition to what you’re already eating and drinking.” Drinking can also make you feel less constrained, making you more prone to overeat, according to her.
Pared-Down Margarita
Margaritas can be high in calories due to the usage of sugar and triple sec. Brissette adds that pre-made mixers might be problematic owing to their high sugar content. She suggests using fresh lime juice, tequila, and a splash of agave syrup on the rocks to get around this. “You’ll keep your sugar and calorie intake in check,” she explains.
Do you want to add some vitamins and minerals to the mix? Cynthia Sass, RD, contributing nutrition editor at Health, suggests drinking avocado, mango, or orange juice to get a hefty dose of vital vitamins and minerals that can help prevent wrinkles and cancer.
Gin and tonic
A gin and tonic is a traditional combo, but each glass may contain up to 142 calories. Why? According to Sass, tonic water is typically manufactured with high-fructose corn syrup, the same sweetener used in cola, and a 12-ounce can of tonic includes eight teaspoons of added sugar. Then there’s seltzer.
“Adding seltzer to a drink is usually a good decision because it has no calories and no sugar,” Gans explains. With a G&S, you may enjoy the same fizzy sensation and gin flavor without the extra calories.
Red wine
Yes, a healthy lifestyle may include limited amounts of alcohol, including red wine. But are you undermining yourself by pouring too much? According to Sass, it’s all too simple and usual to drink too much.
However, keeping to the recommended serving size of 5 ounces and drinking only one glass of wine at a time can help you stay within your calorie budget. “In terms of calories, it’s an excellent decision,” Warren adds. According to Brissette, here’s a pro tip: Dry varietals such as sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir are ideal. She points out that they are lower in sugar and calories.
Martini
According to Gans, portions are important here, just because they are wine. “A standard vodka or gin martini has roughly 120 calories,” she explains, “but that is if only a single shot of alcohol and around 1/3 ounce of vermouth are used.”
While martinis are known for their strength, Brissette believes that this might be a beneficial thing in terms of calories. “It’s likely that you’ll sip a stronger cocktail more slowly than a sweeter drink made with juice or syrup,” she explains. She advises adding a squeeze of lemon to impart a zesty flavor or making your drink filthy with a splash of olive juice—it only adds approximately five calories to the mix.
White wine
A glass of chilled white wine can be totally refreshing during this hectic time of year, but pick the type you sip on carefully. Dry white wines, such as a sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, tend to have lower sugar content, which translates to fewer calories, Suss says. Sweeter varieties like Riesling could have closer to 165 calories per serving.
And, again, serving size matters. You want to strive for five ounces which, Gans points out, is “a smaller pour than most of us do.”
