Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks

When you?re on a diet, every calorie counts. You?ve switched from your double mochaccino to simple black coffee. You?ve abandoned the glazed donut for low-fat yogurt and granola. The same philosophy needs to apply to your search for great low calorie alcoholic drinks.

One of the reasons why people on diets are told to avoid alcohol is because the way your body processes it. Alcohol takes first priority, because your body views it as a toxin. If you consume it too quickly and your liver can?t keep up, your body is not able to properly break down your regular food, converting them into body fat rather than being converted in something that can be actively used.

That said, drinking alcohol in moderation can also have some healthful benefits. You just want to keep the calorie count as low as possible. There are healthy alcoholic drinks for men and women alike.

White Rum and Diet Sprite

Simple is good. Most spirits contain few calories and few carbohydrates; it?s the mixers that can cause all kinds of trouble. Instead of using regular soda pop, opt for some of the diet or zero calorie alternatives. One great drink is Bacardi and Diet Sprite. White rum only has 56 calories per 1 oz. shot, so a double here is only 112 calories. The Diet Sprite contains zero calories.

Similar variations on this are worth considering, too. Having a double Captain Morgan and Coke Zero works out to just 120 calories and the spice in the rum will give you a little more flavor. Vodka, sparkling water, and a twist of lime is another great choice.

Jalisco Bramble

Jalisco Bramble (Shape.com)

At just 120 calories, a Jalisco Bramble may not look like it belongs on a list of low calorie alcoholic drinks, but it certainly does! Combine 1/2 oz each of lime juice, grapefruit juice, and agave nectar in a tin. Muddle with 1 dial (a round piece about 1/2-inch thick) of ginger and strain into a new tin. Add 4 muddled blackberries, 1 dash peach bitters, and 1 1/2 oz tequila. Shake it with ice, strain into a double rocks glass, and top with crushed ice. Garnish with a couple blackberries and enjoy!

Frozen Lime Margarita

Frozen Lime Margarita (Fitness Magazine)

On the surface, a margarita hardly looks like a healthy alcoholic drink. It?s slushy, it?s sweet, and it?s colorful. As it turns out, done the right way, a single serving can be just 122 calories. There?s a great recipe on Fitness Magazine that?s easy to follow. Blend a can of frozen limeade concentrate with 2/3 cup tequila and 1/2 cup light orange juice. Add 4 cups of ice cubes to get the slushy consistency. Rim 10 glasses with lime and coarse salt, pour in the blended mixture, and enjoy.

While the recipe is for a blended margarita, you could just as easily adjust it for an on-the-rocks version if you prefer.

Miller Genuine Draft Lite and Other Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks

Miller Genuine Draft 64 (soulsight.com)

Beer is the drink associated with beer bellies, but not all beers are made alike. In general, lagers have fewer calories than ales and other darker beers, but there are always exceptions. In terms of the lowest calorie beers on the market, Miller Genuine Draft Lite is a good option. Also sold as MGD 64, each 12-ounce bottle contains just 64 calories. Pabst Extra Light Low Alcohol is almost as low at about 67 calories.

Sour Apple Martini

Sour Apple Martini (glamour.com)

If you get a super fruity, super sweet martini, there?s a good chance that it?s chock full of calories and sugar. Thankfully, a sour apple martini is only about 160 calories. This is going to be higher than a wine spritzer or even the low-calorie beers, but it?s reasonably low given what it is. To mix a sour apple martini, combine 2 1/2 oz sour mix, 3/4 oz vodka, and 3/4 oz sour apple liqueur. Shake it with ice, strain into your martini glass and garnish with a apple slice if desired. Compared to the 250 calories you?d get from a Cosmo, a sour apple martinis are certainly low calorie alcoholic drinks worth considering.

Image credit: Explow.com

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