Low Calorie Alcohol Choices for New Years

How do you plan to ring in the New Year? It is hard to wrap my mind around it, but 2010 is almost done and 2011 is almost here!  If you’re like many people who are watching their weight, you may plan to have a few cocktails this New Year’s Eve, but may be unsure which choices are the best for your waistline. So, I thought I would share a few thoughts with you that might help you to make better decisions.  Not to say that I condone excessive consumption of alcohol, even for the night, I just know that many of you are looking to make good choices while still enjoying your holidays!

Anyway, here are some alternatives to a 250 calorie Cosmo:

• Light beer. Now I’m not a beer drinker myself, but if I were, I would choose to sip on a 12-ounce light beer for just 100 calories.  This beer could last for awhile as you mingle at the party and talk to other guests.  So even if you end up having three beers, you’ve only used up 300 calories.  That’s not bad for a once-a-year event.  

• Avoid syrupy mixers. A lot of the calories that go into a drink are actually from the drink mix, not the alcohol.  Opt to mix your drink with light cranberry juice (40 calories per 8 ounces), light orange juice (50 calories per 6 ounces), or add a spritz or two of lemon or lime juice (just 5 calories per ¼ ounce).  

• Go for champagne.  For those non-beer drinkers, a four-ounce glass of champagne is around 85 calories and a shot of 80 proof vodka is 64 calories.  The key to drinking liquor and keeping your waistline in mind is portion control.  There is a big difference in the size of many champagne flutes, wine glasses, and shot glasses.  You can easily consume twice the calories before you know what hit you, literally!

• Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  By having other drinks on-hand (like 0 calorie coffee or teas), you are likely to consume less alcohol, and thus, fewer calories.  Be sure to stock up on Hint water or other low-cal or no-cal beverages to quench your thirst in lieu of alcohol.

Enjoy!
Juliet

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