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How to Drink Smarter

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on December 3, 2013

If you’re one of those who forgets how quickly the calories can add up in alcoholic beverages, you might want to pay attention this holiday season.  A few high-calorie drinks can mean an extra 500 calories or more. Think of it this way: a cheeseburger and fries is about 500 calories. Between appetizers, a meal, dessert and a few drinks, you may take in close to 1,500 calories ( a day’s worth) in just a few hours. One or two parties during the holiday may not affect  your weight, but it can if you party frequently.

It’s also important to keep in mind that not all drinks are made equally in terms of caloric content. We’re going to give you some of the best and worst picks of the holiday season.

Best picks:

Champagne, 4 oz: 85 calories
Vodka and diet soda or flavored carbonated water: less than 100 calories
Gin and diet tonic: 35 calories
Rum and diet coke: about 70 calories
Lite beer: 95 calories
Wine: about 100 calories
Margarita, plain: about 100 calories
Manhattan: about 128 calories

Best to Limit:

Vodka and regular soda: 200 calories
Chocolate martini: about 400 calories
Egg nog: about 250 to 300 calories
Daiquiri, canned: about  250 calories
Whiskey sour, canned: about  250 calories
Pina colada, canned: about 500 calories
Red Bull and vodka: about 300 calories
Rum and coke: about 200 calories

Need to work off some calories?
To burn 135 calories, you’ll need to walk about 37 minutes, jog 15 minutes or cycle for  21 minutes.

Also remember that when you drink more, you will likely eat more! It’s much easier to give in to those food cravings when you’re under the influence. This is another reason why so many people put on pounds during the holiday season.

For more info, check out the alcohol chapter in our book.