One dieting trick that everyone should learn is how to identify and avoid foods and beverages that are basically nothing except “empty calories.” The term “empty calories” is often used to refer to foods that are high in calories and yet low in nutrition. If you want to lose weight while getting healthy at the same time, you should strive to always avoid these “empty calorie” foods and drinks. Although it’s technically true that “calories are calories,” it doesn’t do your body any good to consume a food that will pack on the pounds without at least nourishing it. Sodas, candy, many snacks and treats and alcohol fall into the category of low nutrition and high calories.
Avoid Alcohol when Dieting
When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s best to simply avoid alcohol altogether. Some people point out the fact that a glass of wine is a rich source of antioxidants. However, there are much lower calorie ways of getting your daily dose of antioxidants as compared to drinking a glass of wine. Additionally, there’s a reason why the term “beer belly” was coined. Although today there are a number of low-calorie beer brands on the market, they are still simply not worth the number of calorie in terms of nutritional content. In the case of other forms of alcohol and liquor, there’s usually even less nutritional value. So, other than perhaps the occasional alcoholic beverage on special occasions, it’s best to just abstain from alcohol when you’re dieting.
Alcoholic Beverages and Snack Foods
The snack foods that usually accompany alcoholic beverages are yet another reason why they can be detrimental to one’s diet. After all, wine and cheese just seem to naturally go together, as do beer and peanuts or other snack foods. Although some of the snack foods customarily consumed with alcoholic beverages are not completely devoid of nutrition, they can definitely add up calorie-wise. When the calorie count of the alcoholic beverages and the snacks are added together, it’s easy to see why they can be so detrimental to losing weight.
Good Substitutions for Alcohol
Although you might wish to avoid drinking alcohol for the sake of your weight loss efforts, it can sometimes be difficult to avoid alcoholic beverages in social situations. As such, it’s a good idea to decide upon your strategy before you find yourself in a situation where alcohol is present. In some cases, you might simply want to limit yourself to a single drink. Or, substitute a glass of sparkling water or a sparkling fruit juice beverage. You’ll consume a fraction of the calories, but will still be able to enjoy having a beverage with your friends.