If you attend happy hour a couple of times a week, and you are trying to watch your weight and eat healthily, there are a few strategies you can employ to ensure that you are not racking up the calories while you are enjoying a good time with your friends.

#1 Have Some Water

One of the major attractions of happy hour is the ability to purchase beer and mixed drinks at a more affordable price. However, just because you can get a good deal on alcohol doesn't mean that is the only thing you should drink. Make sure you also have a water or another non-alcoholic drink as well. Make sure that you drink as much water or whatever your non-alcoholic drink of choice is as you drink alcoholic drinks. Drinking more water or a low-calorie drink, such as lemonade, is a great way to reduce the number of high-calorie alcoholic drinks that you consume at happy hour and is a great way to make sure that you stay well-hydrated as well.

#2 Ask For A Small Plate

Happy hour is famous for affordably priced appetizers and food as well. When you order happy hour food, be sure to ask for a small plate to go with whatever food you ordered or are sharing with your friends. Putting your food on a small plate will help you keep track of what you are eating instead of mindlessly eating whatever is in front of you. Also, when you eat food off of a small plate, you trick your brain a little bit. Your brain will think you are full faster when you consume multiple small plates of food over just grabbing at the plate of nachos or eating the free peanuts provided at the bar. 

#3 Go For Simpler Drinks 

Finally, go for simpler mixed drinks instead of more fancy mix drinks. A simple vodka soda is going to have fewer calories than a fancy chocolate martini. Sticking to simple drinks that have fewer ingredients usually equals fewer calories as well. If you are unsure of the calorie count of your favorite drink, ask the bartender or look up the calorie count of the drink. Where possible, sub in infused alcohol instead of consuming drinks that add syrups to achieve additional flavor. Infused alcohol contains fewer calories compared to drinks that depend upon syrup to add flavor.

Keep an eye on your calorie count when you go out to happy hour by sticking to simpler mixed drinks made with infused alcohol. Be sure to also have a non-alcoholic drink on hand and eat your food off a small plate instead of eating off the larger plate or free offerings at the bar.