How many calories in a vodka soda: The complete nutritional breakdown for people who mind calories

When you want to lose or maintain weight, it’s important to mind the calories you get from both solid food and beverages. Liquid calories also count toward your total calorie consumption. And they don’t give you any nutrients, just a significant energy surge.

Alcohol is among the beverages that contain quite a lot of calories (nearly as many as in fat). However, not all drinks have the same value. Drinks made with plain spirits and non-sugary sodas (highball cocktails) tend to be less high-calorie. One of such drinks is vodka soda.

How many calories in a vodka soda? This cocktail, made with vodka and club soda, usually contains 96-100 calories per serving. This is twice or even three times lower compared to sugary cocktails, which makes vodka soda generally less harmful for weight loss.

{{button}}

So you want to lose weight, or are just looking to stay fit. In this case, you are probably very thoughtful about what you eat and drink daily. To maintain a calorie deficit, you have to consume fewer calories than your body uses for baseline functioning and added activity. And while the situation with consuming certain products, such as fast food, sweets, and similar products, is fairly clear, other products typically cause a lot of confusion.

Alcohol is usually among such things. People who are dieting have probably heard about the high-calorie content and other adverse effects of alcoholic beverages on weight loss. But is all alcohol equally bad during weight loss? Not really.

All types of alcohol contain calories. However, the amount of beverages ranges significantly, with plain spirits like vodka having the fewest calories. How many calories in a vodka soda, for example? In this article, we’ll answer this question to help you understand whether you can enjoy this beverage while losing weight or not.

Why Do Liquid Calories Matter?

Probably everyone who is concerned about weight knows that losing excess pounds (or maintaining current weight) requires keeping track of how many calories you consume and expend daily. And this isn’t only about the food you eat. It’s also about the liquid calories you consume with beverages.

The tricky thing about liquid calories is that they don’t give your body the same satiety signals as solid food does. That is, you can easily drink more calories than you get from a complete meal, without even noticing it. And the worst part is that these calories are often “empty.” They mainly provide you with sugars and carbs and don't contain any essential nutrients.

Among different liquids, alcoholic beverages are considered rather high-calorie. This is because it’s made with sugar and natural starch. This combination of ingredients makes ethanol (pure alcohol) nearly as calorie-dense as fat – 7 calories per gram. In addition to plain calories, different alcoholic beverages may contain added sugar, which further increases their caloric value. That’s why it’s crucial to mind the total amount of calories you consume with your drink, especially when trying to lose weight.

What Is a Vodka Soda?

Before we delve into vodka soda calories, let’s define what this drink is and what ingredients it contains.

Vodka soda is a popular highball cocktail. Compared to traditional cocktails that are often made with multiple ingredients, highball cocktails are only made with a single plain spirit plus one added ingredient. This way, such cocktails have a higher alcohol percentage. But they also have fewer calories compared to sugary, complex cocktails.

Vodka soda, in particular, is made with 1.5-2 oz of vodka, 3-4 oz of club soda, and ice. This mix of ingredients gives this beverage a simple, refreshing taste with no artificial flavors or added sugars.

How Many Calories in a Vodka Soda

If you enjoy this refreshing cocktail and are wondering whether it will hinder your weight loss progress, the short answer is “no.” Vodka soda water calories are significantly lower compared to many other cocktails.

A single serving of this beverage (if it’s made with 1.5 ounces of vodka) contains around 96-100 calories.

For comparison, popular sugary cocktails usually have twice or even three times more calories per serving:

• Strawberry daiquiri: 250 calories
• Tequila sunrise: 266 calories
• Margarita: 274 calories
• Pina colada: 320 calories

Given these numbers, we can conclude that vodka soda calories are very insignificant compared to other popular cocktails. This means that this beverage can be combined with a diet without hindering progress.

Vodka Soda Nutrition Facts

Now that you know how many calories in a vodka soda, we should consider other nutritional facts. As someone who is mindful about calories, you must know that it’s not just caloric content that matters when trying to lose weight. It’s also important to pay attention to sugar, carbs, and other nutrients.

Here is a breakdown of the main vodka soda nutrition facts that you need to know:

• Total fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 0 mg
• Total carbohydrate: 0 g
• Dietary fiber: 0 g
• Sugars: 0 g
• Protein : 0 g
• Alcohol: 14 g

As you can see, the low vodka soda water calories are also accompanied by a complete lack of sugar and carbs in this drink. This is another factor that makes this drink suitable for people who are trying to lose weight. Yet, it’s important to mind the high alcohol content in this drink.

Practical Tips for Consuming Alcohol Without Hindering Weight Loss

As you already know, vodka soda calories are fairly low for an alcoholic beverage, which is why it’s a popular, diet-friendly choice of a drink. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can consume it in any amount.

It’s important to remember that alcohol can negatively affect weight loss in any quantity. It’s used up first, causes dehydration, and otherwise affects your body and organs. For this reason, it’s generally recommended to consume it in moderation when on a diet. Here are a few tips to follow:

• Limit alcohol consumption to 1-2 drinks per occasion.
• Always eat a nutritious meal before a drink to prevent increased appetite.
• Count your total calorie intake on days when you consume alcohol to ensure that you stay in a deficit.
• Remember about proper hydration and drink sufficient water along with your cocktails.
• Plan your occasions in advance to prevent spontaneous consumption of alcohol in large amounts.

Following these simple tips should help you enjoy your favorite drinks with friends without losing your weight loss progress.

FAQ

How many calories does a vodka soda have?

According to nutritional facts, vodka soda water calories should be between 96 and 100 calories per serving. This is a low-calorie cocktail type, known as a highball.

Can I have vodka soda when trying to lose weight?

Yes. Vodka soda is a highball cocktail made with only two ingredients – spirit (vodka) and club soda. It doesn’t contain added sugars from sugary pops, juices, or syrups, which makes it less harmful to the weight loss process compared to many other drinks.

How many vodka soda drinks can I have on a diet?

Vodka soda is one of the most diet-friendly alcoholic beverages. It’s low in calories and contains virtually no sugar or carbs. Still, it’s recommended to limit its consumption to 1-2 drinks per occasion. Following this recommendation will help you enjoy your nights out without breaking a calorie deficit or getting intoxicated (remember that vodka soda contains quite a lot of alcohol).

Conclusion

If you are on a diet but want to go out for a few drinks, it’s always important to consider the amount of liquid calories, sugar, and carbs that can be present in your glass. Compared to many popular alcoholic beverages, including plain ones and mixed drinks, plain spirits and highball cocktails made with them are less calorie-dense. Hence, they might be combined with a diet in moderation.

In particular, vodka soda can be a good option. How many calories in a vodka and club soda? As you now know, this drink typically contains 96-100 calories with zero sugar and carbs. So if you want to have a drink, you can consider this cocktail. But it’s important to practice moderation.

{{pink-banner}}