Kick off’s coming and you’re in need of refreshment, so what are you going for?

A beer might be the customary accompaniment to watching the rugby, but if you’re watching your alcohol intake or simply don’t fancy a pint, here are some ideas for healthier alternatives.

Non-alcoholic beer

We understand if you’re hesitant about trying non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beer, but they’re honestly not as bad as they used to be. Loads of brands make low-alcohol varieties and you’re bound to find something that’ll satisfy your tastebuds without the hangover.

They can be lower in calories too, for example a 330ml bottle of Peroni clocks in at 136 calories and its non-alcoholic counterpart, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, has 72 calories. A 440ml can of Carlsberg is 136 calories, and their 0.0 version (which comes as a 330ml bottle) clocks in at 63 cals.

A can of fizz

Alright so we’re playing fast and loose with the term ‘healthier’ here, but sometimes only something fizzy will do. It goes without saying that diet or ‘zero’ versions of soda are probably the better choice as they’re sugar-free and very low in cals (a can of Pepsi Max, for example, has 1 calorie).

Water

You read that right. It’s boring but you need to drink more water, so get some in the fridge in advance and enjoy a crisp and refreshing glass of water. Add sugar-free squash if you must or go fancy with a slice of cucumber or lemon.

Coconut water

Coconut water had a bit of a moment a few years ago thanks to its health benefits – namely that it’s full of minerals and electrolytes and can help manage blood sugar levels. You can find it in chillers at the supermarket, and if it’s a hit it can be a nice alternative to water. 100ml of ready to drink coconut water is around 18 calories, with 4g of sugar.

A cuppa

There’s no occasion that isn’t improved with a nice cup of tea in our humble opinion, so stick the kettle on before kick-off and enjoy. Both tea and coffee count towards your hydration goals (which should be to drink around 8 glasses of fluid a day), just lay off the coffee when it’s close to bedtime.

Black tea and coffee have a grand total of around 2 calories per cup, it’s the milk and sugar you’ve got to look out for. 200ml semi skimmed milk is 100 cals, and a teaspoon of sugar is 16 cals.

Alcohol

If you’re watching the game at a pub and are really keen on having an alcoholic drink, but you’re looking to save calories, skip the beer and go for vodka and Diet Coke (a 25ml single shot of vodka is around 54 calories), or a gin and slimline tonic (a single measure of gin is around 52 calories and a 150ml serving of slimline tonic is around 3 calories).

The other thing to watch out for is how much you drink. If a Diet Coke and vodka is only 54 calories, that’s good news for your calorie count for the day…but that soon adds up if you have more than one.