So it’s finally Friday, you’ve had a stressful week and you want to blow off some steam. You can hear happy hour calling your name as the clock nears 5:00 PM. BUT WAIT! What about your diet? What about all that work you put into eating healthy and staying fit all week? You’ve spent hours on the treadmill or in the weight room – don’t let a few cocktails ruin all your hard work. Did you know that one piña colada has more calories than a Big Mac? Additionally, your body will take priority in processing alcohol, leaving carbs and fat to be stored instead of used for energy. It feels good to let loose and have a few drinks, but moderation and calorie intake are key with this double edged sword. Read on to help you make the best choices when it comes to drinking on a diet!

Wine 

When it comes to health benefits, red wine is the obvious choice of the two. In a recent study, “the average ferric reducing/antioxidant power of red wines was almost 10-fold higher than the average ferric reducing/antioxidant power of white wines.” If you’re a lover of white wine, don’t fret, although not as beneficial it’s still lower in carbs and a bit lower in calories per serving than red wine.

*Nutritional information taken from USDA National Nutrient Database- http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-35-45-00

Hard Liquor

The type of liquor you chose to drink can easily diminish your hard work in a second. Liquor, although a bit higher in calories than wine, has less carbs- for the most part. Some liquor like tequila and flavored rum can have around 8 grams of carbs per 1.5 oz serving- compared to vodka which has 0 carbs. When it comes to health benefits, wood aged spirits like whiskey contain even more antioxidant properties than wine! The real killer though when it comes to drinking liquor is what you’re mixing it with. A lot of people like to mix their drinks with soda or juice which can be high in sugar. Sugar will not only add a ton of extra calories but will also cause a mean hangover the following day. Try diet soda, soda water, or diet tonic instead to cut out those extra calories.

*Nutritional information taken from USDA National Nutrient Database- http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-35-45-00

Beer

If you just absolutely need to have a beer- chose a light beer and try to control your servings! It’s difficult to keep track of how much you’re drinking when ordering pitchers. It’s also very easy to drink several beers while out since it takes longer to feel the buzz. Eventually the calories will add up and next thing you know you’ve taken in 1000+ calories and 400+ g of carbs in just a few hours!

*Nutritional information taken from USDA National Nutrient Database- http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-35-45-00

It’s obviously better to avoid alcohol at all costs if you’re trying to lose weight, but for those of you who still want to have a few drinks- make the smart choice when it comes to ordering at a bar. And don’t fall into the trap afterwards of- “I’m drunk and hungry so I’m going to order every item on the dollar menu at my favorite fast food chain!” A few too many drinks can often lead to overeating and then you’ve really set yourself back. Make the right choices and keep making progress!

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