Drinks to Avoid Over Christmas and New Year for Weight Loss
The festive season is a time for celebration, family, and of course, plenty of food and drink. While it’s a wonderful time of year, it can also be a tricky one if you’re mindful of your weight. Many of us find we consume a bit more than usual, especially during festive tipples. Making small changes to what you drink can make a huge difference, helping you limit any weight gain and giving you a head start on your New Year’s diet goals.
Here are the uunhealthy drinks to avoid for weight loss during the festive period. I will share some of the unhealthiest cocktails and other unhealthy drinks that might be sneaking extra calories and sugar into your diet, along with simple, tasty swaps you will enjoy.
Why Festive Drinks Can Affect Your Waistline
During Christmas and New Year, it’s easy to get caught up in the social whirl. Office parties, family get-togethers, and nights out with friends often involve a drink or two. Research shows that almost two-thirds of UK drinkers consume more alcohol over Christmas than at any other time of the year. While a festive drink is part of the fun, many popular choices are packed with ’empty calories’.
Empty calories are calories that don’t provide your body with any real nutritional benefits like vitamins or minerals. When you drink alcohol, your body works to break it down, but the extra calories from the drink itself, plus any sugary mixers, often get converted into fat. Over time, this can lead to weight gain. It’s not just about the alcohol content; mixers like fruit juice, fizzy drinks, and creamy liqueurs add a surprising amount of sugar and calories.
Understanding which drinks are the main culprits can help you make smarter choices, avoiding unhealthy drinks without feeling like you’re missing out.
The Cocktails and Unhealthy Drinks to Avoid
You might be surprised by the high sugar and calorie counts in some of your favourites, making them unhealthy drinks when consumed in large quantities. Knowing these facts is the first step towards making better choices. These are some of the key drinks to avoid if you want to keep your calorie intake in check.
1. Piña Colada
Topping the list of unhealthiest cocktails is the Piña Colada. This tropical treat might taste like a holiday in a glass, but it’s loaded with sugar and fat. Made with rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, a single glass can contain around 320 calories and 58 grams of sugar. That’s more sugar than a can of Coca-Cola (but a Diet Coke is less, of course)!
The combination of fatty coconut cream and sugary juice makes this cocktail a definite one to watch out for. It’s a dessert in a drink, and while delicious, it’s one of the main drinks to avoid for weight loss.
2. Margarita
A classic Margarita, with its zesty lime flavour, seems like a lighter choice. However, a traditional Margarita made with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice can be around 248 calories per glass. Many pre-made mixes and bar versions also contain a lot of added sugar, increasing the calorie count.
While it’s not the worst, it is still one of the unhealthy drinks I want to share with you, because having a few Margaritas can quickly add up, making it one to be mindful of.
3. Espresso Martini
The Espresso Martini has become a go-to for many, and I must say I love them too. It offers a nice pick-me-up with its mix of vodka, coffee liqueur, and fresh espresso. Unfortunately, it’s also quite high in calories, so it’s one of the unhealthy drinks you might not have considered, with about 225 calories per serving. The creamy liqueurs used are often high in sugar and fat, contributing to its status as one of the unhealthiest cocktails.
4. Lager and Guinness
You might think that a simple pint of beer is a safe bet and not one of the unhealthy drinks you could have chosen. While Lager and Guinness have very little sugar, they are surprisingly high in calories. A pint of lager can have around 220 calories, and a pint of Guinness is not far behind at 210 calories. The calories in these drinks come mainly from the alcohol itself.
It’s easy to lose track of how many of these unhealthy drinks you’ve had, and those calories can accumulate quickly over an evening. If beer is your drink of choice, being aware of the calorie content is important.
5. Long Island Iced Tea
A Long Island Iced Tea is a mix of five different spirits (vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and triple sec) topped up with a splash of cola. This combination results in unhealthy drinks that are not only very strong but also high in calories and sugar, with around 207 calories and 27 grams of sugar. It’s a classic party drink, but it’s certainly one of the unhealthy drinks to avoid if you’re watching your weight.
6. Pimm’s
A jug of Pimm’s is a British summer staple, but it often makes an appearance at Christmas parties too. While it’s filled with fresh fruit, the drink itself is quite sugary. A standard serving of Pimm’s and lemonade contains about 169 calories and 25 grams of sugar. The lemonade mixer is the main source of sugar here and what makes it one of the unhealthy drinks. Swap to diet lemonade or soda water, and you can improve it drastically.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks Can Be Unhealthy Drinks Too
If you’re opting for non-alcoholic drinks, it’s a great way to reduce your alcohol intake. However, it’s important to be aware that some alcohol-free options can be just as high in sugar and calories as their alcoholic counterparts.
