No one likes that guilty feeling of over indulgence after drinking just a few too many cosmos at their happy hour. You need to know what drinks are low in calories, and which ones are jam packed and should be avoided at all costs. And, ultimately, moderation is key. Happy hours are notorious for mixed drinks. Use our list below to find mixed drinks that won’t wreck your diet:

•    Diet soda or diet tonic: 0 calories
•    Orange juice (6 oz): 84 calories
•    Cranberry juice cocktail (8 oz): 136 calories
•    Light orange juice (8 oz): 50 calories
•    Light cranberry juice (8 oz): 40 calories
•    Light lemonade (8 oz): 5 calories
•    Coffee, tea: 0 calories
•    Baja Bob's sugar-free margarita or sweet 'n' sour mix: 0 calories
•    Lemon or lime juice (1/2 oz): 10 calories
•    DaVinci or Torani's sugar-free syrups: 0

It’s Going to be a LONGGG Night:
Planning on extending Happy Hour into a Happy Night that ends at 2AM? Alternate your drinks. Switch from alcoholic to non-alcoholic beverages such as diet coke or diet cranberry juice. Embarrassed to be the only girl trading in her vodka laced drink for a diet coke? Ask the bartender to put your diet coke in a drinking glass.

Do you have a favorite low-cal cocktail? Send your recipe to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a chance to win a free session pass to BalanceDiet™.

Articles by this Author:

Nutrition Tips from the Twins

Our acclaimed food experts, the Nutrition Twins, offer tremendous insight...

Read More >>

The 5-Minute, 5-Step Shopping List: The List Makes the Difference

We’d all love to have the time to stroll leisurely...

Read More >>

Get Back to Nature with Outdoor Exercise

Welcome warmer weather and discover new outdoor exercises to incorporate into...

Read More >>

Living by the Head and the Heart

Get inspired by Laura Vanderberg, a former Navy SEALS/EOD scientist who...

Read More >>