There's a game on TV, so you grab a beer and a bag of chips and you settle in. The chips leave you a little thirsty, so you grab another beer. After a while, you notice that the chips are almost gone and it's not even halftime. You jump in the car at the break, go and pick up a Burger King Whopper and a bag of fries and return for the second half. Of course, you have to drink another beer.

OK, it's not "just the chips," but the calories in three beers (450 for "average" beers) don't add up to the calories in a Whopper (650), or an 8-ounce bag of potato chips (1,200), or a large order of fries (500) at a fast food restaurant.

As noted elsewhere, if you drink one 12-ounce bottle of beer every day and don't otherwise alter your diet or your exercise regime then you can expect to gain about 15 pounds over the course of a year. Something has to give. We sure don't advocate giving up eating, but it seldom hurts to get more excercise or to think about what you are eating.

Meanwhile, here are the calorie counts for food and drink you might consider discretionary:

- A five-ounce glass of wine 125 calories (that's average, and like beer may vary quite a bit).
- One ounce of distilled spirits, 90 proof, 75 calories.
- Bloody Mary (1.5 ounces vodka), 130 calories.
- Pina colada (8 ounces), 465 calories.
- Long Island iced tea (8 ounces), 225 calories.
- Martini (3 ounces), 190 calories.
- Margarita (8 ounces), 300 calories.
- Mint Julep (10 ounces), 210 calories.

- Pretzel sticks, 1 ounce, 115 calories.
- Plain salted peanuts, 1 ounce, 160 calories.
- Air-popped popcorn, 1 cup, 31 calories.
- Oil-popped with butter, 1 cup, 115 calories.
- Milk chocolate bar, 1.5 ounces, 225 calories.
- Peanut M&Ms, 1 package, 250 calories.
- Snickers, 1 bar, 280 calories.
- Cashew nuts, 3.5 ounces, 575 calories.
- Large taco, 575 calories.
- Onion rings, 8, 175 calories.
- Milk shake, 360 calories.
- A banana split, 550 calories.