Minimize Calories With These Holiday Drink Choices

1 min

The best way to sidestep empty calories this holiday season is to limit sugary and alcoholic drinks or avoid them altogether. That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy traditional beverages – just be sure to moderate your intake and drink water between cocktails to keep hydrated. The following drinks are lower-calorie holiday options when you want something on the sweet and/or alcoholic side.

1. Sparkling non-alcoholic punch. The calories can vary, but most holiday punch can easily be diluted with sparkling water or club soda (tonic has added sugar) to reduce calories and sugars. If you are making your own punch at home, use unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate or some of the sparkling waters flavored with real fruit.
2. Red wine. The antioxidant activity of red wine has been linked to heart health benefits, reduced stress and even preserving memory. Limit yourself to a six-ounce glass; it typically has about 120 calories. You can also add sparkling water here and make a spritzer while cutting calories in half.
3. Hot toddy. A combination of lemon, honey, cinnamon, cloves and brandy, this beverage has between 100 and 150 calories and provides some vitamin C thanks to the lemon juice and blood sugar support from the cinnamon.
4. Champagne. This celebratory drink has about 90 calories in a four-ounce glass. You can also dilute this with sparkling water or club soda to cut calories and make it last longer.

You can also simply substitute sparkling water or club soda for soft drinks or tonic typically added to liquor as a way of curbing calories. Over time you will appreciate the lighter taste and find yourself not needing the high sugar or alcohol content most drinks deliver.

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