Health & Fitness
5 Guilt Free Holiday Drinks
Gather up a great book and enjoy these guilt free winter drinks!
Thanksgiving is officially over which means it’s time for the holiday lights, Christmas music, and warm drinks to put you in the holiday spirit. It’s amazing how a peppermint latte can instantly help combat the cold weather and put you in a good mood. While warm drinks with whip cream and all of the bells and whistles are delicious, the problem is that some of these drinks give you a dose of 500 calories with them. With all of the extra calories that we take in during the holidays anyways, we’ve compiled some DIY warm drink ideas that won’t pack on the pounds. Gather up a great book and enjoy these guilt free winter drinks!
1. Skinny Peppermint Mocha
Slash calories by replacing sugary syrup with peppermint extract and skipping the whipped cream on top. The boost of intense minty flavor in this mocha is balanced out by dark chocolate syrup and nonfat milk.
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Ingredients:
1/2 cup coffee
2 drops peppermint extract
1/3 cup nonfat milk
2 tablespoons dark chocolate syrup
Directions:
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Brew coffee of your choice (or use one package of instant coffee) and pour into a mug. Stir peppermint extract and chocolate syrup into the coffee. Taste and adjust to your liking. Stir in nonfat milk.
2. Spiced Hot Chocolate
Substituting for whole milk and skipping whipped cream can save you on calories with this hot chocolate recipe!
Ingredients:
4 cups prepared hot cocoa with 1% milk
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
4 cinnamon sticks
Directions:
Combine cocoa, nutmeg and chili powder. Pour into mugs and serve with a cinnamon stick.
Recipe courtesy of http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/spiced_hot_chocolate.html
3. Hot Cinnamon Coffee
When plain black coffee just doesn't cut it, enhance your java with a generous infusion of ground cinnamon. The aromatic spice is high in fiber, calcium, and iron. Plus, it adds so much flavor that it can be used as a replacement for sugar.
Ingredients:
1 cup coffee
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons nonfat milk
1 teaspoon brown sugar, if desired
Directions:
Brew coffee of your choice. Mix in cinnamon and milk. Adjust to your liking. Add brown sugar if desired. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
4. Winter Punch
The blend of juices in this punch not only makes a great flavor but also help boost your immune system!
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups apple juice
1 1/4 cups orange juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions:
In a saucepan, combine apple juice and orange juice. Heat over medium heat until steaming hot, but not boiling. Remove from heat and sir in lemon juice, honey and cinnamon. Serve hot.
Recipe courtesy of https://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Winter-Punch-Allrecipes
5. Spiced Cider Punch
Allow this cider to simmer on the stove on a cold day, and you'll be rewarded with a richly flavored, naturally sweet drink. It's steeped in spices like cinnamon and cloves, which are nutrient-dense sources of fiber and vitamins.
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice concentrate
1/2 cup lemonade concentrate
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
Directions:
Combine the first seven ingredients together in a slow cooker. Tie cloves and cinnamon sticks in a cheesecloth bag and place in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for 3-4 hours or until fully heated. Remove spice bag. Garnish with additional cinnamon sticks if desired.