Spotlight: Alcohol

As much as you would probably like to think that alcohol doesn't count toward calories... it does! Ugh. But since it does, it helps to get an idea of how many calories we're talking about and serving sizes. Typically 1 alcohol choice, or 1/2 oz absolute alcohol, has about 100 calories. As annoying as this may sound, recommended daily limits are 1 serving or less of alcohol for women, and 2 or less for men. Wait, men can drink more?! Yes. A word of caution: alcohol should always be consumed with food to reduce your risk of hypoglycemia, aka low blood sugar, which can occur from the carbohydrate content in mixed drinks, beer and wine. Also, keep in mind that mixed drinks such as margaritas, cosmos and gin and tonics have other calorie and sugar containing liquids that increase carbohydrate content and therefore calories. Let's take a closer look:

Overview and examples: 

• 12 oz light beer (4.2% ), (also counts as ½ a carbohydrate serving)
• 12 oz regular beer (4.9%), also counts as 1 carbohydrate serving)
• 1 ½ oz distilled spirits: vodka, rum, gin, whiskey 80 or 86 proof
• 1 oz coffee liqueur, 53 proof (also counts as 1 carbohydrate serving)
• 2 oz sake
• 3 ½ oz dessert wine (also counts as 1 carbohydrate serving)
• 5 oz dry red or white wine

Well, that's a wrap for the exchange list!  

Thanks for reading!

Jessica