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    Our Ultimate Eggnog Trick

    Whipped cream adds an extra 2 grams of sat fat per dollop. Whipped topping adds zero.

    Just as fun and festive, but with 90% less sat fat. You'll never guess how we did it! By Sidney Fry, MS, RD

    One day, trying to figure out how to lighten eggnog yet again (it's a complicated annual ritual around here), it occurred to me: Eggnog is virtually indistinguishable in makeup and flavor from melted vanilla ice cream. Why not just make it out of melted ice cream? More than a third of the calories in eggnog come from saturated fat-about the amount in 2 heaping tablespoons of butter. Add rum, bourbon, or brandy ('tis the season!), and you're into 400-plus-calorie range. Starting with full-fat ice cream wouldn't be much better. But I found I could shave 250 calories and 14 grams of sat fat by simply using light vanilla ice cream (we like Edy's Slow Churned Vanilla).

    See More: Christmas Cocktails

    The Formula: Let 1/2 cup of light ice cream melt. Stir in 1 tablespoon bourbon and 1/2 tablespoon brandy, sprinkle with nutmeg, and garnish with cinnamon. Voila, a 150-calorie holiday treat.

    Typical Holiday Eggnog
    410 calories
    16 grams of sat fat

    Cooking Light Holiday Eggnog
    156 calories
    2 grams of sat fat

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