You’re trying to eat (and drink) healthy. But…it’s hard to pass up that well-earned cocktail at the end of a tough week.
Good news: there’s no reason to!
Straight liquor, though not so tasty, is healthiest if served neat (alone with no mixer) or on the rocks (with a little ice). That means vodka, gin, whiskey, and scotch are all fair game. It’s the clearer types of alcohol, however, that go easier on the body. They also go easier on calories. One serving of vodka contains only 97 calories and zero carbs, while a serving of gin has about 110 calories and zero carbs. Whiskey and Scotch actually are very close in calories to gin and vodka.
Although liquor served neat or on the rocks usually comes as a double shot, the whole point is to drink them moderately. Even though mixers taste really good, one serving of pineapple juice adds on an extra 133 calories and 32 grams of carbs, while ginger ale has 124 calories and also 32 grams of carbs
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Here are some healthier ways to get your drink on…
Cosmo
For a healthier cosmopolitan, trade a little of the liquor for club soda. In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 shot (about 2 ounces) of citrus-flavored vodka, 1 splash of club soda, 1 splash of cranberry juice, and the juice of 1 lime wedge; shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Rum & Coke
Ah, the classic rum and Coke—minus the, well, Coke. Enid Cortes, bartender at New York City’s Royalton Hotel, says a white rum and diet cola is a good choice to cut the calories. Or try a spiced rum to give the drink a kick.
Margarita
A margarita can be a low-calorie cocktail. The classic margarita recipe simply calls for tequila, lime juice, and a tiny bit of agave syrup or Cointreau. The most important thing is to skip pre-made mixes. Don’t be afraid to ask the bartender to just use fresh lime juice and a splash of simple syrup instead of a mix.
