5 Ways to Drink Wine and Keep Your Waistline

(Parade) - It’s a new year and with that comes the inevitable resolution to shed a few pounds and get back in shape. And it’s no secret that cutting alcohol out of your diet will help you to achieve that goal, but if you’re anything like us, that’s not a realistic option! We love wine waaaaaay too much to eliminate it completely, so instead, here are a few simple ways to modify your wine drinking habits so that you can still enjoy vino without packing on the pounds.

1. MODERATION

We all know to drink alcohol in moderation for safety purposes, but the same rule applies for caloric reasons as well. Just like anything else you love to eat or drink, wine has calories and those calories can add up quickly when you’re not paying attention to them. Liquid calories tend to be easier to ignore than food calories because they don’t necessarily feel the same way going down, but if you aren’t careful you can consume as many calories drinking wine as you would eating a giant slice of chocolate cake!

So, how many calories are in a glass of wine? According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, a four-ounce glass of wine has approximately 100 calories. While there is some variability among varietals and wine styles, there is little caloric difference between red wine and white wine. What matters more is that most restaurants serve a five- to six-ounce glass of wine; if you’re counting calories, it’s important to keep this in mind, so that you can adjust how much you order accordingly.

And don’t be afraid to ask what size pour you’re being served if it isn’t stated on the wine list. By knowing that one ounce of wine has approximately 25 calories, you can calculate roughly how many calories are in the portion size you’re getting so that you stay within your caloric budget.

2. MAKE IT A SPRITZER