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Member Comments for the Article:
Diet-Friendly Alcohol Choices
Choose Wisely to Stay On Track
126 Comments
MATTIOI
4/16/2013 10:45:21 AM
I really like rum and diet coke as a healthy drink for my nights out. I thought this site was pretty neat for keeping me in the know about the booze calories I am putting in my body: http://calories-in-alcohol.com/
Not such a good idea to mix diet soda with alcohol. See the following article regarding research being done by a psychology professor where I work (Dr. Cecile Marczinski at Northern Kentucky University).
Of course wine would be the best choice. I hate wine. Or at least, traditional grape wine. I love rice wine and honey wine, and just about any wine I've had made with something besides grapes. Wonder if they're okay too.
There is a site I use called EfficientDrinker.com . It lists the calorie count for at lease 50 beers including Abita, Blue Moon, Sam Adams, etc including the seasonal ales. It doesn't give a carb count, but when I'm trying to make sure I am within my caloric range for the day, I don't particularlly care because I know the calorie count per beer.
The site actually calculates the efficiency of the beer compairing the alcohol content to the calorie content - like what's the biggest bang for your buck, or so to speak.
I think they also have info on wine and liquor too.
Everything is good in moderation, so alcohol shouldn't wreck your diet.
Why does 1.5 ounce of vermouth have twice as many calories as an ounce?
RETLIM
10/12/2012 1:03:08 PM
I have been dieting for the past 4 months. I have lost 23 lbs. and I have still had my scotch and water (2) about 3-4 times a week. If you can count you can make sure that you loose weight also otherwise give up the booze and loose weight. But if you do not know how to control it you will not loose it and it will all come back and faster than before.
I forgot: you have to add the calories from carbs to the calories from alcohol. Don't you wish alcoholic beverages had Nutrition Facts labels? That would make is too simple!
The table says rye, scotch, rum, all have the same calorie content. But the calorie content doesn't depend on the source of the alcohol, it depends on the percent alcohol. Some whiskeys are bottled at 80 proof (40% alcohol), some at 100 proof. Same for wine: calorie content doesn't depend on the grape variety, it depends on the percent alcohol, which can vary from 8% to 14% just among table wines. Same for beer. The table should have been written to show calorie content for different percent alcohol. All it takes is a little arithmetic. There's about 170 calories in a fluid ounce of pure ethanol; multiply the size of the drink in ounces by the percent alcohol by 1.7 and Bob's your uncle.
Wow. I had no idea that my Grand Marnier was so caloric. I'll stick to wine from now on.
WILDBRAT5
10/12/2012 8:25:15 AM
Michelob Ultra, #1 choice for light beer, Coors Light or Corona Light for a close 2nd. Wish they had seasonal (sam adam's Octoberfest, Xmas beers) in a light version!
Helpful article, since I rarely drink and would have no clue as how many calories I am getting on the rare times when I do have a glass of wine.
SDEUTSCH11
8/16/2012 6:06:01 PM
It’s great to hear another voice of reason on the subject of alcohol and diet. For the last year I have felt like a lone voice in the wilderness shouting that alcohol and weight loss can coexist. As you say, it all comes down to calories in vs. calories out. A bagel has about 350 calories. A bottle of Guinness dials in at 125 calories. Lose the bagel at the morning meeting and you have plenty of room for a couple of beers or a glass of wine after work.
Alcohol and diet are a passion of mine. I’ve have spent the last year trying to dispel the myth that the only way to diet is strict prohibition. I’m always happy to see others draw the same conclusion. You can check out our best argument at www.drinkyourcarbs.com.
(Feel free to remove the link if you feel it’s appropriate to do so. For the record, we take no advertising and have nothing to sell. We look like a commerce site, but it is more of an art project. Someday we hope to have a book—and we will definitely send you a copy—but until then we do this because it’s fun, funny and something we’re passionate about.)
There is also a brand called Skinnygirl Cocktails and they make cocktail mixes that, compared to other brands, don't have many calories. Pretty tasty too!
