Pure alcohol calories are not considered protein, carbs, or fat. They are a macro all their own and must be tracked uniquely, which means we can’t accurately log a drink just by scanning a barcode. However, we do get to decide how to account for our drink by either logging it as carbohydrates or fats (or a little of both).

Flexible nutrition is all about finding balance with fueling our body with quality food, while also enjoying the food and drinks we love.

However, it’s important to know that when we consume alcohol, our body shifts its focus to clearing that alcohol out of our system. Since our body is busy processing the alcohol, it puts a halt on processing foods we are consuming, slowing our digestion and increasing chances of dehydration (which might result in an influx on the scale the next morning).

Here are some tips for making drinks more macro-friendly:

Use zero-calorie mixers: swap out tonic water and juices, which have added sugar, for unsweetened sparkling water, diet soda, or Crystal Light. If you are feeling feisty, skip the mixers all together and head straight for the shots.

Choose light: skip the heavy, dark beers for light beer, glass of champagne, or hard seltzer. Don’t be fooled by the ‘low carb’ drinks out there…they advertise 4 carbs, but actually have 100 calories, which means they need to be logged as having 25 carbs!

Also, beware that when consuming alcohol, we tend to get, well…snacky and less mindful of moderation (bring on all the nuts, chips, and treats).