Better Holiday Beverages
Liquid calories add up! Don’t let liquid calories, which we often don’t compensate for by eating less food, sabotage your healthy eating efforts around the holidays. Take a look at how these traditional drinks stack up:
Regular Eggnog- 340 calories per cup
Cocktails with mixer- 150-180+ calories/8-10oz (some up to 400 calories!)
Wine- 120 calories per 5oz
Light Beer- 100 calories
Craft beer- 150-200 calories per 12oz
Holiday coffee beverages (all 16oz “Grande)
Peppermint Mocha- 440 calories (Peppermint White Mocha- 510 calories)
Eggnog Latte- 450 calories
Salted Caramel Mocha- 470 calories
Hot Chocolate- 400 calories
Peppermint Hot Cocoa- 470 calories
Try these better options, and limit yourself to 1-2 caloric drinks a day (and only on special occasions) to avoid excess calories. Sweeten drinks with zero calorie sweeteners to get your sweet fix (stevia is my favorite natural zero calorie sweetener).
Lite Eggnog (100-280 calories per cup)
A “mocktail”- Seltzer water with a splash of cranberry juice or other favorite juice for flavor
Zevia (zero calorie soda sweetened with stevia)
Unsweetened hot Holiday teas (perfect for cold nights!)- many varieties, from Caramel Apple to Candy Cane Lane
Unsweetened cocoa mixed with unsweetened vanilla almond milk- add sweetener if desired
Lower calorie coffee options- plain latte, americano, or brewed coffee- add Sweet Drops (caramel, vanilla, chocolate, coconut squeeze bottles sweetened with stevia) for flavor and sweetness