Every Monday, we hold a ‘mock-tail’ party before dinner. It’s a chance for the guests to meet staff members while sipping on a freshly made drink – showcasing that you can make ‘best’ choices when deciding to indulge in a fruity cocktail. (PS – our happy hour is alcohol free!)
Yesterday, I met a guest who was very interested in the calorie counts of all of the different alcohols. Not having a chance to attend the Alcohol and Weight Control seminar, we took a guess at a few of the most popular drinks of choice. Calorie counts aside, alcohol is not good for you in mass quantities, however it is perfectly fine to enjoy a glass of wine, cold beer or even a mixed drink occasionally and moderately. Actually, many health experts have said that having one drink a day can help decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. (A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)
Even though there are healthful benefits of enjoying a cocktail at happy hour, there are a few things to remember:
- Alcohol is basically empty calories. Some alcoholic beverages have a pretty high calorie count (especially mixed drinks) and hold no real nutritional value. So, if you are trying to lose weight, you may see how these types of calories will stand in the way of reaching your end goal.
- A good party tip is to alternate your drinks with water. Not only will this help deter you from a second drink, it will also help keep you hydrated. (Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes water loss and dehydration.)
- Alcohol not only lowers your inhibitions, it also stimulates your appetite. After a few drinks, you may not be able to make the best decisions, which could result in making poor food choices or overeating.
- Few medical experts, if any, advise nondrinkers to start drinking for health benefits. But if you do drink and you're healthy, there's no need to stop as long as you drink responsibly and in moderation.
Read on to find out the calories in the average alcoholic drink.
Beverage | Serving Size (ounces) | Calories
|
Regular Beer | 12 | 150 |
Light Beer | 12 | 110 |
Distilled (80 proof) Gin, rum, vodka, whisky, tequila | 1.5 | 100 |
Distilled (80 proof) Brandy, cognac | 1.5 | 100 |
Distilled (80 proof) Liquers | 1.5 | 190 |
Red Wine | 5 | 100 |
White Wine | 5 | 95 |
Champagne | 5 | 100 |
Martini | 6 | 240 |
Manhattan | 6 | 280 |
Daiquiri | 6 | 240 |
Whiskey Sour | 6 | 240 |
Margarita Cocktail | 6 | 280 |
[...] You may be thinking that fitness may not be your downfall – more so the dinners out, stopping by the mall food court, and get-togethers with friends. Keep your eye on the prize: a healthier you. Be conscious of what you eat during the weekends, stick to your healthy lifestyle of eating right and exercising just like you do during the week. If you need to reward yourself for the hard work (or the diligence you’ve kept to your diet) through the week, see a movie or get a massage. Don’t reward yourself with a cheesy fries appetizer or order an extra margarita – the study mentioned above shows that the additional weekend calories come from fat and alcohol. [...]
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