Let me pose a completely hypothetical situation: You’re out with your friends and you all decide to go to Bull Run, I mean, uh, any bar. You get up to order, and your mind TOTALLY blanks. Well if this hasn’t happened to you, I will readily admit it has happened to me. If you don’t have a usual stand by or are sick of yours, keep reading!
What most of us ignore when we drink is that each drink has calories. And some of our “classics” and favorites are highly caloric! It may not occur to us at the time, but those calories do add up. So I’ve found some classic swaps for you to try next time you head out for ladies’ night.
Long Island Iced Tea: I know we all love L.I.T. night, but did you know that they have over 700 calories? That’s over a third of most people’s daily caloric intake. It might have to do with the fact that it has coke and five different alcohols. Try swapping out coke for diet coke if you can’t live without your L.I.T.s. Or try instead: a vodka tonic. If vodka isn’t your cup of tea, then try gin. Or switch to any basic alcohol with soda or tonic for a refreshing change.
Redbull and Vodka: If this is your go to drink, I bet you feel awful the next morning. Not being able to sleep soundly is part of what affects your hangover. So, when you have three vodka-Redbulls, let’s just hope you don’t have an 8 a.m. To avoid the hangover, try Diet Coke and Rum if you love that soda taste. When you switch to diet coke you save over 50 calories.
Mai Thai: This island classic is delicious—because it has two, yes TWO, sugary juices on its ingredient list! That sugar really packs on the pounds. Try instead: a Seabreeze. If you love the tropical and fruity flavor of mai thai’s, a seabreeze is right up your alley with cranberry juice (hello, antioxidants!), grapefruit juice (vitamin C is always good) and vodka. This swap saves you about 200 calories.
Beer: Good ol’ American brewsky is always fun, except when you realize that your Dos Equis XX is starting to make your jeans tight. If you have a favorite beer see if they make a lighter one and try to wean yourself off of the regular stuff. Beer=bloat. Try instead, a lighter version or a microbrew. According to Web MD, “Most mass-produced beers in the U.S. are cheaply made, relying on ingredients like corn, rice, additives, colorings, and flavorings (oddly enough, the same things that make up most of the junk you can buy at 7-Eleven®). Microbrews adhere to the European codes for beer production, which dictate that it’s made from barley, hops, wheat, and water. A good microbrew contains protein (more than double, in fact), more electrolytes (quadruple), and many times more vitamins and assorted phytonutrients (like flavonoids) than cheap beer.” So kiss your Natty Light habit goodbye and grab a “designer” beer instead.
If none of these spoke to you, or you are a creature of habit, then try making one of these swaps that will help keep you looking and feeling your best during and after your night out.
- Choose smart mixers. Make sure what you’re mixing with your alcohol is calorie friendly, a.k.a. diet, light or sugar-free. Or, try adding half of your favorite mixer and half water.
2. Pace yourself. If you start drinking at 8 p.m., chances are you’ll be drunk by midnight, which is when the fun starts! To avoid this, try to pace your drinks by ordering non-alcoholic drinks in between. Drinking water at a bar isn’t weird, in fact it might help keep you safe and healthy.
3. Why not wine? If you’re not “gettin’ cray,” try to stick to wine or champagne. Maybe try a refreshing wine spritzer. People make fun of wine spritzers, but while they drink their 700 calorie drink, you’ll be buzzed and still fit into your clothes the next morning.
4. Skinnygirl. While they may not be your favorite, if you’re craving a margarita, this low-cal alternative may be right up your alley. Just don’t mix it with anything else!
5. Make a plan. If it’s Wednesday or Thursday night and you have class tomorrow, try to remind yourself to take it easy. Not only do you want to be sharp for class, no one likes to wake up hungover. Before you go out, think of how much alcohol you are going to consume and pace yourself throughout the night.
It may surprise you to know that at all the “grown-up” bars, people order their drinks specifically, and I bet the bartenders of college kids get the same training. So, don’t be afraid to ask for your drink with half juice, half tonic, a squeeze of lime and one of those little umbrellas. The important thing is to know your limit and to be safe and healthy. And to get that little umbrella, because now that it’s snowing more than ever, you’re gonna need that umbrella, ella…or some mittens.