Which New Year drink contains the most calories?

Health & Beauty

Before you read this, just remember the saying ‘don't shoot the messenger'. Alcohol contains calories of no nutritional value but has all the fat-building potential of lard...

I'm sorry, but I had to give it to you straight.

Mulled wine by the fire, Champagne with dinner, a Baileys nightcap and the obligatory bucketload of celebratory New Year toasts. The list of reasons to enjoy alcohol over the festive period could go on... and on... and...well, you get the picture. But, just because you're not chewing doesn't mean they're calorie free.

Alcohol will have made up at least half, if not most of your daily calorie allowance over Christmas; it's what I refer to as ‘empty calories'.

So, from one Busy Girl to another, here's an easy to read list of what's in what and why you should swap on the 31st...

Magners cider
1 pint = 210 kcals, 2.8 units

1 gin and tonic, single
tall = 180 kcals, 1 unit

1 glass of white wine
175 mls = 130 kcals, 2.1 units

Original Irish Baileys
37ml = 129 Kcals, 1 unit

1 glass of red wine.
175 mls = 119 kcals, 2.1 units

1 glass of champagne
125 mls = 95 kcals, 1.5 units

1 gin and slimline tonic, single
tall = 50 kcals, 1 unit

At a whopping 180 calories avoid a G&T and opt, instead for the floaty lightness of Champagne. As if you need an excuse for Champagne Thursdays! At a lowly 95 kcals and just 1.5 units it would be rude not to stock up on the bubbles this New Year.

Another suitable option would be a cheeky gin and slimline - and at a bingo wing friendly 50kcals, you won't be making a dent to your daily stock of calories.

So to summarise if you have to drink, drink responsibly, drink Champagne and save your calories for a handful of the office Quality Street stash.