The Real Buzz Kill?

The Real Diet Doozy this Memorial Day weekend…
Alcohol!

Alcohol is a double doozy because it increases hunger AND it lowers inhibitions. Yikes! So it makes us want to eat more while it also makes us care less about doing it.

This definitely is not a good combination when we’re around tempting, high-calorie BBQ foods. So stick to one drink (we know, easier said than done!) and use diet soda or seltzer as mixers and not tonic, which is high in calories.

For the hard alcohol, a portion is 1-1/2 ounces (yes, unfortunately, you read that right), which is the size in a shot glass, not the size of the drinking glass! This shot-glass serving has 120 calories, the same amount of calories that you’d find in a 5-ounce glass of wine. Just remember that many restaurants now have big wine glasses–you get 10 ounces of wine, which is 250 calories that you didn’t bargain for.

So what are your best bets? Go for one small glass (5 ounces) of wine or a light beer in a can or bottle (100 calories). And if you really stick to 1-1/2 ounce serving of liquor then it can also be your best bet.

What is your drink of choice and how do you keep the calories in check?