We know, we know…being on a diet can be a total drag. But what if we told you there was a way for you to stay on your diet, all while being able to indulge in your favorite adult beverages?
Many of the popular top-shelf liquors are not, objectively, that high in calories. It’s the popular drink additives, such as simple syrup, fruit juices, and pre-made drink mixes that add unnecessary calories to your cocktail. It’s also the portion size that counts, and how frequently you’re consuming alcoholic beverages on top of your regularly planned snacks, meals, and beverages.
We’ve got some tips and tricks, though, if you want to be able to consume your favorite alcoholic drinks while staying tried and true to your diet. Without any further ado, here is the best liquor to drink if you are on a diet.
Tequila
Drinking any sort of liquor on the rocks is always going to be one of the most calorie-efficient ways to drink. But what if you hate the taste of tequila by itself? Luckily, there are some ways to ~disguise it~ without breaking your diet.
Adding extra flavor is the key to masking the strong taste of tequila. Margaritas do a great job of accomplishing this by utilizing the sour margarita mix and a salty rim. But margaritas are high in calories—imbibing in one or two could put you over on your calorie count for the day….and who wants that?! Instead, add a splash of fresh lime juice to your tequila pour and some salt for a low-calorie twist on a margarita.
Another way to mask the strong taste of tequila—without compromising your diet—is to make a modified version of a Paloma. Combine a shot of tequila with some ice, salt, and lime juice in a glass. Then, instead of mixing with a sugar-laden grapefruit juice, switch up your Paloma by utilizing Fresca instead. The citrusy beverage has no calories or sugar—perfect for diet drinking! Since Fresca is grapefruit-based, the tanginess of the beverage mixes well with the gritty tequila flavor. Bottoms up!
Vodka
Vodka is such a versatile liquor, so if this is your liquor of choice…consider yourself lucky! There are plenty of low-calorie ways to enjoy vodka if you’re on a diet.
Love Bloody Marys, but hate the calories? Adding a splash of tomato juice to a serving of vodka can accomplish a similar taste. Feel free to add other low-calorie garnishes such as celery, hot sauce, pepper, lemon juice, and lime juice. By skipping the pre-made mixers, you’ll save a lot of calories.
Are you a martini fan? Well, martinis are actually extremely low-calorie! Stick to just the liquor, perhaps a small splash of vermouth, and some olives and you can rest easy knowing that you’re not breaking your commitment to yourself.
Other popular ways to consume your vodka include mixing it with iced tea for a low-calorie Long Island Iced Tea alternative or mixing your vodka with seltzer for a low-calorie vodka-soda alternative.
Options, people! We’ve got options!
Whiskey
Looking for a low-calorie way to indulge in your whiskey habit? Other than drinking whiskey or bourbon on the rocks, there are a few ways we can imbibe in our smokey liquor habit.
One way is to combine whiskey with diet coke to create a low-calorie alternative for a Jack and Coke. Um, yum! Another creative, low-calorie way to consume your whiskey is to combine it with some ginger root. The spicy flavor of the ginger interacts well with the smokey whiskey; you’ll feel like you’re drinking a specialty cocktail…without the calories.
Gin
Big fan of G&Ts? Well, did you know that tonic waters have almost as much sugar as a can of soda? If you don’t want to give up your guilty pleasure but have a calorie count that you need to adhere to, try switching out the tonic for diet tonic or seltzer. Both of these options have low or zero calories, which is a big help for a diet-friendly drink.
If you love gin but aren’t a big fan of gin and tonics, you’re in luck! Due to its sweet taste, gin pairs well with stronger flavors such as rosemary in the winter and grapefruit in the summer. Gin is also great paired with some frozen fruit or sparkling water.
With all of these delicious options, we don’t think we’ll ever go back to consuming high-calorie drinks. Just remember that one standard serving of liquor is 1.5 ounces.
