{"id":51620,"date":"2016-08-12T07:15:06","date_gmt":"2016-08-12T11:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=51620"},"modified":"2021-05-14T10:11:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T14:11:12","slug":"spiked-seltzer-low-calorie-drinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/health\/spiked-seltzer-low-calorie-drinks\/","title":{"rendered":"Spiked Seltzer: Your Key to a Healthier Happy Hour?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Spiked
Photo Courtesy of SpikedSeltzer<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Remember how big spiked sodas were in 2015? If you\u2019re into boozy, bubbly drinks like those from Coney Island Brewing Co. and Henry\u2019s Hard Soda, get this: You can now drink spiked water<\/em> (you heard us\u2026not even water is sacred anymore).<\/p>\n

Spiked seltzer beverages are being touted as a day drinker\u2019s healthier alternative to carb-heavy beers and sugary mixed drinks<\/a>. But is hopped-up H2O actually worth the hype? Here\u2019s the scoop on four of the newest sips to look out for, plus expert info from Bonnie Taub-Dix, founder of BetterThanDieting<\/a> and author of Read It Before You Eat It<\/em>. Oh, and for those worried about gluten \u2014 several of these hard seltzers are made gluten-free<\/a>!<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Beer Before Liquor and Other Booze Myths, Busted<\/a><\/p>\n

4 Low-Calorie Sparkling Seltzers   <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Truly
Photo Courtesy of Truly Spiked & Sparkling<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Truly Spiked & Sparkling
\n<\/a><\/strong>Calories:<\/strong> 100 (2 g carbs) per 12-ounce serving
\nAlc.\/Vol:<\/strong> 5%
\nMade by Boston Beer, Truly Spiked & Sparkling is available in three palate-pleasing flavors: Colima Lime, Pomegranate and Grapefruit & Pomelo. And with 100 calories per bottle and just one gram of sugar, they\u2019re the least indulgent of the bunch. According to the manufacturer, the alcohol comes from fermented cane sugar, while a hint of real fruit juice provides the flavorings. As for convenience, the newly launched cans allow for easy beach-to-pool deck transport (or stick with the signature clear glass bottles to really woo your guests).
\nThe verdict:<\/strong> If you\u2019re a stickler for avoiding artificial flavors and sweeteners<\/a>, this sip avoids them at all costs. Plus, the bubbliness is soft \u2014 sort of comparable to champagne \u2014 if you\u2019re feelin\u2019 fancy!<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Protein Beer: Is It Really All That Healthy?<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Spiked
Photo Courtesy of SpikedSeltzer<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. SpikedSeltzer
\n<\/a><\/strong>Calories:<\/strong> 140 (5 g carbs) per 12-ounce can
\nAlc.\/Vol:<\/strong> 6%
\nWithout a doubt, the folks at SpikedSeltzer want you to enjoy the earth\u2019s most refreshing stuff (Indian River Grapefruit, Valencia Orange, Cape Cod Cranberry, West Indies Lime). They also want you to get your buzz on with the highest ABV of the pack! Sip it solo, or consult their website for recipe ideas<\/a> (i.e. how use their beverage as a mixer). Just remember that they’re 140 calories a pop (120 coming straight from the alcohol). That puts this bev a bit higher than your average beer at 5% alcohol, but still a bit less than your average mixed drink<\/a>.
\nThe verdict: <\/strong>The original spiked seltzer brand gets rave reviews from fans and here\u2019s why: bold, un-watered down flavors, no unusual aftertaste, and a price that won\u2019t break the bank. At $8.99 per six-pack (like Nauti, below), it\u2019s one of the cheapest options.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> How to Avoid a Hangover: Your 24-Hour Timeline<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Nauti
Photo Courtesy of Nauti Seltzer<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Nauti Seltzer<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Calories:<\/strong> 110 (5 g carbs) per 12-ounce can
\nAlc.\/Vol:<\/strong> 5%
\n\u201cDive in and get nauti.\u201d Don\u2019t mind if we do! At just 110 calories per drink, these hard seltzers come in four natural flavors: Raspberry, Lemon Lime, Grapefruit and Cranberry. The vintage-looking cans are pretty sweet too, plus it\u2019s available in a variety pack like its competitors Truly Spiked and SpikedSeltzer.
\nThe verdict: <\/strong>This one’s light and refreshing, with an ethos we can get behind. In a recent interview<\/a>, Wachusett Brewing founder Ned LaFortune explained the spiked seltzer\u2019s origins: \u201cWe did consider entering the hard soda market, but I wasn\u2019t excited about making something that had over 300 calories and had one pound of sugar<\/a> per gallon of liquid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"White
Photo Courtesy of White Claw Hard Seltzer<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. White Claw Hard Seltzer
\n<\/a><\/strong>Calories:<\/strong> 110 (4 g carbs) per 12-oz. can
\nAlc.\/Vol:<\/strong> 5%
\nThe ingredients in White Claw are no secret. In the \u201cNatural Lime,\u201d you\u2019ll get purified carbonated water, alcohol from cold brewed sugar, natural cane sugar, and you guessed it, a natural key lime juice. Same goes for the Black Cherry and Ruby Grapefruit flavors. The slim cans are easy to grab, and at 110 calories, it\u2019s on par with a light beer (and actually has a higher ABV in some cases).
\nThe verdict: <\/strong>True to its claims, these are minimally sweet, so if you\u2019re hunting for something that doesn’t tastes very sugary, these are for you.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>33 Sneaky Nicknames for Sugar You Need to Know<\/a><\/p>\n

Spiked Seltzer: Sip or Ditch?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So all in all\u2026clear booze + hydrating water = you being the healthiest person at the party? Well, not entirely.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this drink a cool new kid in town? Yes definitely\u2026Is it low in calories? Not necessarily,\u201d Taub-Dix says. In fact, its nutritional profile might be comparable to many mixed drinks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep calories in mind and make sure you hydrate at the same time \u2014 have a regular seltzer on hand,\u201d she says. \u201cAlso, remember that just because something is clear doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s calorie-free or low-calorie. A cup of olive oil<\/a> is transparent, but it\u2019s about 2,000 calories!\u201d And if used as a mixer, the spiked stuff is \u201cprobably a better alternative than some of things you could <\/em>be using,\u201d she adds. Spoiler alert: tonic water<\/a> packs 32 grams of sugar per can, right up there with many sodas.<\/p>\n

Across the board, spiked sparkling waters are probably what you\u2019d expect \u2014 not as flavorful as some of your other options, but still refreshing to enjoy in hot weather. And if you\u2019re wondering why you\u2019d rather have this over a glass of wine<\/a>? Carbonation has the tendency to make people feel more full, Taub-Dix explains. This means you might end up drinking less (which is inevitably better for you) than if you grabbed a non-carbonated drink.<\/p>\n

Are you sold on hard seltzer? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Move over hard ciders and sodas. Spiked seltzer is making a splash, boasting low calories and natural flavors. Find out if you should pack \u2018em or pass.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,7],"tags":[28,31,44,51,71,333,90,341,388],"class_list":["post-51620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diet-nutrition","category-health","tag-alcohol","tag-beverages","tag-drinks","tag-food-choices","tag-nutrition","tag-sugar","tag-summer","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2nutrition"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51620"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51620\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}