What can I say? I’m a gal who enjoys a good cocktail every now and then! Of course, we all know that most drinks are filled with lots of “empty” calories, but I’ve found ways to slim-down my favorite cocktails without limiting the fun! Check out my tips and tricks below.
Just say no to high-calorie fruit drinks
Most fruity drinks are loaded with calories and sugar– some have as many as 300 calories per drink! (Frozen ones have even more!) If you have 3 drinks over the course of the evening, that’s 900 calories! Better options are flavored vodka with seltzer or regular vodka with seltzer and a splash of fruit juice (approximately 70-80 calories per drink).
In the mood for beer, go light
Most light beers come in around 100-120 calories per bottle, but still have quite a lot of flavor and taste delicious. I’ve drank so much light beer over the years, I usually prefer it to the “heavy” option. Although, I do love a good microbrew every now and then! 
Also, if you stick to bottled beer instead of draft (or keg), you have instant portion control– just 12 ounces per bottle.
Steer clear of frozen beverages
Similarly to fruity drinks, frozen drink mixes are packed with calories and sugar. If you really want a margarita or piña colada, ask the bartender to make you the real thing instead of the frozen variety. You’ll save quite a few calories and the original cocktail, in my opinion, tastes a lot better!
Alternate water with alcoholic beverages
Water (or seltzer) slows your pace when it comes to consuming alcohol. It also hydrates you, making the following morning much more enjoyable. Plus, if you alternate booze with seltzer and lime or another “mocktail”, it almost feels like you are enjoying a cocktail, but for minimal calories.
You can’t go wrong with white wine
My “go to” drink is always white wine. It’s delicious, flavorful, and relatively low in calories (about 120 calories per 5 oz glass). I always feel much more sophisticated when I’m holding a wine glass, so I tend to savor each sip instead of chugging it down like I might with a beer or cocktail. You can also “lighten-up” white wine with seltzer to make a “wine spritzer,” which cuts calories and makes your glass of wine last longer.
Beware of free bar snacks
There’s a bar in my hometown that serves free popcorn (you know, the super buttery kind). I’m not much of a popcorn fan, but after a few cocktails, it becomes my favorite food! My best advice for situations like this is just don’t start! Once I have a taste of popcorn, I can’t stop myself and end up snacking the entire night. Another tip: Remember where people’s hands have been. If I am thinking about digging into a bowl of popcorn, peanuts, or pretzels, I think: unwashed hands from the bathroom. Gross!! That thought alone stops my desire to snack!
My Favorite Drinks
- White wine: Usually Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
- Flavored vodka with seltzer: My favorites are cherry vodka and blueberry vodka.
- Sensational Summer Sangria: Perfect for warm weather! My Sensational Summer Sangria only requires 4 ingredients, takes just 5 minutes to make, and is always a crowd-pleasurer.
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I love white wine too – I have been meaning to add seltzer for a long time to make a spritzer but haven’t gotten around to it…I like the bubbly-ness sometimes. My other favorite drink is Prosecco! I always get that when I go out to eat.
I am a HUGE fan of flavored vodka and seltzer! They pack a bigger punch for less calories so you don’t need to drink as much. The best part is that you can try lots of different flavors without having to mix boozes, and that always makes for a more pleasant morning!
Those are all fabulous tips. And since I drink very rarely and margaritas are my all time favorite, I’ve even gotten some sugar free Baja Bob’s Margarita Mix. It tastes really good, although it is quite chemical sugar laden. But all in moderation.
White wine spritzers with soda water is the best thing ever.
I am bookmarking this page! Low-calorie and refreshing cocktails are the way to go!!!! I’d much rather splurge on some fancy gelato
Here are my two favorite low-calorie cocktails: http://www.biochemista.com/2010/07/summer-sippin.html
I love beer, and I’d rather have one micro brew than 3 light beer … I also love Sangria that I make with red wine, diet 7 up, orange juice (real) and fruits
mmmmmm…i like beer, wine, and sangria! yummy
Love this post! I used to get vanilla vodka with diet coke…tastes just like vanilla coke! I try not to drink sodas now, so I do flavored vodkas with club soda and a lime. Have a great weekend, Tina!
It’s sooooo hard to stay away from the frozen drinks!
good tips!
Love this – I’m a total germophobe so I can’t do the open snack bowls, either. White wine is also my go-to and I’ve bookmarked this recipe for the sangria to serve at a dinner party next in a couple of weeks. Thanks!
Good tips – sake is a pretty good option as well. Pretty potent though! I’m a vodka soda girl myself, two twists of lime!
Great tips!! I tend to go nuts for bar nuts as well, but that’s an awesome solution to stop myself. I’m a light beer girl all the way…fruity drinks always make me sick!
fantastic tips! thanks for sharing
Mmmm that sangria looks delish, can’t wait to try out the recipe!
I love a cocktail that can double as a snack! That looks refreshing and delicious!
