Holiday Cocktail Tips

This is a re-post from a couple of years ago but the topic seems…apt right now. 

Photo by geishaboy500.

It’s cocktail season! This time of year is known for indulgence but there are ways to avoid blowing all of your calories on drinks if you plan accordingly and know what to ask for. In general it’s always better to eat your calories rather than drink them because our bodies don’t register fullness from fluids in the same way we do with food. Here are a few helpful tips for navigating those holiday parties:

A 1.5 ounce shot of hard liquor (vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila… etc.) contains roughly 100 calories. Not too bad, but it’s all the stuff you can mix in that really begins to add up. Sugary syrups and mixers found in martinis and margaritas can pack on hundreds of extra calories so opt for something simpler like a vodka and club soda instead. Even tonic water has added sugar so ordering your drink with no-calorie club soda is always a better option. Try it with a twist of lime, orange or a splash of cranberry juice. You can also save about 100 calories by ordering your rum and Coke with diet soda instead of regular. Another pointer: stay away from anything involving the word “nog!”

Red wine is another good choice at around 100 calories for a 4 ounce glass but remember to pay attention to the glass size. Four ounces is only a half measuring cup and there are some pretty large wine glasses out there so be sure to keep track if yours comes in at twice the size. There are even some studies that show that drinking red wine in moderation can be good for your heart. You can’t beat that!

Living in Milwaukee we have to talk about beer. Light beers come in at about 75-100 calories while regular beer can range from 130 to 180 per bottle, depending on the percentage of alcohol. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot has a 9.6% alcohol content and a whopping 330 calories! Personally, when it comes to beer I like the real thing so I often order a glass of water alongside so I don’t drink it all too fast. You can check out Beer100.com for a list of calories in a lot of popular beers. It doesn’t list everything but it can give you a good idea of what to expect. Fitsugar also lists the top 10 highest and lowest calorie beers you can order.

Yes, there are times when you just don’t want to be bothered with thinking about all of these numbers. However, drinking too much can lower you inhibitions and you may end up eating way more than you normally would. After a few drinks suddenly that late night run to Pizza Shuttle or Oakland Gyros always sounds like a good idea, right? We all deserve a cheat day once in a while but there are ways to have fun and not regret it in the morning, so drink responsibly!