While a night of imbibing is not necessarily synonymous with a healthy lifestyle, heading out to the bar doesn’t have to come at the cost of your fitness goals. All it takes is counting calories and this breezy guide to drinks that are surprisingly guilt-free — coming in at under 150 calories per serving.
If the wild popularity of workout videos and healthy food products is anything to go by — fitness is in. And although alcohol is seen as an indulgence rather than a guilt-free investment — courtesy of sugar-laden cocktails and high-calorie beers and wines — there are plenty of ways to keep those abs while also letting your hair down at a bar. The key is to watch what you are drinking and counting calories — going for options that don’t pack on the pounds and sticking to just a few of the same through the night. Here are a few that come in just under 150 calories while being delicious.
PS: As a rule, skip the mixers or go for low-calorie, sugar-free versions of the same
Best drinks to order at the bar if you’re counting calories
Champagne: 98 calories
Starting out strong is a bubbly, elegant number that’s at once fruity and creamy. A glass (120 ml) will set you back by about 98 calories approximately, according to a report by The Guardian — the brut or extra-brut variants, which translate to ‘dry,’ have lesser sugar in them and would hence have fewer calories. This is far more forgiving than other white wines as well as red wines. Calorie counts may vary by brand as well. For instance, a 750 ml bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut comes in at 622 calories, making each glass about 85-99 calories.
Vodka soda: 100 calories
A classic if you’re watching your calorie intake — this refreshing number features vodka and unflavoured club soda. Each glass comes in at about 100 calories. To add a touch of extra flavour you could request the bartender to garnish your drink with cucumber, mint, or a wedge of orange. A lemon spritz works just as well. Like with other drinks on this list, your choice of spirit can make all the difference. A 30 ml shot of Grey Goose, for instance, is just 66 calories as per the brand’s official site. Meanwhile, soda doesn’t add to this count at all.
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Gin and Diet Tonic: 100 calories
Perhaps one of the most popular bar orders — the classic G&T can pack quite the calories, courtesy of sugary tonic water. However, switch up the usual option with diet tonic water and you’ve got yourself the perfect low-calorie sipper — about 100 calories per glass. Hendricks states that a measure of its gin is about 98 calories. Diet tonic, meanwhile, has no calories. Ice things up to really mellow out the sharpness of the alcohol. Garnish with fresh ingredients like cucumber and rosemary to amp up flavour.
Light beer: 103
Regular beer can pack on the pounds — hence the general fear of the ‘beer belly’ amongst malt enthusiasts. However, several brands have come up with low-ABV, lighter options that clock in just about 100 calories. In India, Bira91 has a ‘Light’ variant that comes in at about 80 calories approximately. Meanwhile, a pint of Carlsberg Lite will set you back by 102 calories. If that’s not reason enough to grab a six-pack right away, we don’t know what is.
Hard seltzer: 110 calories
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Best described as a highball drink of sorts — carbonated water, alcohol, flavouring — hard seltzer is a go-to for many calorie-conscious drinkers. In India, a pint of Pursue comes in at 110 calories. Meanwhile, IST clocks in at about 99 calories. While these are delicious on their own, you can amp up the flavours by having yours served with a wedge of orange or some cucumber.
Rum and Diet Coke: 135 calories
There’s no better way to hop on the diet soda bandwagon than to combine it with a delicious sugarcane number. Bacardi notes that a serving of its spiced rum clocks in about 90 calories, while Diet Coke has none.
Dry Martini: 150 Calories
This pop-culture go-to is quite forgiving in the calorie department, only setting one back by about 100 calories (120 ml), especially if you take into account Hendricks count of 98 calories per measure. This concoction also includes about 14 ml of vermouth, which comes in at about 50 calories. This is generally topped with olives or lemon wedges. Orange bitters also work wonders. You could ask the bartender to make yours dry, which involves more gin less vermouth and much fewer calories — ideal if you’re counting and watching what you drink.
As always, drink responsibly!
This story first appeared here.
(Featured image credit: Aram Diseño/Pexels)
Related: Why You Should Never Sleep After Drinking Alcohol On A Plane, According To Health Experts
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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Calorie counting is considered a useful tool in weight-loss regimes.
Written By
Eshita Srinivas
Eshita is a food, alcohol, travel, and entertainment writer who spends her days zeroing in on the next ..Read More
