A Guide To Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks
Oct 13, 2021
Thankfully, there are plenty of low-calorie drinks that won’t take up much of your calorie allowance.
The recommended calorie intake for women is 2000, whereas for men it’s 2500 - and some alcoholic drinks can contain over 500 calories.
This is why it’s important to know exactly what you’re drinking. Read on for our guide to low-calorie alcoholic drinks.
Low-Calorie Wines
On average, wine can be pretty calorific - but there are low-calorie and low-carb wines out there for you to enjoy guilt-free.
Typically, there are 123 calories per glass, and around 615 per bottle - but which wine has the least calories? Read on to find out!
White Wine
If white wine is your go-to alcoholic drink, then you’ll be glad to hear that white wine doesn’t usually contain many calories.
On average, white wine contains around 120 calories per glass.
The key is knowing what terms to look out for when you’re browsing the shelves of your local supermarket.
Dry (brut, brut nature, or extra brut) wines generally contain fewer calories, so always choose a crisp and dry white if you’re watching your calorie intake.
Pinot Grigio contains around 124 calories, but you can easily find a low-cal Pinot Grigio that only contain around 80 calories per serving.
It’s also important to know what to avoid when choosing a white wine on a low carb diet.
Avoid sweeter wines such as Riesling, as these can contain upwards of 160 calories per glass.
Red Wine
There are countless varieties of red wine, but on average red wine contains around 125 calories per glass.
Pinot Noir is a good choice if you’re trying to be healthier, as it contains many health-boosting antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols.
Full-bodied reds are generally more calorific, so it’s best to steer clear of fortified wines such as Port, Sherry and Madeira if you’re trying to limit your calorie intake.
Fortified wines also contain a lot more calories than other types of wine.
This is due to the amount of yeast added during the fermentation process - they have more residual sugar, so, therefore, have a higher amount of carbs.
Sparkling Wine
You may be surprised to hear that sparkling wine is generally less calorific than other types of wine. A glass of Rose typically contains 105 calories.
To lower this figure even more, why not try an iced rose? This has become a popular beverage for a reason - it’s tasty, and perfect for warmer months. Simply blend a glass of rose with ice, until it turns slushy.
If you plan on celebrating a special occasion with a glass of Champagne, then you’ll be glad to know that a glass of 12% Champagne only contains around 85 calories.
A glass of Prosecco isn’t much worse for you at all, as it contains a low amount of 99 calories.
When choosing a sparkling wine, avoid cheaper wines as these may have added sugar.
Look for dry, brut, or extra brut wines, as these contain less sugar and ultimately fewer calories.
Low-Calorie Spirits
Although spirits on their own aren’t usually too calorific, the mixers you choose can be.
A shot of vodka, rum, whiskey, or tequila is typically 90-100 calories, but if you mix it with full-fat coke, the calorie count can rise to around 230.
When you’re drinking spirits, consider your mixer carefully. Avoid fruit juices and full-fat mixers, and instead, opt for slimline tonic, diet lemonade, or diet coke/ Pepsi max.
Instead of a gin and tonic, opt for a vodka and diet lemonade or soda - this should lower the calories count by around 150.Soda is free from calories, so you’ll only be drinking the calories in vodka.
A standard can of tonic water typically contains around 130 calories, whereas diet lemonade or soda contains none.
Soda is always a great choice of mixer as it is hydrating and not calorific.
However, soda isn’t for everybody. If you prefer a classing gin and tonic, simply switch your usual tonic to a slimline tonic to save around 60 calories.
Although straight spirits aren’t for everyone, you can keep the calories down by simply opting for a scotch on the rocks.
A standard scotch contains around 80 calories per serving, and you can sip away slowly as it has a high alcohol content.
Low-Calorie Cocktails
Cocktails are a delicious treat perfect for any occasion, season, and even any time of day. However, they are often high in calories.
In many cocktails, fruit juices such as orange juice or pineapple juice are used which raises the calorie count.
A Pina Colada can contain over 600 calories, a Long Island Iced Tea can contain even more, and Sex On The Beach can contain over 300 calories.
An effective way of lowering the number of calories in a cocktail is by making it yourself instead of purchasing pre-made mixes.
A Martini may be a good option if you’re trying to lower your calorie intake, with only around 125 calories per serving. This is a lot less calorific than longer drinks such as Pina Coladas!
If you’re a fan of Bloody Mary’s, then the good news is that you can still enjoy them on a low-calorie diet - however, it’s best to prepare the drink yourself instead of purchasing a premixed one.
Simply combine an ounce of vodka with a portion of fresh tomato juice and add a drop of Tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and you should have an enjoyable cocktail that’s under 100 calories.
A Margarita is also a great low-cal choice - but only if you prepare it yourself. Instead of a syrup mix, opt for fresh lime juice to save calories.
Another way to lower the calories is to mix a low-cal bubbly with sparkling water - and your Margarita should be under 160 calories.
Low-Calorie Beers
Although beer and wine are both produced using fermented plants, they have a big difference in calories.
A glass of wine can contain under 100 calories, whereas a pint of beer can contain over 200 calories - which is around 10% of your recommended daily amount of calories.
It’s easy to drink a few pints of beer in one evening, but this can cost you over half of your daily recommended calorie intake if you don’t choose your beer wisely.
Thankfully, there are low-calorie beer options on the market - in fact, most bars and restaurants will offer a low-calorie version that only contains around 100 calories per 12 ounces.
A typical pint of stout can also contain over 200 calories, but will generally last a long time. It also contains iron - in fact, one pint of stout can make up 5% of your recommended daily iron intake.
Drink In Moderation
Alcohol can be delicious, and it’s far too easy to get carried away when you’re sipping on your favourite wine, cocktail, or beer.
However, it’s important that you’re mindful when drinking, and not go overboard.
In terms of calories, a couple of glasses of wine won’t do much harm, but if you’re drinking more than one bottle, you can easily go over your daily recommended amount.
It’s also important for your health that you don’t drink too much - alcohol consumption is related to many health issues, as well as leading to a killer hangover.