It’s almost Labor Day – meaning almost fall, the start of school, the beginning of spooky season and crisp autumn air! While Labor Day is the symbolic end of summer celebration and for some it has the connotation of being a week-long party, it doesn’t mean that you should completely abandon your health in the process of having fun. Research shows that 80% of adults do not know the nutrition content of the alcoholic beverages they are drinking – yikes! If we are being honest, they probably would rather not know and just ask for another round. Nutrition labels aren’t required on alcoholic beverages, so it’s not like the information is just readily available.
While summer is at it’s close, many of you may have some cooler-weather fitness goals that alcoholic beverages can be hurting. Check out the nutrition information on some of your favorite boozy beverages:
Calories, Carbohydrates, Sugars, Proteins, Fats
- White Wine: 120 calories, 0 grams carb, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Red Wine: (~5 oz) 102 calories, 5 grams carb, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Moscato: 160 calories, 20 grams carb (17 grams sugar), 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Light Beer: 102 calories, 5 grams carb, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- IPAs: (~12 oz bottle) 175 calories, 14.1 grams carb, 1.6 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Wheat Beers: 165 calories, 16 grams carb, 2 grams protein
- Lagers: 128 calories, 10 grams carb, 1.4 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Stout Beer: 170 calories, 6 grams carb, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Ciders: 210 calories, 30 grams carb (24 grams sugar), 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Martini: 70 calories, 17 grams carb (17 grams sugar), 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Mojito: 242 calories, 40 grams carb, 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Margarita: (~12 oz) 174 calories, 19 grams carb (17 grams sugar), 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Bourbon Old Fashioned: 100 calories, 0 grams carb (15 grams sugar), 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Moscow Mule: 120 calories, 15 grams carb (13 grams sugar), 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
- Gin and Tonic: (~6 oz) 143 calories, 14 grams carb (13 grams sugar), 0 grams protein, 0 grams fat
Want to cut some calories? Make wine spritzers and add a splash of soda water to your wine, add ice to make drinks seem more plentiful, opt for soda water instead of tonic and sugary beverages, pass on the mixed beverages with added flavors and syrups, choose lighter beers, or experiment with adding real fruit to drinks or making some low-sugar mocktails!
Article written by GUADS members Breanna and Kate with contributions from shape.com