Low-Calorie Drinks for the Holidays

Don't always blame the holiday platters. Your widening waistline may have more to do with your drink, especially if you're giddy at the thought of the open bar at the office holiday bash. Drinking low-cal requires a little know-how, so let's review a few key tips to keep your alcohol merriment calorically responsible.

What's Your Proof and Mixer? Try diet tonic or diet soda with your gin or rum instead of the straight, sweet stuff. Light lemonade is great, so is coffee. Watch out for fruit juices, 6 ounces of orange juice has 84 calories. Consider infused vodkas and flavored liquors, which take mixers out of the equation. And don't forget 80-proof vodka has 64 calories per ounce, compared to 82 calories in 100-proof. The pour matters, too. Longer pours mean more calories.

Alcohol and Food are Co-Dependent. Alcohol and food can have a frenzied relationship. An 8-ounce Long Island iced tea has more calories (780) than a McDonald's Big Mac. And one too many top shelf Long Islands often means you'll succumb to a Big Mac attack at the end of the night, after six parmesan puffs, four shrimp tempuras and three truffles.

Don't Drink Dessert. Your cocktail does not need a sugared rim, shaved chocolate, whip on top or a fancy chocolate lattice inside. Stay away from super-caloric cocktails, like an eggnog with rum, and you're off to a great start.

Alternate. To help keep your job come Monday, have a drink with the stipulation the next one is alcohol-free. You'll stay hydrated, happy, thinner and fool-free.

Make a Deal. Decide ahead of time how many drinks you'll enjoy, then stick with it. Eating a small meal before the party can make all the difference in eating and drinking low-cal.