If you're anything like me, you like to throw back a few adult beverages every once in a while, but you also cringe when you look at the calorie content on the cocktail menu! I love food and I hate the thought of wasting my calories on drinks, even alcoholic ones. I also am not a fan of light beers so I decided to do some searching and find the perfect cocktails with no guilt attached.
1. Shots
by andrew jay on Unsplash
Alright, this one is basic and should be a no-brainer! Instead of mixing in anything sweet just take your alcohol straight from the shot glass. One of the lowest calorie liquors is vodka at 100 calories per shot, with gin, tequila, and whiskey coming in at 110 calories per shot.
2. Prosecco
by Lisanne van Elsen on Unsplash
This bubbly wine only comes in at about 70 calories per 100 ml glass, beating champagne, its higher-end sibling which contains about 95 calories a glass. Along with the fact that it won't mess up your diet, it also won't break the bank since Prosecco is a relatively cheap drink. Just remember to go for a dryer variety that has a lower sugar content because that's how it'll save you calories!
3. Vodka Soda
For those of us who can't quite take shots like a champ, this is a nicer alternative. This is a fairly basic cocktail, but nonetheless soda water is a great low-calorie mixer for drinks, unlike tonic water which has a lot more sugar, therefore more calories. If you want to add a little something extra, try it with lime or lemon juice!
4. Rum and Diet Coke
by Blake Wisz on Unsplash
It's the classic "Roman Coke," just with way fewer calories. Coca-Cola is one of my favorite mixers so I just switch it out for Diet Coke so I can still get my soda-fix without regretting it later.
5. Bloody Mary
by Toni Osmundson on Unsplash
Despite the tomato juice, Bloody Marys are surprisingly low in sugar and low in calories! One serving is around 134 calories, but if you're feeling extra aware of the calorie-content you can cut the amount of tomato juice you add in half to play it safe.
6. Skinny Sparkling Blueberry Mojito
by Mgg Vitchakorn on Unsplash
At only 138 calories per serving, this mixed drink is absolutely delicious! Although it's a little more work-intensive than the other drinks on the list, this mojito uses stevia as a sweetener instead of a traditional simple syrup, along with blueberries which are known to have antioxidant properties, making it a guilt-free adult beverage.
7. Light Beer
by Drew Beamer on Unsplash
I'm no beer aficionado, but this one is obvious. If you're a fan of cracking open a cold one with the boys then maybe it's time to consider a light beer instead of your normal fare. Now not all light beers are created equal, and not every light beer is going to be like Bud Lite or Miller Lite. In fact, if you're a fan of IPAs then Dogfish Head recently made a light IPA beer (possibly the first of its kind) that can satisfy your taste buds and calorie-tracking app.