I have never thought about drinking flavored vodka and seltzer. The cherry vodka sounds really good. I may have to try it the next time I go out!
What about red wine? It has flavnoids in it making it healthier than white.
I also like vodka on the rocks with a squeeze of lime.
I lie flavored seltzer with vodka.
I have been totally obsessed with making my own flavoured syrups from fresh fruit. They have a lot of sugar, but a little bit goes a long way with vodka and soda (or white wine and soda) to make a yummmmmy light summer drink.
I got the recipe here: http://www.cultivatinglife.com/Blackberry-Acid-and-Sugared-Raspberries.html
Love the tips!! I always go for low-cal mixers when I drink… that works for me
I tried some banana rum last night and it was wonderful. Made a delicious “slushy” drink.
Tina these are fantastic tips!
Sangria is AMAZING. I went so Spain two summers ago and had my fair share! I loved the colors in this post, by the way. Very summery
I’m a huge white wine fan too. I rarely drink anything but wine.
I usually stick to wine. I like beer, but it always makes me super full and bloated. Me and hard alcohol don’t get along. But wine usually works in all situations. And when I drink red wine I tell myself the resveratrol in it is doing wonderful things for me.
Great tips! I’ve always been more of an “eat my calories” vs. “drink my calories” kind of girl, but I do enjoy a good drink every now and then.
Great post, thanks for the tips! I especially like thinking of germs in the snack bowl, never thought of it that way before, but it will definitely make me think twice before dipping my hand in the peanuts or popcorn at a bar again.
Thanks for the tips Tina! I totally agree with you on the bar snacks — don’t start because it is so hard to stop.
There’s a myth going around that one of the big named newspapers wrote about: Light Beer. I can’t seem to find it, though I’ll keep checking around. It talked about how (some) Stouts and these light beers are actually pretty similar in calories. For me, it’s not worth it to drink a flavorless beer for less calories. Beer is a treat, and can be expensive, so I don’t want to waste the money and my taste buds on something that tastes like water!
Aside form that, I love your flavoured vodka recommendation. Right now, my drink of choice when I don’t want to drink empty calories is Gin, Soda and LOADS of lime (Tonic does have calories and the quinine can contribute to the ringing in ears – so i stay away from that).
Unrelated to this post, but now that you’ve done all that tidying up do we get to have an official look at your place? I’m not too weird I just like seeing pics of how other people live! And I know none of us will mind if there happens to be a certain pug in every shot…….
Great tips! Going to my girlfriends tonight, and her son has a slushi machine (like from the 7/11), and she has made us cranberrie adult slushies for tonight. I might do the drink, water drink, water, water, water, water approach to limit the calories.
Great tips, its always hard when you want to have fun and drink, to keep it healthy and low-cal!
Hehe, I appreciate the fact that you admit how tempting it is to chug beer!
I also feel much classier with wine- way easier to sip it!
Oh those look pretty and probably very tasty.
Your tips are how I always approach having a drink. My choice is vodka soda, vodka w/ slice of lime, light beer, or champagne or prosecco. I do find beer very bloating though (have to have it at baseball games), even if it’s light and low carb.
Thanks for the reminder – I’m headed to happy hour in about an hour!
Love sangria in the summer, too. It’s just so fresh, crisp, and refreshing!
I’m too young to drink but I know once I reach that age sangrias and martinis will probably be my type of drink lol
These are good tips. I usually stick to vodka soda when I want a cocktail and every once in a while I’ll splurge on something frozen.
I actually just tried blueberry vodka soda for the first time last week and it was delish!!
I feel differently about beer. I don’t enjoy light beers, so when I do drink beer, I go for craft, high quality kinds and limit how much I drink. That way, I thoroughly enjoy each drop.
Great tips. I am a red wine girl. I love a good Pinot Noir….my mouth waters just thinking about it! haha!!
great post for the weekend! i love white wine, so that sangria looks PERFECT!
Weird! Another Janna. We’re not too popular
Anyway, I am a big fan of white wine – or rose. Also flavored vodka with seltzer is an always an awesome low cal choice.
I think I’ll try your sangria recipe next week! I was planning on making a batch anyway to get rid of some Triple Sec that’s been kicking around my apt. for several months
Good excuse, right?
@Steph: Aren’t stouts generally lighter in calories?
@Annie@stronghealthyfit: There’s no Triple Sec in it!
Great tips – thanks Tina!!!
I’m lucky because I’ve always detested super-sweet cocktails and high cal “chick” drinks, prefering straight wine and light beers anyway. But these are good tips for a party, when people want something more exciting!
One of my favourite low-cal summer drinks I learnt when I spent 6 months is Spain last year. It is called ‘tinto de verano’ – literally ‘summer wine’. You make it by mixing about a quarter glass red wine to ice cubes, a slice of lemon, and top it up with sugar-free lemonade. It is a gorgeous light combination, and absolutely perfect on a hot summer evening when enjoying tapas outside!
I’m a raspberry vodka girl.
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