8 Best Alcoholic Drinks While on a Diet
Weight loss plans typically include consuming low-calorie foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean protein and raw nuts and needs, in combination with perhaps only water or tea. It’s easy to get bored with the classic fat-burn recommendations, especially when it comes to drinks. But, did you know that you can actually spice up your weight loss plan by incorporating 100-calorie alcoholic drinks in your diet? Here are
our top 8 alcoholic drinks that won’t sabotage your diet plan:
- Champagne
It’s time to celebrate your life-changing weight loss journey with a glass of Skinny Rose, a pink champagne produced by G. Tribaut, which surprisingly contains only 50 calories per 125-mL flute. Blend it with some of your favorite berries and crushed ice and voila, you have the Instagram-famous “frose”, boasting only around 100 to 120 calories.
2. Light Beer
A can or bottle of light beer boasts only 60 to 110 calories, compared to a regular beer that normally contains 200 to 210 calories. Some women on weight loss diet prefer Bud Select 55, which only contains 55 calories. And here’s the deal: a side from keeping you in check with your calorie restriction, occasional consumption of light beer can be beneficial in reducing your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Some research studies also show that light beer can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. In case you get bored of the light flavor of light beers, you can opt for half a pint of the dark beer Guiness, which will give you only 125 calories in exchange for deeper and more complex flavors.
3. Vodka Soda
An ounce of vodka, which only contains 65 calories, plus 2 to 4 ounces of soda water make up this simple yet amazing summery cocktail. This low-calorie alcoholic drink actually gives you a lot of room for additional ingredients to make it more interesting. Simply add no more than half an ounce (3 teaspoons) of pineapple juice, lime juice, or orange juice, and you’ll have a fruity cocktail that is 100% guilt-free. For instance, try Cosmopolitan Martini made from 1 1/2 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of low-calorie cranberry juice, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and crushed ice.
4. Red Wine
There are lots of low-calorie red wine products nowadays, which boast only 120 calories per 5-ounce glass. The rule of thumb for choosing the right red wine is the same as with other alcoholic beverages in this list – stick to the ones that contain the lowest sugar content. For instance, a glass of Merlot has about 10 calories less than Chianti, which is a relatively sweeter red wine. Other great options include Bordeaux (118 calories), Cabernet Sauvignon (119 calories), and Pinot Noir (122 calories). For a twist, enjoying a glass of mulled wine, a 115-calorie beverage that is made of red wine, ginger, orange peel, lemon peel, honey, and cloves.
5. Gin
Gin is a flexible alcoholic drink that has zero carbs. An awesome low-calorie gin cocktail is gin martini, which is only around 130 calories per serving. To create this, simply mix half an ounce of dry vermouth with 1 ½ ounces of gin in a cocktail shaker, add lots of ice, shake well, and serve with two pieces of olives in
a glass. Another gin-based drink is the refreshing Basil Smash, which is a 100-calorie herbal alcoholic beverage that mixes lemon juice, basil leaves, gin, and sugar-free sweetener.
6. Diet Cuba Libre or Mojito
This carb-free alcoholic beverage is sure to complete your night. Instead of using a regular coke, go for Diet Coke or even Coke Zero to cut down on both calories and sugar. Containing a maximum of only 97 calories, your rum and diet coke drink is an easy-to-make cocktail. Start with a few ice cubes into a glass, then add 1 ounce of regular rum, and fill it up with diet coke. If you don’t fancy drinking coke, you can use a cup of unsweetened black tea as a great alternative. Finish up with a lemon or lime wedge as garnish. Mojito is another yummy rum-based alternative that only adds 110 calories to your diet. To create a glass of mojito, simply mix 2 (50mL) ounces of rum, 1/3 ounce (10mL) of lime juice, soda water, ice, and some mint leaves.
7. Paloma
It’s time to ditch your 400-calorie frozen margarita, and switch to the pink wonder-drink that is Paloma. This beverage contains only 120-150 calories, with minimal sugar content and zero carbs. Make this drink by mixing 2 ounces (50 mL) of tequila, 2 ounces of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, and 1/3 ounce (10mL) of lime juice.
8. Daiquiri
Daiquiri is notoriously high in both calories and sugar. However, this rum-based drink can be an awesome addition to your weight loss plan by choosing low-calorie ingredients such as light rum, sugar-free sweetener, and lime juice. This simple change brings a 200-calorie beverage into a 105-calorie light and delicate cocktail. It’s great to stick with a diet plan, but adding a glass of low-calorie alcoholic beverage here and there would give you the feeling of being in control of your own body and lifestyle, rather than letting your diet control you. Just remember to stay disciplined and not to use flavored mixes or too much fruity garnish in every cocktail you make, and to ensure that a glass won’t give you over 150 calories.
