When on a diet we are all concentrating on what foods we are eating, or not. Are we counting carbs, fat grams, calories, or something else? However, it can be very easy to forget to factor in the drinks. Apart from plain water, herbal teas, and black tea or coffee, most other beverages may well impact on your diet. In fact, a study from the University of North Carolina has revealed that the average American is drinking an astonishing 450 calories more per day than 30 years ago. The damage if you are not burning it off?
A staggering 23 pounds per year.
Are you sabotaging your diet with smoothies, alcohol, or Starbucks? You could possibly be making smarter beverages selections. Read on for the lowdown on the best drinks on a diet.
Coffee. Try substituting your usual latte for a macchiato or cappuccino. The difference could be as much as 180 calories and 7 grams of fat per cup. Lattes are the worst offenders in the hot coffee department as there is extra milk, and often they contain flavorings that are full of corn syrup which is high in sugar.
Iced Tea. Here is another great example of all 16 ounces not being created equal. Be sure to check the label because some Iced Teas can have as much sugar and calories as a soda. The difference can be as great as 60 calories compared to 200 calories, and 10 grams of sugar as opposed to 25. (Honest Green Dragon Tea is one of the more diet friendly versions.)
Fruit Smoothie. When is a "healthy" drink unhealthy? When it contains 129 grams of sugar and 600 calories! When buying smoothies, always check that you are selecting lower carb fruits, such as berries, apples, or mangoes. Steer clear of additives such as honey and ice cream.
Yogurt Smoothies. Again, you can double your calories and sugar grams just by not reading those labels. Don’t let words like organic fool you, they can still contain plenty of sugar. Try the lower fat options and those promising a low GI content. (Dannon Light & Fit are one of the most diet friendly yogurt smoothies.)
Alcohol. Most of us don’t want to totally deprive ourselves of alcohol. Choosing a different tipple could be the difference between a dress size over a year.
Cocktails. Bloody Marys and Cosmopolitans are every girl’s best friend at the cocktail bar. Cosmopolitans average about 150 calories and 12 grams of sugar per standard serve. Bloody Marys contain about the same, with 150 calories and 10 grams of sugar. Cocktails to avoid are those based on coconut milk, and creamy sugary concoctions.
Wine. Slender wines have recently come onto the market. These wines are sugar free, and extremely low in calories. For further information on these diet friendly wines you may like to read this article.
Conclusion. Most franchises list their drinks’ nutritional values on the net. Research your usual beverages and see if there are more diet friendly alternatives. There are very simple adjustments you can make to what you drink for a dramatic reduction in your daily intake of calories, carbs and fat grams. Read those labels. Drink smart, and keep those extra 23 pounds at bay.