Written by Amelia Heimerman

As the days get hotter, a poolside day seems more and more inviting. Summertime is in full swing which means hot, sunny days and nights spent with friends and family around the pool. Although these gatherings are intended for pure fun, it can be a little annoying when considering your weight loss goals. You may be offered foods and snacks without nutrition information and fruits and vegetables are nowhere to be seen. This article will provide tips and tricks to consider prior to arriving at a poolside party so you focus on enjoying the moment rather than worrying about staying on track.

As the sun’s rays heat us from the inside out, we may find ourselves reaching for an ice-cold beer. A 12 oz serving of beer typically has 150 calories and can add up as you consume multiple bottles. Incorporating lower calorie and light beers can help you enjoy a cold one without the piling calories. Here are some popular low-calorie and light beers you can find at your local store:

Miller 64 (64 calories)
Corona Premier (90 calories)
Miller Lite (96 calories)
Heineken Light (99 calories)
Corona Light (99 calories)
Coors Light (102 calories)
Miller Genuine Draft Light (110 calories)
Samuel Adams Light (110 calories)

An alternative option to light and low-calorie beers are non-alcoholic beers. This is a great option if you are more into the taste and feel of a beer rather than the buzz. Alcohol is a calorie dense liquid, about 7 calories per gram, and contributes to the caloric content of beer. Outside of the alcohol-content, these beers boast lower carbohydrates than their alcoholic counterparts. Here are some popular picks:

Coors Edge (41 calories)
Old Milwaukee Non-alcoholic Beer (58 calories)
Stella Artois Alcohol-free Beer (60 calories)
Heineken Alcohol-free Beer (69 calories)

Maybe beer is not your thing, but you still want a fun drink to sip on by the pool without the excessive calories. Lauren Mozzo and Megan Folk of Shape.com compiled an article of fun, low-calorie drinks including wines, cocktails, and hard seltzers. Here are some of the highlights:

Ramona Grapefruit Wine Spritzer (90 calories); There are other fruity flavors like blood orange and Meyer lemon.
Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer (90 calories); This drink uses natural fruit flavors and no artificial sweeteners. There are plenty of flavors to choose from like raspberry, blackberry, peach, and lime.
Fling Craft Cocktails (100 calories); There are many cocktails to choose from like a classic gin and tonic, vodka lemonade, mai tai, and more.
High Noon Sun Sips (100 calories); This drink features fruit juice from a variety of summery fruits.
Truly Spiked Sparkling Water (100 calories); There are over 30 flavors that are perfect for a warm day.

Now that we have covered some low-calorie drink options you can bring to the pool for all to enjoy, let’s talk about food. It is totally understandable to be nervous about not knowing the nutrition content of the foods available to you, but you should not let this fear stop you from enjoying your time with friends and family. There are plenty of things you can do to stunt your worry and work towards your long-term weight loss goals while still eating a plate of summertime barbeque goodness.

Liked what you read? Great! Check out this link to learn more about The Millennial Nutritionist and its services.

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