Low Calorie Cocktail Options

When you are watching your weight, the last thing you want to do is use up all your calories on drinking, however, you don't have to skip the cocktail party altogether. A good rule of thumb is to skip any spirit or cocktail that includes the word "cream," but you do also have other options.

Enjoy Flavored Vodkas
Flavored vodkas have become very popular. You can vodka flavored in anything from Caramel (Van Gogh) to Sweet Iced Tea (Firefly). With only about 100 calories in a shot and a lot of flavor, they make good cocktails with zero calorie club soda. If you want to keep it even healthier, try Voli Vodka's low calorie, electrolyte-induced line. They have Espresso Vanilla, Raspberry Cocoa, Pear anilla, Orange Vanilla and Lemon - all with up to 40% less calories than most brands.

Watch the Umbrella
If it has an umbrella in it, the chances are it's loaded with calories. A Piña Colada or a Margarita can add 700 calories to your day. Just a few of those and you've packed on a pound. If you like something sweet, try a Cosmopolitan at 150 calories. Or, go for the Piña Colada taste by mixing a martini with Smirnoff Pineapple and Ciroc Coconut. You can also try this Skinny Margarita recipe from Casa Noble for the same great taste in just 200 calories:

2 ounces Casa Noble Crystal
1 ounce fresh lime juice
.75 ounces La Sierra Agave Nectar
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice, strain into a glass to drink straight or pour it over ice.

Diet Down the Mixers
The alcohol itself isn't usually the problem, but what you put in it that adds calories. Even if you are just drinking a simple cocktail like rum and coke or gin and tonic, consider cutting down the calories by switching to diet soda. A class of soda clocks in at about 100 calories and it's not much less for tonic water. By mixing your drink with the same sugar free versions, you've cut the calorie load in half. If you have four drinks during the evening, that would give you four hundred calories saved by using the diet soda.

Pass the Bubbly
Wine is always a good choice when you are looking to save calories, but make it a sparkler and it's even better. Whether it's champagne from France, cava from Spain, prosecco from Italy, or just a sparkling wine from California, bubbly wines are a good option if you are trying to keep the weight off. A glass of any of these sparkling wines has only about 90 calories so it's a safe bet even when it's not New Year's Eve. Also consider the fact that the bubbles cause you to drink it a little slower than you would still wine. Slower drinking means less glasses consumed.