Tis The Season To Stay Skinny- Low Calorie Drinks & Cocktails

Aah, the holidays! With all the office parties, family gatherings, and New Year's festivities, there's bound to be an excessive amount of food and alcohol consumption.  People seldom realize how many calories are in their drink of choice, especially if you have more than one. I have listed some of the best and worst choices for your waistline!

Beer

Regular(12 oz): 153 cal
Light (12 oz): 103

12 fl. oz. of regular beer has 153 calories versus light beer which has only 103. If you must drink beer try to stick to light beer and limit your number of beverages.

Wine

Red Wine (5 oz): 125 cal
White Wine (5 oz): 121 cal
Sweet Wine (3.5 oz) : 165 cal
Sherry (2 oz): 75 cal
Port (2oz): 90 cal
Champagne (4oz): 84 cal
Vermouth sweet (3oz): 140 cal
Vermouth dry (3 oz): 105 cal

Wine can be a good lower calorie choice, however, people tend to over pour the wine. Try to limit your quantity by keeping track how much is poured each time.

Distilled Spirits

80 proof- gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, tequila (1.5 oz): 97 cal

Brandy, cognac (1.5oz): 98 cal

Shots are a great low calorie choice, but be sure to pace yourself! Also, if you want a mixed drink try rum and diet coke, vodka soda, vodka tonic, or tequila soda. These are all around 130-100 cal. 

Cocktails

Martini (2.25oz): 124 cal

Cosmopolitan (2.75 oz): 146 cal

Mojito (6 oz): 143 cal

Margarita (4 oz): 168 cal

Manhattan( 3.5 oz): 164 cal

Daquiri (2 oz): 112 cal

Whiskey Sour (3.5 oz): 160 cal

Pina Colada (9oz): 490 cal

Cocktails may be sweet and yummy, but they are very high in calories. Margaritas, manhattans, and especially pina coladas are a bad choice, so try to have only one or avoid them all together.

Some other tips:

• Drink a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage. This will pace you and also limit the number of drinks that you have.
• If you truly want to cut calories, try to avoid drinking all together

http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/toolsresources/caloriecalculator.asp