A lot of us are in the habit of maintaining a calorie count of whatever we eat or drink in a day. This helps us keep a check on our eating habits and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Even when we let ourselves go a little on weekends or special occasions, the calorie count might be out of sight but is never out of our mind. That’s the reason why wine is the beverage of choice among many health-conscious people as it is perceived to have lesser calories, especially when compared to spirits. But is this actually true? Also, do all wines have the same number of calories?
Where Do Calories In Wine Come From?
Calories in a glass of wine come from two things- sugar and alcohol, which contains seven calories per gram. So a wine with low alcohol by volume is obviously going to have fewer calories than one with high alcohol levels.
The second source is sugar, which contains four calories per gram. This means that a dry wine, which has no sweetness, is going to have fewer calories than a sweeter one.
However, there is a bigger source that does damage to our calorie count when we drink, and that’s food. Alcoholic beverages, including wine, are known to induce cravings for greasy and salty food that come laden with calories. Such foods will negate your purpose if you are drinking wine to manage your calorie count.
Another important factor is the amount. Most people eyeball the amount of wine that goes into their glass and end up pouring more than that per serving. Also, if you end up consuming an entire bottle by the night (roughly five glasses) then wine definitely will do a big damage to your daily calorie count.
Despite these factors, wine contains fewer calories than other spirits. For example, a 150 ml glass of wine gives you somewhere between 120 to 150 calories (per serving). But the same amount of whiskey will contain more than 320 calories, and the numbers climb up rapidly as the alcohol content by volume increases in these beverages.
How Counting Calories In A Glass Of Wine Helps?
It is important to know the number of calories in your drink as it helps you keep a foresight and make healthier choices on a day-to-day basis.
You can switch to low-calorie wines like Champagne, Prosecco, Italian Gavi, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, French Rosé, French Pinot Noir and Dry German Riesling.
Another effective way to mind the calories is to drink in moderation and pace yourself. Set up an upper limit to how many glasses of wine you can have in one sitting. If you have had a hard day, and a glass of wine won’t simply do the trick, then choose your food pairings wisely. Go for protein-rich and roasted or grilled snacks instead of lining your stomach with greasy and fatty foods like French fries, cheese poppers or loaded nachos. Skipping the post-meal dessert can also be a good strategy.
Also, try to pace yourself and enjoy your wine. This will also help you appreciate its various aspects like taste, aroma, mouth feel etc.
And if you plan to stick to just one glass of wine, then make sure that your glass is less than half full.
