DRINK AWARE

When drinking, its so easy to lose track of how much alcohol you're putting into your body and in turn, how many calories you are blindly consuming.
You may think reading about such a thing is silly and pointless but it is far easier to take note of what you eat during the day than when you're out drinking, as it is way to easy easy to order one too many high calorie drinks and expend your suggested daily calorie limit (simply in drinks-not including your food!)

Here are some kCals in common drinks:

Calories in Bacardi Breezer Cranberry: 160

Calories in Bacardi Breezer Diet Lemon: 96 (better choice!)

Calories in Smirnoff Ice: 177

Calories in Red Wine (175ml glass): 119

Calories in White Wine (175ml):116

Calories in Dry Cider (Pint): 204

Calories in Vodka and Coke (175ml): 120

Calories in Vodka and Diet Coke (better choice!): 56

Calories in Vodka, Lime and Soda (great choice!)(200ml): 76

Calories in Regular mojito: 217

Calories in Regular Margarita:

Calories in Regular Martini: 168
Calories in 1 Can of beer: 155
Calories in one 35ml shot of brandy: 207 (opt for something other than this!)
- Those are just some popular, commonly drunk drinks that I researched.

I've compiled a list of equally delicious and satisfying drink- with almost half the calories.

1. Champagne

A regular 4 oz glass of this bubbly beverage has only 85 calories.

2. Vodka and Soda

Your standard vodka and soda mixed beverage typically comes in at over 200 calories, but with a few swaps, you can craft a healthy cocktail that has less than 100 calories. Mix together 3 oz of your favorite vodka with a diet flavored carbonated water or a diet lemon-lime flavored soda.

3. Gin and Tonic

If a gin and tonic is your go-to drink, with a few tweaks you can enjoy this cocktail while still sticking to a healthy eating plan. A standard 4 oz gin and tonic composed of 1 oz gin and 3 oz tonic comes in around 100 calories (-35 calories if you switch to a diet soda). 

4. Mojito

Mojitos are loaded with calories thanks to the abundance of simple syrup in the drink. You can easily make this by muddling one sliced lime and 2 tbsp of mint leaves with a morter and pestle. Combine ½ tsp of honey with 2 oz rum and 4 oz of club soda until honey is dissolved. Add in the mint mixture and pour into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge and some extra mint and you have a 150 calorie mojito.

By having a few go-to healthy alcoholic mixed drinks in your mind, you'll never draw a blank when ordering a drink (and trying to stay reasonably healthy).

X Zo