7 Tips for Balancing Your Tipsy Yet Healthy Lifestyle

Whether it’s a summer beach barbecue, a winter holiday party, an after work happy hour or a quiet dinner for two, alcohol and your diet will always be an issue.

There are lots of tales of people working hard to eat healthily and lose weight all week long, then letting alcohol cancel out their efforts on the weekend.

The problem isn’t just with what you’re drinking.

It’s that once you’ve had a drink or two, you may tend to eat foods you would have said no to before. You're much more likely to let go of your healthy eating habits.

Drinking has the unfortunate effect of making us feel hungry. It also breaks down our willpower.

2 glasses red wine in fancy restaurant

There’s nothing wrong with letting yourself have a glass of wine every once in a while – in fact, there are plenty of studies showing lots of benefits to drinking a glass of red wine!

What you want to do is make sure that you keep it under control and make smart choices.

7 Tips for Balancing Your Tipsy Yet Healthy Lifestyle

1. Protein before your Prosecco. If you know you’re going to be drinking, have some protein first.

The less food you have in your stomach, the more impact a drink will have, and the more likely you’ll be to ask for another or forget good choices.

Having a healthy fat or protein in your stomach will keep you smart and help you focus on veggies or nut snacks instead of going for the fried appetizers.

2. Serving size savvy. Make sure you understand alcohol servings.

3 drinks on bar

Lots of restaurants (and friends) pour generous drinks that make 2 glasses worth of alcohol look like 1.

The more you know about what you’re taking in, the more control you will have.

3. Whiskey waistline wisdom. Choose wisely.

If you’re having a beer, choose one that is low carb. When asking for a mixed drink go for club soda instead of juice or other high sugar choices.

4. Fake out your friends. Order a pretty substitute to make it look like you’re drinking.

water with lime on wood table

Something as simple as water and a twist of lime or lemon in a tall glass will keep you on your diet without calling attention to the fact that you’re not indulging.

It will also count towards your daily water intake!

5. Merlot munchy mindfulness. Remember to eat and drink mindfully.

One of the biggest traps that alcohol creates is the tendency to reach out and grab whatever food is in front of you. Skip the chips and dips and opt for the carrots and celery. Better yet, walk away from the food entirely.

6. Think before you drink. Think ahead about what you’re going to eat after drinking.

If you have a plan in mind, you will be much less likely to let yourself order a high fat, high salt meal.

7. Popularize your sobriety. Offer to be the designated driver.

3 women drinking 1 woman designate driver

If you take responsibility for all your friends’ safety, you give yourself a great reason not to drink. Everybody else will appreciate it, and you can feel good about yourself. It’s a real win-win!

Here are a couple of my recipes for healthier cocktails for those of you who indulge from time to time. Cheers!

Yours in health and happiness,

Danette

P.S. Please share this with your friends who like to indulge and I always love hearing from you in the comments below. What's your go-to skinny cocktail?