Vodka vs Beer Calories: Options That Won’t Ruin Your Diet
If your New Year’s resolution is to get fit, eat healthier, or diet, you are not alone. Many people resolve to work on their health when we enter a new year. For some people, the idea of dieting can be a scary thing. Oftentimes, when we think of a diet, we think of restriction and eating less food, which does not have to be the case.
A lot of people also think of cutting back on their alcohol intake when they diet, but diets don’t have to force you into a totally different lifestyle. A better way to look at it all together is just making healthier habits for yourself and resolving to eat a little better. That way, you do not feel restricted, and you won’t drive yourself crazy when you really want to treat yourself to a tall glass of your favorite beer or vodka mixed drink.
There are a lot of misconceptions about alcohol and eating healthy. There are many who believe the two cannot go hand in hand. No matter what, when it comes to what you eat and drink, there is only one thing you need to remember: moderation is key.
Sure, if you are drinking a couple of beers every single day, you are going to get a beer belly. That is not healthy because of the excessive amount you’re drinking. On the other hand, having one beer two or three nights a week is much different.
We are not here to tell you what to do or to provide diet advice; however, we can give you all the information you need to make good choices and enjoy your favorite alcoholic beverage at the same time. Read on to learn more about beer and vodka and how to not ruin your diet when drinking.
Vodka Nutritional Information
Vodka is a good choice for an alcoholic beverage if you are on a diet or drinking fewer drinks. It happens to be one of the lowest-calorie alcohols, and it is especially great for those who are on a low-carb diet. Vodka is made from ethanol and water, meaning that it pretty much has no nutritional value whatsoever. Some brands might have a small number of carbs in them (such as wheat-based vodkas), but overall, vodka has no sugar, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, or cholesterol.
You can easily figure out how many calories are in vodka once you determine the proof of the alcohol. If the proof is higher, it will have more calories. If the proof is lower, it will have fewer calories. This is a simple way to know which vodkas are low-calorie when you are choosing one.
If you measure your vodka by pouring it in a shot glass, here is some helpful calorie information. For a 1.5 ounce shot, 70 proof vodka has 85 calories, 80 proof has 96 calories, 90 proof has 110 calories, and 100 proof has 124 calories. It should not matter what brand of alcohol you choose when it comes to calories, but rather what proof the alcohol contains.
Beer Nutritional Information
Beer is a little more complicated when it comes to nutritional information. Pretty much all types of beer have varying calorie and nutritional information. However, all light beers have under 100 calories. For regular and specialty beers, you will have to read the specific labels.
Watching your calories when drinking beer can be tricky because many companies do not provide their nutritional information on the cans (or even the boxes). You will often have to look up the calorie information for the specific beer you are drinking. You should also be aware of serving size, such as a tall beer, which will be double the calories.
As a general rule of thumb, darker beers will be heavier and contain more calories. It is not always the case, as some brands will be low in calories. But, typically, light-colored beers are lighter and lower in calories, and craft beers are going to have more calories than mainstream brands. For example, a 12 ounce Miller Lite beer contains 96 calories, while a 12 ounce Blue Moon contains 168 calories.
What Are the Different Kinds of Beer and Vodka?
Vodka is most often made from potatoes or grain. These grains can include wheat, barley, and rye, although it can also be made from corn. Wheat and potatoes are the most popular options for making vodka. Technically, you can make vodka from any food item that can go through the fermentation process. Some European brands even use grass to make their vodka!
Unlike vodka, there is a very wide variety when it comes to types of beer. It is not as simple as just the ingredients. Beers range from very light to very heavy, with tons of other kinds in between. Beer can be fruity, bitter, sweet, tart, and most other flavor profiles you can think of. Here are some examples of types of beer:
- Ale
- Lager
- Porter
- Stout
- Blonde Ale
- Pale Ale
- Wheat
- Pilsner
- Sour Ale
Conclusion
The good news is, pretty much all alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation if you are on a diet. One glass of wine, one beer, and one mixed drink will not ruin the progress you have made. The important thing to remember, though, is that we are talking about a couple of drinks total in a week and not a drink every single day.
If you must choose one or the other, a potato-based vodka served neat (or with a little soda water, lemon, or lime) is probably the better choice given it is gluten-free, has no sugar, and no carbs.
On the other hand, having a light beer is not a bad option either. Most light beers contain a hundred calories or less, which is hardly any calories at all. The only thing to consider is the high number of carbs in regular beers and ales.
If you are really unsure about dieting and alcohol consumption, you should always consult your doctor or nutritionist for more personalized advice. Once you figure out what works for you, head over to Saucey and pick out your favorite vodka or beer and have it delivered straight to your door!
