Kit Kilroy
We’re all about health here. But what about those moments when you just wanna have some fun? In my opinion, having a good social life is part of having a healthy life overall. So if you want to go out with friends, do it! When you’re aiming to live a healthy lifestyle, though, drinking can seem to go against everything you’re working towards. Alcohol obviously isn’t healthy, and oftentimes cocktails are packed full of sugar and extra calories.
Low Cal Cocktails
If you choose not to drink altogether, that’s fair enough, but some of us want to drink — albeit in as healthy a way as possible. Deciphering what is “better” or “worse” when it comes to drinks though is a tough feat. Cocktails can contain any number of ingredients, and beer, wine, and spirits all have different calorie counts. To take the headache out of it, I’ve picked out a few go-to options that you can order at the bar without stressing about it. Though they’re still not “healthy” strictly speaking, they’re lower in calories, which can help you stick to your goals even while having fun!
Your Guide
The most basic tip for choosing low-cal options is to opt for soda water with your spirits instead of something sugary like soda. You can order any spirit with plain soda water, and some bars will even serve it up with a lemon or lime wedge alongside.
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To make your G&T lower in calories and sugar, opt for a diet or light tonic instead of the classic. Diet tonic usually contains artificial sweeteners and will have no calories or sugar. In comparison, light tonic water will be closer to 15 calories and 3g sugar per 100 ml, still making it a great option.
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Want a lighter way to drink your wine? Bars that serve wine by the glass may be able to make you a wine spritzer. It sounds fancy, but it’s just a mix of wine and soda water.
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Flavoured vodka is sweeter, but adds less sugar to your drink than mixing with soda would. Some bars will carry a whole range of fruit-flavoured vodkas, so ask the bartender what they have on offer.
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I know that vodka soda gets boring after a while, and if you’re a fan of rum, odds are you’ve mixed it with coke before. Well, I’ve got some good news for you: You can still make rum and coke a healthier option, by using diet coke instead of the classic.
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As it is, mojitos are already relatively low-calorie cocktails. If you want to make yours healthier though, simply ask the bartender to use half the amount of sugar syrup — or skip it altogether if you want.
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If you’re a beer-drinker, you’ll be pleased to hear that light beers are a good low-calorie option at the bar. Coors Light, Corona Light, and Michelob Ultra are all relatively low calorie, while still being cool and refreshing.
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The perfect remedy for when you’re craving something special is to order a sea breeze. It’s basically a vodka cranberry, but with grapefruit juice added in. Because grapefruit juice has fewer calories and sugar the cranberry, it makes this drink a lighter option.
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Cheers to that!