This guide covers the best low calorie drinks for tailgating, what to bring, how to set up a diet friendly drink station, and strategies for pacing through the pregame festivities.
The Tailgate Drinking Challenge
Tailgating presents unique diet challenges:
- Long duration: 3 to 5+ hours of pregame drinking
- Outdoor heat: Hot weather increases consumption
- Social pressure: Everyone is drinking
- No portion control: Coolers and kegs offer unlimited refills
- High calorie food: Burgers, brats, chips compound the damage
- Game drinking: More drinking once you enter the stadium
Best Low Calorie Tailgate Drinks
1. Hard Seltzers
Calories: 90 to 100 per can | Carbs: 0 to 2g
The perfect tailgate drink. Light, refreshing, portable, and low calorie. Variety packs mean something for everyone.
Best options:
- White Claw variety packs
- Truly party packs
- High Noon (real vodka base)
- Bon and Viv (zero sugar)
Tip: Freeze some cans before leaving. They act as ice packs and thaw to drinking temperature by game time.
2. Light Beer
Calories: 95 to 110 per can | Carbs: 2.6 to 6.6g
The traditional tailgate choice. Light beer fits the football culture while keeping calories reasonable.
Best options:
- Michelob Ultra: 95 cal, lowest mainstream option
- Miller Lite: 96 cal, more beer flavor
- Corona Premier: 90 cal, great with lime
- Bud Light: 110 cal, universally available
3. Ranch Water (Canned or Fresh)
Calories: 100 to 130 | Carbs: 2 to 3g
The Texas tailgate favorite is now available pre made in cans, or easily mixed in a cooler.
Cooler batch recipe (serves 10):
- 15 oz tequila
- 8 oz fresh lime juice
- Mix in pitcher, keep cold
- Top with Topo Chico at service
4. Vodka Soda in Cans
Calories: 99 | Carbs: 0g
Canned vodka sodas like Cutwater or High Noon Vodka Soda are convenient and diet friendly.
5. DIY Mixed Drinks
Set up a simple bar for zero calorie mixing:
- Vodka + Crystal Light: ~100 cal
- Rum + Diet Coke: 97 cal
- Whiskey + Diet Ginger Ale: 97 cal
- Tequila + Diet Sprite + Lime: 100 cal
What to Bring to a Tailgate
For Your Cooler
- Hard seltzers or light beer (1.5 to 2 per hour of tailgating)
- Extra water bottles (at least one per person per hour)
- Frozen water bottles for ice and later hydration
- Diet sodas if mixing drinks
- Fresh limes
If Mixing Cocktails
- Handle of vodka or tequila
- Diet mixers (cola, ginger ale, tonic)
- Sparkling water (Topo Chico)
- Fresh citrus
- Solo cups
- Jigger for measuring (or just eyeball it)
Do Not Forget
- Plenty of ice
- Koozies to keep drinks cold
- Trash bags for cleanup
- Sunscreen (sun plus alcohol equals disaster)
Tailgate Pacing Strategy
A typical tailgate might start 3 to 4 hours before kickoff. Here is how to pace:
Drink Timeline
- Hours 1 to 2: Maximum one drink per hour, plus water
- Hour 3: One drink, eat something substantial
- Final hour: Switch to water only before entering stadium
Total Budget
- Conservative: 3 drinks during tailgate = 300 calories
- Moderate: 4 to 5 drinks during tailgate = 400 to 500 calories
- Leave room for: 1 to 2 drinks during the actual game
Hydration Protocol
- One full water between every two alcoholic drinks minimum
- More water if it is hot outside
- Electrolyte drink or tablet midway through
Stadium Drinking Guide
Once inside the stadium, options are limited but workable:
Best Stadium Options
- Light beer: Usually available and cheapest option
- Hard seltzer: Many stadiums now stock these
- Wine: Dry options available at most venues
- Basic spirits: Vodka soda if the line offers it
Avoid
- Frozen margaritas (massive calories and sugar)
- Specialty stadium cocktails (usually sweet)
- Regular beer if light is available
Tailgate Food Pairing
What you eat affects how you handle the drinks:
Smart Tailgate Food Choices
- Grilled chicken: Protein without too many calories
- Burgers (no bun): Protein rich, skip the bread
- Brats (one, not three): Portion control matters
- Veggie tray: Bring one for yourself
- Fruit: Hydrating and refreshing
Foods That Help Drinking
- Protein slows alcohol absorption
- Fat slows absorption too
- Eating throughout the tailgate helps maintain control
Hosting a Diet Friendly Tailgate
If you are hosting, set up options that work for everyone:
Drink Station Setup
- Cooler 1: Hard seltzers and light beer
- Cooler 2: Water, diet sodas, sparkling water
- Separate area: Spirits and mixers if offering cocktails
Label the Light Options
A simple sign saying low calorie options helps guests find diet friendly drinks without asking.
Conclusion
Tailgating and diet friendly drinking can coexist. Hard seltzers, light beer, and simple spirits with diet mixers let you participate fully in the pregame festivities at 100 calories or less per drink. The keys are pacing through the long duration, staying hydrated, and eating protein to slow absorption.
A tailgate with 4 light drinks, plenty of water, and reasonable food is infinitely more enjoyable than one that leaves you stumbling by kickoff. Enjoy the party, remember the game, and feel good the next day.
Use our DrinkLeader database to look up specific drinks and plan your tailgate strategy.
Nutritional values based on standard servings. Tailgate pours are often generous. Never drink and drive. Arrange transportation or tailgate at home.
]]>