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Everything You Could Eat If You Stopped Drinking Your Calories

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at Binghamton chapter.

It’s easy to drink your way through a night out with friends, but have you ever stopped to think about the calories in your cup? The most dangerous calories are the ones you can’t taste.

Most alcoholic beverages are filled with empty calories. A standard glass of wine contains approximately 160 calories, while beer, known as one of the more caloric alcoholic beverages, can contain upwards of 250 calories per pint and those are just drinks without added sugars and mixers.

drinking your calories

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

In order to put things into perspective, here is a list of how some classic alcoholic drinks compared to food you could be eating instead:

2 bottles of Budweiser beer = 6-oz. grilled Sirloin steak

drinking your calories

Photo by Daniel Schuleman

Two bottles of Budweiser beer: 21.2 g. total carbohydrates, 290 calories

A 6-oz. grilled sirloin steak: 0 g. total carbohydrates, 312 calories

Instead of wasting your time with fermented barley, treat yourself to a nice, substantial dinner. Channel your inner Ron Swanson and learn how to cook the perfect steak.

drinking your calories

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

3 shots of Fireball whiskey = 1 slice of Pepperoni pizza

drinking your calories

Photo by Christine Chang

Three shots of Fireball whiskey: 33 g. sugar, 33 g. total carbohydrates, 324 calories

One slice of pepperoni pizza: 4.11 g. sugar, 34 g. total carbohydrates, 298 calories

Why suffer through taking shots (especially shots of that cinnamon demon Fireball) when you could have an extra slice of pizza? Then, use your leftover pizza (if you have any) to continue that pizza-y goodness into tomorrow.

drinking your calories

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1 Tequila Sunrise = 1 Hershey chocolate bar

drinking your calories

Photo courtesy of Willis Lam on flickr.com

One Tequila Sunrise: 18 g. sugar, 25.6 g. total carbohydrates, 200 calories

One Hershey chocolate bar: 24 g. sugar, 26 g. total carbohydrates, 210 calories

200 calories in just one drink? Ouch. No wonder they taste so good. Try getting chocolate wasted instead of tequila wasted. Or better yet, make it a chocolate party.

drinking your calories

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

1 bottle of Angry Orchard = 4 Oreo cookies

drinking your calories

Photo by Kelly Logan

One bottle of Angry Orchard: 24 g. sugar, 30 g. total carbohydrates, 210 calories

Four Oreo cookies: 15.3 g. sugar, 32.5 g. total carbohydrates, 208 calories

Really, spiked apple juice over America’s favorite cookie? There’s no comparison in my book.

drinking your calories

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1 glass of Chardonnay = 1 serving of vanilla ice cream

drinking your calories

Photo by Grace Bodkin

One glass of Chardonnay: 1.4 g. sugar, 3.2 g. total carbohydrates, 123 calories

One serving of vanilla ice cream: 14 g. sugar, 16 g. total carbohydrates, 137 calories

Who wants to grow up? Return to your childhood roots with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Maybe even add some sprinkles if you’re feeling fancy.

drinking your calories

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

1 glass of Pinot Noir = 4 Twizzlers

drinking your calories

Photo courtesy of Michael Bentley on flickr.com

One glass of Pinot Noir: 3.4 g. total carbohydrates, 120 calories

Four Twizzlers: 17 g. sugar, 32 g. total carbohydrates, 140 calories

Let’s face it: no one can do Pinot Noir like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Pinot Noir. So, instead of attempting to outdo the true champ, work on mastering this awesome Twizzler hack.

drinking your calories

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

1 Vodka Cranberry = 2 buttermilk pancakes

drinking your calories

Photo by Alex Furuya

One Vodka Cranberry: 18 g. total carbohydrates, 172 calories

Two buttermilk pancakes: 21.8 g. total carbohydrates, 172 calories

Wake up without a pounding headache and ready to embrace the day (and pancakes) without feeling guilty. Use your extra time not spent hunting down the Advil to make these easy and delicious pancakes.

drinking your calories

GIF courtesy of giphy.com

Sarah Greiff

Binghamton '18