Wine About It, Why Don't You?

With all this talk of fall, it seemed painfully appropriate to discuss alcohol (hardy har har).  Though I don't recommend drinking while grading, as I once had an unfortunate mathematical situation while grading midterms and drinking wine...most of us like to relax with a glass or two of something, time and again.  Again, in my opinion, all things in moderation--your favorite adult beverage being no exception.

Now, you may have noticed that on most "diet plans" there is no room for alcoholic drinks.  True, most pack extra empty calories that are all too easy to drink down without really thinking about it, but if you're careful in what you're imbibing in, you can enjoy a round with your friends and not fall totally off the healthy living wagon.

Here's what you've got to do:  Foremost, avoid the sugary cocktails.  If you can't "taste the alcohol" it's probably being concealed by some artificially fruity flavor drowned in sugar.  Stick to the classic 1950s cocktails if you must--gin and tonic (get diet tonic water!), Manhattan, or the classic martini (Franklin Roosevelt's favorite drink!).  These drinks were far more simple than today's assortment--"sex on the beach," "broken golf cart," and "bloody Aztec," indeed.  The reason?  People partied with class in the 1950s--a cocktail party wasn't about getting wasted, but about "mingling" with your friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc.  Men wore suit jackets and women wore dresses--cocktail dresses!--and heels.  You couldn't get drunk while wearing heels--you'd be the talk of the town if you lost your balance after one too many at the Strazinski's luau party.

Also, there wasn't the plethora of preconceived mixes available for consumption in the marketplace.  My favorite cocktail, personally, is the classic margarita.  Do you know what it consists of?  Lime juice, triple sec, tequila, simple syrup, and ice.  A glass rimmed in salt is a nice touch too.  This doesn't require some fancy mix!  The calories in the original are minimal--it's not meant to be a super sweet drink.  In an effort to make the mixing quicker, easier, and more palatable to the American sweet tooth, however, margaritas have become a sugary-sweet neon green concoction.  Blech!

Not a mixologist?  Try scouting out the "low calorie" version of the necessary pre-made mixes--try Baja Bob's or Jose Cuervo's versions if you're a margarita fan.  "Skinny Girl" also offers up a variety of lower calorie options with the alcohol already included--admittedly, the margarita version was a little off-putting, however.  SG offers a lot of other choices too though, which I haven't tried yet.

Likewise, beer gets a bad wrap in the dieting world.  High in calories but typically low in alcohol content, prompting people to drink more of it, beer is a standard drink across America's college campuses.  Not that I condone this.  Beer is the number one cause of the "Freshman Fifteen" (or in some cases, sixty, ouch!)  I don't, in fact, even drink beer--but my graduate student comrades swear by the stuff--so how can you still enjoy a brew or two and lose weight? Or at least not gain any?  Choose wisely.

"I don't often drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis." comes to

mind...what a great marketing campaign!  I love that guy.  But really--drink something of quality if you simply must have a beer--whether it be Dos Equis, Sam Adams, Bell's, or some other high-quality craft beer.  Same logic here as eating dessert--quality over quantity.  If you like the cheap stuff--and who am I to judge? (You know I'm judging you right now...) try the "light" versions. 

Finally, what about wine?  It's made from grapes so it's practically like drinking fruit, right?  Well, not quite.  Wine includes plenty of calories too.  I have a sticker that says "Will Run for Wine"--a poplar saying embellishing an assortment of running gear.  I've heard it takes about five miles of running to burn off a single glass of wine--maybe if you're drinking dessert wine.  Your standard whites and reds are right around a couple hundred calories per 8 oz, so that's still a couple of miles worth of running, but the calorie count is about the same for a standard 16 oz glass of beer, so choose your poison. 

Sister Bertha-Better-Than-You may tell you to avoid the intoxicating stuff if you're truly dedicated to losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle--but let's be real.  Alcohol plays a major part in American society.  Taverns were the places of politics in colonial days--temperance and prohibition formed a major debate for decades--and we've all heard what a great bargaining chip "white lightening" could be.  I say, all things in moderation, including your drink of choice.