Health Tips > Nutrition Bites > Warm Up with Our Fun, Hot and Healthy Holiday Drink Ideas

Warm Up with Our Fun, Hot and Healthy Holiday Drink Ideas

View All Section Pages

Warm Up with Our Fun, Hot and Healthy Holiday Drink Ideas

The holiday season is upon us and it is only fitting to enjoy some of your favorite seasonal foods and drinks. As the weather cools off sipping on a warm winter drink is very appealing. You can savor your hot beverage of choice without packing on the pounds. Take a look at several options you can prepare in the comfort of your own home.

Try low or no calorie flavored coffee or tea. For the holidays, stock up on some of these seasonal favorites from your local stores:

Spruce up your own coffee with zero calorie spices or flavorings. You can add cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin spice to the coffee grounds when you brew. Start with 1 teaspoon per pot and adjust to your taste preference. You might add a dash of cocoa to brewed coffee for a richer flavor.

Use sugar-free syrups. Try sugar-free versions of your favorite syrup to reduce unnecessary calories. Torani® makes a variety of fall/winter seasonal flavors such as pumpkin pie, gingerbread and peppermint. There are zero calories per pump.

Choose nonfat or low-fat milk. Make your own coffee or tea latte or foam up your beverage using milk or milk alternatives that add a calcium boost too. Try fat-free or 1% milk, light soy milk, or almond milk.

Look for lower calorie hot chocolate options. Swiss Miss® No Sugar Added has 60 calories and 1 gram of fat. Both Keurig K-Cup CafĂ© Escapes Dark Hot Chocolate flavor have 60 calories and 2 grams of fat.

Make your own cup of healthier hot cocoa for about 100 calories. Heat up 1 cup of skim milk. In a mug, combine 2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons of water and 1 packet of Splenda to make a paste. Pour the milk into the mug, stir and mix well. Add 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon to taste.

Skip the real whip. There are several low-calorie, low-sugar options for fat-free toppings including Cool Whip Free and Fat Free Reddi-Wip®. Reddi-Wip has only 5 calories and 1 gram of sugar in two tablespoons. Cool Whip Free has 15 calories and 1 gram of sugar per two tablespoons.

Select a sugar-free spiced apple cider. If you enjoy apple cider, you can go lighter with Alpine® Spiced Apple Cider with 15 calories per packet. It also offers 100 percent daily value of vitamin C.

Purchase eggnog with less fat. Silk® has Seasonal Nog Soymilk. A half cup contains 80 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. 

You can warm up this holiday season with any of these guilt-free hot beverages. Sip and enjoy!

Article provided by Elana Paddock, RDN, LD, CDE, and Cooper Clinic Nutrition Services.