The Art of Having Fun

Sips & Snacks: Nutritionist Approved Wines

byTeam GM

7 years ago

Welcome to the month of February, everyone! We are excited to celebrate this month filled with love, and especially to sip on a few of our favorite wines with friends and loved ones this Valentine’s Day. We’re blaming the romance in the air…it’s just too hard to resist! However, while we love any excuse to kick back with a glass—and enjoy the benefits of those antioxidants found in some varieties—drinking wine isn’t always sunshine and ros(é)s on our body. Since we have committed to sticking to our healthy goals in 2017, we knew we had to do some research (as well as call upon our nutritonist Kelly LeVeque, of course) to find the wines that wouldn’t take a toll on our health or our waistlines this month. Luckily, we came up with a few ideas that we know will satiate our appetites and provide us with our desired health benefits, without all the unnecessary calories and repercussions. Keep scrolling to see which ones made the cut…

Nutritionist Approved Wines for Valentine's Day | La Vie En Rosé print by Gray Malin

1. PINOT NOIR

If you’re looking for an antioxidant-rich variety, choose this red wine. While red wines are known for being rich in resveratrol, Pinot Noir has the highest concentration of this health-promoting ingredient. And compared to other reds, Pinot Noir is moderately low-cal, with about 120 calories per glass, as opposed to 150+.

2. CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Rejoice all you Cab fans! Cabernet Sauvignon is also antioxidant-rich, and contains high concentrations of polyphenols, which improve blood flow (meaning this wine has anti-inflammatory benefits). Bonus: Cabernet also has the highest level of flavonoids of all the red wines, meaning extra health benefits!

3. SPARKLING WINE

If you’re hoping for a low-calorie sip, opt for a glass of sparkling wine or champagne, which contains health benefits similar to red wine (such as polyphenols), but with about 30 calories less. This means you’ll be sipping only about 80-90 calories per 5 oz. glass!

4. NON-SWEET WINES & DRY WINES

An important thing to note if you’re wanting to sip on something guilt-free, is to steer clear of sweet wines (which average about 45g of sugar per liter), and try dry red wines instead, such as Syrah and Merlot. As a rule, the more “dry” a wine is, the less residual sugar it contains (and less carbs), so don’t let your sweet tooth get the better of you when picking out your wine! Nutritionist Approved Wines on GrayMalin.com/Lifestyle If you’re looking for specific brands that specialize in all-natural and “clean wines”, we recommend taking note from nutritionist, Kelly LeVeque, and trying out Dry Farm Wines. Here’s what she had to say about her favorite wine: “Unlike today's commercialized and processed wines, this is_real,_ naturalwine. Nothing added, nothing removed. Meaning no raging headaches from added sulfites and no puffy weight gain from addedfructose.” A wine that is sugar-free, low-carb, paleo-friendly, and contains no additives? Sounds like a no-brainer to us! Plus, Kelly was kind enough to share a treat with us, and our readers can get an added bottle for just a penny, by clicking HERE. FitVine Wine is another option that was originally developed for athletes, with the goal to deliver a “clean wine” to consumers. While no wine is perfect, this one comes pretty close—it is rich with benefits and a balanced pH, as well as low in calories, carbs and sugar. Check out their selection of wines HERE. You can definitely find us sampling some of these nutritionist-approved wines this month, and we hope you’ll join us! Just remember—all things in moderation. Too much of a good thing can take its toll, so no matter what you’re sipping, don’t go overboard and don’t forget to balance your alcohol intake with healthy foods and exercise! What nutritionist approved wines have you tried? Cheers!

Xx

Team GM Photos: @bewellbykelly on Instagram, Gray Malin