Energy drinks are a popular choice, but some contain up to 335 calories and 78 grams of sugar per can. Fruit juices like orange juice can also be very high in sugar, with a single glass containing as much as 51 grams. Even seemingly healthy choices like flavoured water can have hidden sugars, with some lemon waters containing over 21 grams of sugar. Always check the label on non-alcoholic drinks to avoid accidentally consuming lots of sugar.
Smart Swaps and Healthier Alternatives
You don’t have to stick to water all festive season! There are plenty of delicious and lower-calorie alternatives to your favourite drinks. Making these simple swaps means you can still enjoy a festive drink without adding to the weight you want to lose in January.
Here are some healthier choices and swaps for the popular, unhealthy drinks I’ve mentioned.
Instead of a Piña Colada, try a Mojito (without added sugar syrup)
A Mojito made with white rum, fresh mint, lime juice, and soda water is a much lighter option. Ask the bartender to skip the sugar syrup to keep it fresh, zesty, and low in calories. A classic Mojito has around 150 calories, a significant saving compared to unhealthy drinks like a Piña Colada.
Instead of a Margarita, try a Tequila and Soda with Fresh Lime
You can still enjoy the taste of tequila by mixing it with soda water and a generous squeeze of fresh lime. This simple mix is refreshing and contains only the calories from the tequila itself, usually around 100 calories per serving. It’s a great way to avoid the sugary mixers.
Instead of an Espresso Martini, try a Vodka, Lime, and Soda
If you want a simple, clean-tasting drink, a vodka, lime, and soda is a classic for a reason. It’s low in calories (about 96) and has no added sugar. It’s a refreshing choice that won’t leave you feeling sluggish.
Instead of Lager or Guinness, try a Light Beer or a Glass of Wine
Many brands now offer light beers with fewer calories than their standard options. An easy swap from unhealthy dirnks to healthier options without usually sacrificing taste. A glass of red or white wine is also a good option, with a small glass of red wine containing around 123 calories. A wine spritzer (wine mixed with soda water) is an even lighter choice.
Instead of a Long Island Iced Tea, try a Gin and Slimline Tonic
A gin and slimline tonic is a crisp and refreshing drink that is much lower in calories. A single G&T made with slimline tonic has around 115 calories and almost no sugar. It’s a sophisticated, diet-friendly alternative to unhealthy drinks.
Instead of Pimm’s and Lemonade, try Pimm’s with Slimline Lemonade or Soda
If you love Pimm’s, you don’t have to give it up completely. Simply swapping the regular lemonade for a slimline or diet version, or even soda water, will drastically cut the sugar content. Load it up with fresh fruit, cucumber, and mint for extra flavour without the extra calories.
Your Head Start for the New Year
By being mindful of the unhealthy drinks to avoid for weight loss and making smarter choices this Christmas, you are setting yourself up for success in the New Year. You’ll start January feeling better, with less weight to lose, and a positive mindset. Small, consistent changes are far more effective than drastic restrictions.
Enjoy the Christmas season, celebrate with your loved ones, and raise a glass to a healthier and happier you. Cheers to making smart choices that your future self will thank you for!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is wine better than beer for weight loss?
A: It depends on the serving size. A standard glass of wine (175ml) typically has fewer calories than a pint of beer. For example, a glass of red wine has about 123 calories, while a pint of lager has about 220 calories. However, wine can have a higher alcohol percentage, so moderation is key. A light beer or a wine spritzer is a good, lower-calorie option.
Q: Are spirits like gin and vodka fattening?
A: Spirits themselves contain calories (around 7 calories per gram of alcohol), but they are not inherently ‘fattening’. The problem often lies in the mixers, making them unhealthy drinks. A gin mixed with a sugary tonic or a vodka mixed with cranberry juice will be much higher in calories and sugar than if mixed with a diet tonic, soda water, or just a squeeze of fresh lime. Stick to low-calorie mixers to keep your drink light.
Q: What is the lowest-calorie alcoholic drink?
A: A single shot of a spirit like vodka, gin, or tequila mixed with a zero-calorie mixer like soda water and a squeeze of fresh citrus is generally the lowest-calorie alcoholic drink you can have. This typically comes in at under 100 calories per serving.
Q: Do non-alcoholic beers and wines have fewer calories?
A: Generally, yes. Non-alcoholic beers and wines usually have fewer calories than their alcoholic counterparts because much of the calorie content in alcoholic drinks comes from the alcohol itself. For example, a non-alcoholic Guinness has only 71 calories. However, always check the label, as some can still be unhealthy drinks and contain a surprising amount of sugar to improve the taste.
Q: How can I stay on track at Christmas parties?
A: Plan ahead! Decide what you will drink before you go and try to stick to it. Alternate each alcoholic drink with a glass of water to stay hydrated and reduce your overall consumption. Eating a healthy meal before you go out can also help, as drinking on an empty stomach can lead to poor food choices later on. Most importantly, remember to enjoy yourself in moderation, and a few unhealthy drinks won’t make you gain a stone.
