Enjoy Low-Calorie Adult Beverages this Summer: Part 1

06.16.2011 | 3 min read

Brewha; brewski; tropical paradise; bay breeze; sea breeze; margarita. As you know, there are so many adult beverages out there that can satisfy many different palates.

But remember: even when you’re drinking in moderation, the calories can really creep up on you. So, here are some low-calorie choices if you care to indulge this summer.

Pass Me a Cold One

Beer is one of the world’s oldest beverages. As time elapsed, choices of beer increased drastically. There are so many to choose from, so it can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Let me help:

For 12 ounces of beer:

Bud Select 55 – 55 calories

MGD 64 – 64 calories

Bud Select – 99 calories

Aspen Edge Lager – 94 calories

Natural Light – 95 calories

Michelob Ultra – 95 calories

Milwaukee’s Best Light – 98 calories

Yuengling Light – 98 calories

Miller Light – 99 calories

Various brands of light beer average 110-120 calories for 12 ounces

Wine Me

We have heard that drinking a glass of red wine on occasion is good for our health and protects the heart. While statistics show this to be true, it doesn’t mean that it is calorie-free. On average, white wine has 80-90 calories and red wine – on average – has 90-100 calories.

Always double-check the label because Ruby and White Ports have 175-185 calories per serving. The catch with drinking wine is that a serving size is only 4 ounces. Enjoy that glass of wine but be conscious of how much you are pouring into your glass.

Shaken or Stirred

If you do not like beer or wine, mixed drinks are a summer-y alternative. Again, the calories can add up very fast with these multi-ingredient drinks. Here are some suggestions to cut out some of the calories:

Here is a breakdown on liquor per ounce:

80 – proof vodka (40% alcohol, the most common type) has 64 calories per 1 ounce

86 – proof vodka (43% alcohol) has 70 calories per 1 ounce

90 – proof vodka (45% alcohol) has 73 calories per 1 ounce

100 – proof vodka (50% alcohol) has 82 calories per 1 ounce

The bottom line is the higher the alcohol content, the more calories it will have.

Mix it Up

The mixers can be the challenge because they add extra calories. Keep these tips in mind when ordering your next drink:

Use zero calories mixers (link to Summer Drinks Part 1)

Diet pop or tonic (0 calories)

Low sugar/Light juices (varies 40-135 calories per 8 ounces)

Coffee or tea (0 calories)

Baja Bob’s sugar-free margarita or sweet ‘n’ sour mix (0 calories)

Lemon or lime juice (10 calories per ½ ounce)

DaVinci or Torani’s sugar-free syrups (0 calories)

Skinny Girl Margarita Mix (100 calories for 4 ounces of mix)

Best Low Calorie Cocktails for the Summer

Blended Delights

There’s no doubt that a frozen drink will cool you off on a hot summer day. These drinks may be delicious, but you can end up paying for it in the long run with the amount of calories in each drink. Here are some recipes for a frozen adult beverage for fewer than 200 calories: