Holiday Cocktails: The naughty and the nice

I've never been a huge fan of eggnog, but I've definitely enjoyed some other festive drinks during the holiday season. They warm you up when the temperatures are low and give you a bit of a twinkle in your eye.

But, how much of an impact do these holiday delights have on our waistlines? Some not so much, and others, well, a lot. Holiday drinks can be full of sugar and, many, high in fat. Although the below chart isn't an exhaustive list of cocktails, it gives you an idea of those that are healthier and those that are less so. Those made with cream, half-and-half, or sugary ingredients are the worst offenders. Those that are more basic tend to be the lesser of evils.

Drinks rated 5 stars are the healthiest options, when looking at calories, fat, and carbohydrate intake (sugars). Those that are rated with 1 star are the worst for you. As you can see, unfortunately, most of the season's yummiest drinks are naughty.

Cocktail

Serving Size

Calories

Carbohydrates

Fat

Rating

Wine Spritzer

6 oz

88

2.8

0

*****

Champagne

6 oz

120

2.4

0

*****

White / Red Wine

6 oz

~145

4.6

0

*****

Beer (light)

12 oz

104

5.8

0

*****

Beer (regular)

12 oz

153

12.8

0

****

Mistletoe Cocktail

6 oz

130

7

0

****

Hot Cider (no alcohol)

8 oz

117

29

0

****

Hot Cider (with alcohol)

8 oz

216

22

0

***

Peppermint Mojito

6 oz

273

15

0

***

Poinsettia

8 oz

221

15

0

***

Brandy Alexander

4 oz

246

8

9

**

White Russian(made with 1/2 and 1/2)

4 oz

286

14

5

**

Candy Cane

4 oz

370

42

14

*

Egg Nog (no alcohol)

8 oz

343

34

19

*

Egg Nog (with alcohol)

8 oz

393

38

12

*

If you are in full festivities mode, you can still enjoy while ensuring you don't overdo it on your sugar, fat or calorie intake:

Option 1: Toast the evening off with whatever drink you choose. If you indulge in others after, choose a lighter, healthier option to enjoy.

Option 2: To maintain a festive feel, while staying "on track," try wine spritzers with a splash of juice. Wine spritzers are the best of the bunch, but with a splash of juice, you'll get a bit more flavor and color than a typical spritzer without a ton of extra calories.

What's your favorite holiday cocktail? Have you learned any tricks to keep the calories to a low roar?



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