Smart Sipping: Tasty Low-Calorie Alcohol Tips
Many people enjoy having an alcoholic beverage, but unfortunately the calories from alcoholic beverages can add up quickly! Here are some tips and ideas that can be helpful to consider so that you can still enjoy a delicious drink.
- Quality over quantity: Having a cocktail you enjoy may be a better option than having a few lower calorie alternatives for some people. Go for what you really want, sip on it slowly, and savour the taste.
- Modify: Cocktails like margaritas, mojitos, and Cosmopolitans can be modified by adding less simple syrup (sugar) into them. Ask your bartender for ‘light simple syrup’ or ‘no simple syrup’ to save yourself some extra calories.
- Mocktails: If you’d prefer not to drink, consider having a plain or flavoured sparkling water. Experiment with adding citrus, fresh or frozen fruit and fresh herbs for extra flavour.
- Pair with water: Make sure to drink lots of water when having an alcoholic drink. This can help aid in portion control encouraging less alcoholic beverage consumption and ensure you stay hydrated.
No matter which type of alcoholic beverage you enjoy there is typically a low-calorie alternative. Here are some examples to consider
For Wine:
- The lowest-calorie wines will be dry, low-alcohol wines hovering around 10% alcohol by volume
- Consider making a white wine spritzer. A 5 oz glass of white wine has about 120 calories. To make it last longer, try adding some ice, a lemon slice, and topping with soda water to make a white wine spritzer! Perfect on a hot summer day (and an easy way to make a cheap wine taste better).
For Beer:
There are quite a few low-calorie beer options available on the market. Here are a few options.
| Drink | Calories per Bottle |
|---|---|
| Miller Lite | 96 |
| Michelob Ultra | 73 |
| Bud Light | 103 |
| Corona Light | 99 |
| Sleeman Clear 2.0 | 80 |
For Mixed Drinks:
To save some calories and sugar, consider using diet soda or soda water for your cocktails. If you’d like some extra flavour, add in a splash of juice. Here are some yummy combinations.
- Gin and soda with a splash of lemon/lime juice
- Tequila and soda with a splash of pineapple or grapefruit juice
- Vodka soda with a splash of cranberry juice
There are also a lot of canned mixed drink beverages on the market right now. It’s helpful to look at the label, as some have a lot of added sugars. Here are a few lower sugar options.
| Drink | Calories per Can |
|---|---|
| High Noon | 100 |
| White Claw | 100 |
| Nutrl | 98 |
| Social Lite | 80 |
| Cottage Springs | 100 |
| Smirnoff Vodka Soda | 90 |
| Ace Hill Vodka Soda | 90 |
| Little Buddha Cocktails | 90 |
| Bud Light Seltzer | 110 |
| High Noon (Pool Pack) | 100 |
| Good Sunday | 95 |
| Rey Azul Tequila and Soda | 100 |
| Coors Seltzer | 90 |
If you are interested in learning more about the latest research and recommendations for alcohol use, see Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health here: Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health
If you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts about lower calorie alcoholic beverage choices or want to explore this topic in further detail, connect with your Registered Dietitian.
Cheers! 🍸