6 Tips for a Healthy Happy Hour

The workweek is over and your co-workers invite you out after work for a drink before the weekend kicks off. While happy hours are a time to relax and enjoy yourself, they can also sabotage a diet if you don’t head into them with a plan. With two drinks and no plan, you may just be ordering a loaded plate of potato skins before you know it. Don’t undo all of your hard work and consume high-calorie food and drinks that will undermine your weight loss efforts. If you make a plan ahead of time, you’ll be able to make strategic choices that won’t derail your diet while still enjoying happy hour!

6 Tips For A Healthy Happy Hour

Scope Out the Menu Ahead of Time

If you know that you will be headed to happy hour after work, plan ahead and check out the menu online in advance. Sometimes the foods that sound healthy may actually be loaded with calories. Vegetables sauteed in butter or fat might be too heavy. And while always delicious, deep-fried food is a calorie-laden choice. Look for the healthiest options on the menu so you don’t end up consuming more calories in a single meal than you normally do all day.

Find Low-Calorie Cocktails

If relaxing with a cocktail in hand sounds like the perfect happy hour, look for lower-calorie alcohol options. Some brands of alcohol, such as Skinny Girl, were created to be lower in calories than their traditional counterparts. If you are unsure of the calorie count, ask the bartender for suggestions for delicious drinks with fewer calories.

Guzzle Your Water

Hydration is always important, but it is especially critical during happy hour. Drinking water can help you to feel fuller so you are likely to consume fewer calories. It can also help offset the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Make a point to drink several glasses of water while you socialize.

Have a Healthy Snack

Before you leave your house or office, eat a healthy snack full of nutrients and low in calories. It will help you feel fuller, so you will be less likely to binge later. Those potato skins won’t look quite as delightful later with a full stomach, and it will also ensure that you aren’t consuming loads of empty calories.

Set Your Limits

Before you show up to happy hour, have a plan for what you are going to order. Know how many drinks you plan to consume, and cut yourself off once you have reached your limit. Likewise, know what food you plan to order and stick to the plan.

Make Plans Afterwards

Another effective strategy is scheduling another get-together after happy hour is over. This helps you avoid the temptation to stick around and order just one more round of drinks or one more appetizer. Invite your friends over for some healthy snacks afterward or a game of cards. A change of scenery may be just what you need at the end of the night.

Happy hour doesn’t have to derail your healthy lifestyle. Make smart, strategic choices to ensure that you keep your diet on track as you relax. By doing a little research ahead of time you can make sure that you aren’t consuming empty calories. Enjoy happy hour without the added stress of undermining your healthy lifestyle.

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