When you are on a diet, you need to examine the things you are eating and decide which food items to eliminate and which to reduce or prepare in a healthier manner. You need to assess alcohol because although it goes down easily, it does come with calories, carbohydrates and sugars. By assessing the nutritional value of alcoholic beverages you can find those that you can incorporate into your diet.
Cranberry and Vodka
A cranberry juice and vodka cocktail is composed of a 1-oz. serving of vodka and 3 oz. of cranberry juice. It has 170 calories with varying carbohydrates and sugar depending on the type of cranberry juice you use. This is a moderate amount of calories if you consume an average of 2,000 calories per day. One cranberry juice and vodka accounts for 8.5 percent of your daily calories, which is not significant.
Skinny Margarita
Margaritas often get a bad rap for their nutritional value, given that most bars or restaurants serve them in large sizes and use cocktail mixers that contain a lot of sugar. However, by using a "skinny" margarita recipe, you can enjoy a margarita while on a diet. To make a skinny margarita, mix 2 oz. of clear tequila, a splash of orange liqueur and lime juice from four limes and pour over ice. One skinny margarita only contains 100 calories.
Wine
The recommended serving size for wine is 5 oz. One serving of white wine contains 100 calories and 5 g of carbohydrates. One serving of red wine has 105 calories and 10 g of carbohydrates including 7 g of sugar. Consuming only one serving does not pose a large risk to your diet. However, red wine does contain a higher amount of carbohydrates. According to MayoClinic.com, if you follow a 2,000-calorie diet, you should limit your consumption of carbohydrates to 225 to 325 g a day. Consuming one serving of wine falls within a healthy range in comparison to your total recommended carbohydrate intake.
Wine Spritzer
If you enjoy wine but can't risk wasting the 100 calories per glass of wine, try a wine spritzer instead. A wine spritzer contains 1 oz. of wine mixed with sparkling water served over ice. A wine spritzer contains between 10 and 20 calories depending on the type of wine you use. The water adds no calories, making it the best choice while you are on a diet.
Light Beer
If you are an avid beer drinker, you can continue to drink beer on a diet. Like any other alcoholic drink, you should use moderation. By choosing a "light" version of a beer, you can save yourself calories and carbohydrates. For example, a 12-oz. regular beer can have 150 calories and 10 g of carbohydrates. A "light" version of this beer has approximately 100 calories and 3 g of carbohydrates. Some beer companies offer low-carb beers that are targeted at helping you maintain your diet. These beers only contain approximately 60 calories and 2 g of carbohydrates.
Member Comments