How to Tackle Holiday Drinking

During the holidays, many of us usually celebrate with an extra beverage in hand, but we often don’t realize how they hinder our health goals. As always, make sure to drink responsibly. It’s ok to have a fun beverage on occasion, in moderation, but frequently drinking holiday drinks can leave their mark well after the holidays have passed. Here are some examples of drinks to be mindful of during the holiday season.

Specialty coffee beverages – We love the holidays for the return of pumpkin-spiced, mocha peppermint, and spiced eggnog everything. However, these unique brews are made delicious by adding lots of flavored syrups and adding high-fat creams. Curb the sugar by spicing up your coffee at home.  Add some peppermint oil, a cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon, and cardamom, but leave the rest of the artificial ingredients at the coffee shops. By avoiding coffee shops, you also avoid potentially eye-ing that holiday baked good that might taste good with your specialty coffee!

Eggnog – This holiday beverage is usually made with milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites, egg yolks, and of course (for adults), sometimes distilled spirits. You may find popular variations from other cultures such as “coquito,” which is popular in Puerto Rico, and “rompope” in Mexico. These beverages come with a hearty nutritional profile rich in calories, carbohydrates, and fat. You can always mindfully enjoy your favorite holiday treat by trimming your portion. 

Alcohol – Spiced everything means an extra splash of alcohol in your cider or rum. While an occasional alcoholic beverage is not a problem, several servings of alcohol or drinking at frequent gatherings can add up to a lot of extra calories. This year with fewer group get-togethers, you may be tempted to have a glass at home. Just remember to slow your pace and enjoy your drink. There’s no rush or need to drink excessively. Try to stick with simple or single ingredient drinks and avoid cocktails with several additives that are often high in sugar like syrups, juices, sodas, and mixes. 

Hot Chocolate – This comfort beverage tastes so good on those cold wintery days, and is simple to make on your own. No need to purchase the instant powders that come with added sugar and dehydrated marshmallows. When you make it from scratch, you can control how much sugar goes in and try using less than the recipe calls for. Take low-fat milk and add unsweetened cocoa with a little sugar and vanilla extract. By doing this, you can avoid all of these other additives. 

Enjoy your favorite holiday drinks, knowing where the hidden pitfalls are. You can still experience the cozy season of the year without guilt later.