Replace Your Thirst-quenchers with Low-calorie Drinks

Credit: Wellness Matters

For a refreshing beverage that’s calorie-free, try sipping mint tea

Do you really know how many calories you’re slurping down in your favourite beverages?

Before you quaff back your favourite summer thirst-quencher, consider this: Many popular beverages contain a lot more calories than you 
may think.

Check out the calorie count on these 
five favourites:

1. 

Red wine: 6 fl. oz./175 mL 150 calories

2. Regular beer: 12 fl. oz./355 mL 150 calories

3. Coca Cola: 12 fl. oz./355 mL 160 calories
   
4. 
Starbucks Iced Vanilla Latte with whole milk 
(Grande): 16 fl. oz./454 mL 210 calories
5. 
McDonald’s Triple Thick Milkshake: 
16 fl. oz/ 454 mL 580 calories



Make Conscious Beverage Choices to Lower Your Calorie Intake

Cutting calories from beverages is all about choices. A red wine spritzer or a light beer cuts almost 100 calories from their regular counterparts, while choosing diet soda over regular soda cuts the calories to 0.

Ask for low-fat milk for your iced latte, or satisfy your hankering for a chocolate milkshake with a cup of ice-cold chocolate milk.


About 20% (400 calories) of the average person’s daily caloric intake typically comes from beverages. Aim to consume less than 200 calories a day from what you drink. Plain water, mineral water, diet sodas, coffee (less than 4 cups a day) and tea are excellent for quenching your thirst without chalking up unnecessary calories.



Canadian Beverages to Become More Transparent

Canadian beverage companies, through an initiative called Clear on Calories, will begin displaying the total calorie count on the front of beverage containers starting in mid-2011.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.