Nutrition
Calories in alcohol: A comparison
Nutrition
Calories in alcohol: A comparison
There's no denying that sitting down to one of your favourite drinks is an enjoyable way to unwind. But when one drink turns into three or four, there's more to worry about than just the hangover you'll be nursing in the morning. If you're watching your waistline, those drinks are adding up in the calorie department faster than you may realize, so it may be time to step back and take a closer look at what you’re consuming. Check out our detailed comparison list of the calories in alcohol to find out how many calories the most popular alcoholic beverages contain, and to discover some sensible alternatives.
Calories in alcohol: A comparison of 18 drinks
White table wine
A good meal goes great with a glass of wine, but are you sure you know what it could be doing to your waistline? An average serving of white table wine can add up to about 121 calories and if you’re prone to a second glass, well, you can do the math.
How to cut the calories: A wine spritzer made with white wine and club soda has about 62 calories per serving, which means you'll save yourself half the calories of a glass of wine.
Beer
A bottle of regular beer contains about 148 calories. And just like wine, we know it's hard to have only one – so if you opt for a second you'll have consumed 300 calories.
How to cut the calories: Go light! In the same serving size, a light beer has 100 calories.
Pina colada
You're going to want to sit down for this one. According to Forbes, the average pina colada packs a whopping 644 calories, which, as they point out, is more calories than a Big Mac.
How to cut the calories: Virtually any other drink you have is a better choice than this sneaky, high-calorie cocktail.
Planning a night out on the town? Find out the calorie count of some of your favourite pub foods here.
Page 1 of 2 - find the calorie count to more alcoholic drinks on page 2.
Margarita
The average margarita can run between 300 and 500 calories, depending on the ingredients you use and the size of your drink.
How to cut the calories: Use fresh fruit in your drink instead of frozen mixes and fruits that are packed in sugary syrups.
Rum and Coke
A rum and Coke is tasty to be sure, but as far as drinks go, it registers high on the calorie scale. It clocks in at about 240 calories.
How to cut the calories: Substitute regular Coke for Diet Coke or Coke Zero, both of which have zero calorie. You’ll save yourself approximately 140 calories.
Sangria
The average glass of wine has about 120 calories, so the total calorie count of a glass of sangria will depend on what you mix into it. But on average, a glass of sangria contains about 156 calories.
How to cut the calories: Decrease the amount of wine you use and mix in some club soda – containing no calories - to give your a bit of a kick.
Bloody Mary
Because a Bloody Mary is made with tomato juice, it has fewer calories than drinks mixed with fruit juices. It clocks in at about 124 calories per serving.
How to cut the calories: Mix your Bloody Mary with a low-sodium tomato juice to decrease the amount of calories and sodium in your drink.
Gin and tonic
Who would have thought that gin and tonic would add up to 190 calories? An eight ounce shot of tonic water contains 90 calories, and when you add that to the 100 calories in a one and a half ounce shot of gin, this drink really packs a punch.
How to cut the calories: Mix your gin and tonic with diet tonic water, which has no calories, to save yourself 90 calories per drink.
Martini
You may feel glam drinking a martini, but at 158 calories per glass it may be worth finding a new drink that'll make you feel just as glamorous.
How to cut the calories: A vodka and soda is a great alternative. Since club soda has no calories, this drink contains 55 calories per serving.
There's no need to forego your favourite drinks altogether – just make smarter choices when mixing your tasty cocktails and above all, mind your portions. One drink won’t hurt but three is another story!
Note: Calorie counts may vary depending on serving size.
Are your drinking too much? Find out if you have a problem with alcohol.
Page 2 of 2
Natalie Bahadur is the Senior Editor of styleathome.com and is a regular contributor to CanadianLiving.com.
Calories in alcohol: A comparison of 18 drinks
White table wine
A good meal goes great with a glass of wine, but are you sure you know what it could be doing to your waistline? An average serving of white table wine can add up to about 121 calories and if you’re prone to a second glass, well, you can do the math.
How to cut the calories: A wine spritzer made with white wine and club soda has about 62 calories per serving, which means you'll save yourself half the calories of a glass of wine.
Beer
A bottle of regular beer contains about 148 calories. And just like wine, we know it's hard to have only one – so if you opt for a second you'll have consumed 300 calories.
How to cut the calories: Go light! In the same serving size, a light beer has 100 calories.
Pina colada
You're going to want to sit down for this one. According to Forbes, the average pina colada packs a whopping 644 calories, which, as they point out, is more calories than a Big Mac.
How to cut the calories: Virtually any other drink you have is a better choice than this sneaky, high-calorie cocktail.
Planning a night out on the town? Find out the calorie count of some of your favourite pub foods here.
Page 1 of 2 - find the calorie count to more alcoholic drinks on page 2.
Margarita
The average margarita can run between 300 and 500 calories, depending on the ingredients you use and the size of your drink.
How to cut the calories: Use fresh fruit in your drink instead of frozen mixes and fruits that are packed in sugary syrups.
Rum and Coke
A rum and Coke is tasty to be sure, but as far as drinks go, it registers high on the calorie scale. It clocks in at about 240 calories.
How to cut the calories: Substitute regular Coke for Diet Coke or Coke Zero, both of which have zero calorie. You’ll save yourself approximately 140 calories.
Sangria
The average glass of wine has about 120 calories, so the total calorie count of a glass of sangria will depend on what you mix into it. But on average, a glass of sangria contains about 156 calories.
How to cut the calories: Decrease the amount of wine you use and mix in some club soda – containing no calories - to give your a bit of a kick.
Bloody Mary
Because a Bloody Mary is made with tomato juice, it has fewer calories than drinks mixed with fruit juices. It clocks in at about 124 calories per serving.
How to cut the calories: Mix your Bloody Mary with a low-sodium tomato juice to decrease the amount of calories and sodium in your drink.
Gin and tonic
Who would have thought that gin and tonic would add up to 190 calories? An eight ounce shot of tonic water contains 90 calories, and when you add that to the 100 calories in a one and a half ounce shot of gin, this drink really packs a punch.
How to cut the calories: Mix your gin and tonic with diet tonic water, which has no calories, to save yourself 90 calories per drink.
Martini
You may feel glam drinking a martini, but at 158 calories per glass it may be worth finding a new drink that'll make you feel just as glamorous.
How to cut the calories: A vodka and soda is a great alternative. Since club soda has no calories, this drink contains 55 calories per serving.
There's no need to forego your favourite drinks altogether – just make smarter choices when mixing your tasty cocktails and above all, mind your portions. One drink won’t hurt but three is another story!
Note: Calorie counts may vary depending on serving size.
Are your drinking too much? Find out if you have a problem with alcohol.
Page 2 of 2
Natalie Bahadur is the Senior Editor of styleathome.com and is a regular contributor to CanadianLiving.com.
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