7 Drinks That Won't Derail Your Diet
It's a crowded bar and dozens of patrons are not-so-patiently awaiting their chance to order. The bartenders are surly and countless bottles line the shelves behind the bar, suggesting a dizzying number of drink options. Suddenly the bartender's eyes are on you. "What'll ya have?" he barks, and it sounds more like an order than a question. You're on the spot, customer, and you'd swear the jukebox is playing the music from "Jeopardy!". Time seems to be running out. So you opt for an old standby and shout out, "Rum and Coke!" Or "Heineken!" Or "White Russian!" Or any other reliable, familiar, high-in-calories drink. Oh, well. You can always resume your diet tomorrow morning.
But it doesn't have to be this hard. You can have it all -- social life and healthy lifestyle -- achieving your weight loss goals while still joining in the revelry. You just need to know which drinks, enjoyed in moderation, will not destroy your diet.
Red Wine
The average 5-oz. glass of red wine contains about 115 calories and 4 g of carbohydrates. This is not a huge caloric hit for the average dieter, according to Marci Cahill-Leach, vice president of Women & Men's Nutrition and Weight Control Centers in Metairie, Louisiana.
Cahill-Leach recommends that women should limit themselves to one glass in most cases, while men should stop at two. And if you're having wine with dinner, she suggests counting the wine as your starch for the meal.
"No problem with a glass or two with dinner," Cahill-Leach said. "But that means no pasta, no bread, no rice. If you're having wine, your meal should be limited to lean protein and nonstarchy veggies."
Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Champagne and other sparkling wines typically contain about the same number of calories as non-sparkling wines -- about 20 calories per ounce. But champagne holds an advantage that other wines don't, and it's explained by the physics of the liquid itself. Since champagne forms a head when poured, once the foam disappears, the drinker is typically left with far less liquid than the glass allows. Less champagne in the glass means fewer calories in the stomach. So if the moment calls for a glass of bubbly, feel free to join in with no remorse.
The Ultralight Beer
For decades, the beer lover on a diet had few light beer options. In recent years, however, calorie-conscious beer drinkers have welcomed the arrival of an even lighter variety -- the ultralight beer.
Whereas the average light beer contains about 100 calories per 12 oz. serving, ultralights offer a range of options with calories as low as 55 for the same serving size. Bud Select 55, Miller Genuine Draft 64 and Beck's Premier Light are just a few of the more popular examples.
For people who relish the ritual of enjoying a brew, ultralights may be the answer. But be advised: while these beers are lower in calories, they're also lower in alcohol. The typical ultralight beer is less than 3 percent alcohol by volume, compared to the average 4.5 percent for light beers. As a result, you might find yourself downing way too many of them, eliminating the low-calorie advantage.
A Guinness
A Guinness might seem the antithesis of a light beer. It's the color of molasses, with a rich, almost syrupy consistency and a thick, creamy head. You'd imagine it's a one-way ticket to the treadmill. But looks can be deceiving. A 12-oz. serving of Guinness has 126 calories. That's less than a Budweiser, a Heineken or a Miller High Life. Plus, drinking a rich, stout beer such as Guinness can be more satisfying than a more watery pilsner or lager. So you may be more willing to stop after one or two.
Not to mention, the health benefits of drinking Guinness extend further than the surprisingly low caloric content. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found antioxidant compounds in Guinness that may prevent the kind of blood clotting that leads to heart attack. They claim a pint of Guinness a day does as much to fight the risk of heart attack as the daily low-dose aspirin many doctors recommend.
(Your Preferred Liquor) With Club Soda or Water or Diet Soda
Cocktails can be the most highly caloric drinks you'll encounter in a bar. But they can also be among the lowest. You just have to know what to ask for and what to avoid.
"Stick to low-calorie mixers like water, club soda and diet soft drinks," said Molly Kimball, a registered dietitian and nutrition writer based in New Orleans.
Most standard varieties of 80 proof liquor -- whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, tequila, brandy -- have roughly 100 calories in a shot. Add ice and water or ice and club soda or ice and Diet Coke, and you've got a 100-calorie drink. But if you add orange juice or cola, the calorie total skyrockets.
Kimball recommends staying away from drinks containing fruit juice, sugary mixers such as grenadine and sweet and sour mix, and sweet liqueurs such as amaretto and Kahlua. If you can't live without a margarita or strawberry daiquiri, she says grocery stores offer a growing selection of sugar-free mixers. Your enjoyment of these will likely be limited to happy hour at home, though, as most bars do not stock them.
The Martini
Man of letters H. L. Mencken described the martini as "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet." Shaken or stirred, straight up or on the rocks, it is arguably the classic American cocktail: a subtle blend of gin -- though the vodka martini may have eclipsed the popularity of the original -- a hint of vermouth and an olive or a lemon twist.
Because it consists of little more than its base liquor, it is a low calorie cocktail. You'll get about 100 calories per single-shot martini. And don't worry about the olives. They only contribute an extra five calories each.
The Mojito
If light beer, wine or a stripped-down mixed drink doesn't excite you, Kimball recommends a drink that you might consider a little more fun: the mojito.
A favorite drink of Ernest Hemingway, the mojito's provenance is 16th century Cuba, though its exact origin is debated. In its present form, it combines rum with muddled mint, lime juice, and sugar or simple syrup, topped with club soda and served on ice.
While it does contain sugar, Kimball says it's not a deal breaker.
"A mojito only has a teaspoon of sugar," she noted. "So it's a good alternative to fruity cocktails and blended drinks."
That teaspoon of sugar equates to just 15 calories, meaning the typical mojito clocks in at 115 to 130 calories. And the fresh mint used in the drink has its own potential advantages. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database indicates that mint is used to ease headaches, gastrointestinal issues and symptoms of the common cold.
By Jason Otis
7 Drinks That Won't Derail Your Diet courtesy of LIVESTRONG.COM
