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Alcohol is one of those things that gets the side-eye by some hardcore members of the keto community, largely because it can mess with your ability to lose weight—on any diet, not just the keto diet.
But honestly, the keto diet is hard enough already—and cutting out alcohol in addition to carbs and sugar just seems like... a lot.
Luckily, being on the keto diet and drinking alcohol aren't mutually exclusive—there are plenty of options out there that will allow you to stay in ketosis while getting a little buzz on.
Of course, there are some basics to keep in mind: Be wary of mixers (these tend to be total sugar-bombs), and obviously juices aren’t a great idea either (again, sugar). Surprisingly, tonic is also a no-no—it contains about 22 grams of carbs per eight-ounce serving. And, of course, ciders are off-limits, as are most beers (some light beers are the exception, though).
So yeah, the world isn't necessarily your oyster when dealing with alcohol on the keto diet, but you definitely won't be deprived. Here are a few keto-friendly alcoholic drinks to keep in mind the next time you're out at the bar or looking for a drink to make at home.
Sugar-Free Margarita
Again, mixers will have tons of sugar that you really can't have on the keto diet—but if you use a low-carb sweetener like Stevia, you can absolutely get away with a margarita on the keto diet.
This one combines tequila, lime juice, liquid stevia, and orange extract—and you can whirr it up in blender for a frozen margarita, too.
Per serving: 106 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated), 1 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 0 g fiber.
Keto Bloody Mary
Bloodys are usually keto-friendly (some even come with bacon!), but you’ll want to make sure you’re using unsweetened tomato juice and a sugar substitute—like this recipe does—instead of the real thing.
Also important: Don't go nuts on the Worcestershire sauce—it has one gram of carbs per teaspoon, but it’s not enough to make a huge difference in your diet if you use it in moderation.
Per serving: 163 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated), 7 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein.
Dry wines (white or red)
Plenty of wines can contain sugar, but drier versions are actually pretty low in the sweet stuff. Your best bet is a sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, or merlot—but remember to stick to one serving (usually a five-ounce glass), otherwise you're just doubling up on carbs.
Per serving (sauvignon blanc): 119 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated), 3 g carbs, 0 g protein.
Low-Carb Mojito
TBH, "keto mojito" would be so much more fun to say, but either way you're still getting a mojto without the gobs of sugar they're usually packed with. A low-carb sweetener like Stevia comes to the rescue here again—from there, it's got all the trappings of your typical mojito.
Per serving: 67 calories, 0 g fat (0 g saturated), 2 g carbs, 0 g fiber.
Light beers—like Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, or even Heinekin Light—are all totally fine options on the keto diet...again, as long as you stick to one bottle.
Per serving (Michelob Ultra): 95 cal, 0 g fat (0 g sat), 3 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 0 mg sodium, 0.6 g protein
Korin Miller is a freelance writer who lives by the beach. She has big hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
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