Booze Cruise

One of my brothers got married on Saturday.  Woo!  It was a perfect ceremony and fun reception.  They chose to have the reception on a boat on a nearby lake (thanks to Uncle John for sharing his pictures!).

Fortunately nobody pulled a Michael Scott on the boat. 

 
As with most weddings, there was an open bar.  Champs for everyone boarding?  Yes please!

It did get me thinking though- I haven't ever posted about the nutrition of alcohol...er...the lack of nutrition in alcohol.  While I am generally a total party pooper in all aspects of life, it's not like I practice what I preach allll the time.  I'll have a drink or two every now and then.  So here's the scoop on what to drink and what to skip as you party through the summer.

Worst

Mudslides
These contain anywhere from 500-800 calories.  It's nothing but booze, cream, and chocolate.  Not exactly the foundations of the food pyramid

Margaritas
Frozen (blended) ones can pack anywhere from 290-900 calories.  On the rocks is a better option, but even those can have up to 500.  Any menu that lists "fish bowl margaritas" should be avoided.

Long Island Iced Teas
Hmm...these have booze, booze, and a little more booze, plus sweet and sour mix.  For most drinks, it's the sweet and sour mix that really jack up the sugar level and overall calorie content.  These have up to 400 calories in just a single drink.

Pina Coladas
What?  But there's fruit in these!  And a whole lot of coconut cream, which makes them super high in fat.  Expect anywhere from 300-700 calories.

Light Beer
Hear me out on this one.  How many times do people have just one light beer?  It tastes watered down, so a person's more likely to have a few.  At 120 calories per beer, you could fairly easily consume up to 300-400 calories in an afternoon.

Best

Guinness
If you want a beer, go for a beer-beer.  It's thick and more filling, so you're less likely to want another one.  150 calories per 12 oz

Microbrews
Again, same thought process.  Microbrews tend to be made with richer ingredients than standard mass-produced beers.  Have one, enjoy it, and sip it slowly. 150-200 calories per 12 oz

Wine
Red wine in particular has benefits for your heart.  Research is mixed as to how much a person ought to drink, so still keep it in moderation. 120 calories per 5.5 oz.

Vodka soda
We're talking soda as in soda water- zero calories, zero sugar- just bubbly water.  Picking a potent drink allows you to sip it more slowly.  The more sugary drinks can mask the alcohol taste and before you know it, those cosmos or mojitos are tasting just like regular juice. 80 calories per 1 oz vodka


So there you go.  Of course, after this weekend I plan on returning to my sober party pooper self.  But if even for an afternoon, it can be fun to celebrate all occasions, big and small.