(732) 475-3105
Emily@eastcoastnutritionandwellness.com
1648 Beaver Dam Road Point Pleasant, NJ, 08742
Is There Room for Alcohol in a Healthy Eating Plan?
1 min read • September 8, 2020
Yes! I fully believe in the “everything in moderation” approach. The best eating pattern is one that you can stick to. For some people, having a glass of wine with dinner or a beer after work is relaxing and part of their daily routine. I never encourage people to completely eliminate all of their favorite foods or beverages from their diet, because when you finally let yourself have that meal or drink again, you are more likely to overdo it and consume more than one portion.
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends women consume up to 1 alcoholic beverage and men consume up to 2 alcoholic beverages per day. 1 drink is considered 12oz of beer, 8oz malt liquor, 5oz wine, or 1.5oz distilled spirits or liquor.
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends women consume up to 1 alcoholic beverage and men consume up to 2 alcoholic beverages per day. So, if you want a glass of wine with dinner, have it! However, if you want to consume 1-2 alcoholic beverages per day, make sure to factor them into your daily calorie intake to align with your goals.
For example, if you know you need to consume 1500 calories per day to maintain your weight and you know your glass of wine at dinner adds 100 calories to your day, factor those 100 calories into your daily eating plan to help keep your goals on track.
Alcoholic beverages can provide excess calories, carbohydrates, and sugar, depending on what it is mixed with. For a low calorie alcoholic drink, mix a spirit with a no to low calorie mixer, such as club soda, diet fruit juice, or diet sodas. A distilled spirit, including gin, rum, scotch, whiskey, tequila, and vodka, are fairly low in calories, averaging around 100 calories per 1.5oz. This is typically the amount in a shot or added to a mixed drink.
If you are a beer lover, consume a light beer containing around 100 calories over an IPA, which can pack over 200 calories into a 12oz bottle.
If you prefer wine, a glass of red or white wine provides 120-160 calories per 5oz. Avoid the cocktails made with wine and fruit juices as the fruit juice adds excess calories and sugars! This is typically the case with sangria!
Share This Post
