While they're delicious while cheering with friends and family, holiday cocktails could easily kill your diet for the new year. Packing on the pounds definitely doesn't sound like a way to stay merry and bright during this time of year! "These beverages usually contain enough calories and sugar that you'll find yourself asking where those 10 pounds came from come January if you enjoy in excess," explains Dietitian Chrissy Watters. There are certain tricks to consider so you can have your drink and stay healthy too. Now that's something to cheers for. Here are three tips for making healthy holiday cocktails.
Read more ¿Qué más?: 3 Easy holiday cocktail tips from a top Latino bartender
1. Add seltzer to your wine or cocktail: Adding a splash of seltzer is a quick and easy way to make your holiday drink more healthier and cut down the calories. It tastes especially delicious in homemade sangrias and fresh cocktails. If you love your rum and cokes, use diet soda to save on extra calories.
2. Grab the reduced sugar mixed drinks: If you aren't making drinks from scratch, make sure you grab the reduced sugar options for mixed margaritas or fruity punch cocktails. At the same time, if you end up having several reduced sugar drinks, you aren't really helping your diet either. "Drink it slowly. Savor it. Then pass on a second glass until the next holiday event," suggests Watters.
3. Use fat-free milk for creamy drinks: Eggnog and coquito are holiday staples, but there is a way to make them fat free. "Everybody says, 'You can't make coquito low-fat,' but you absolutely can!" says radio personality and cookbook author of Healthy Latin Eating, Angie Martinez. She swaps the heavy ingredients for fat-free evaporated milk and condensed milk. She also uses light coconut milk and egg beaters instead of egg yolks for a creamy base that doesn't stretch your waistline. Watch her make the recipe below and salud!
Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqVtDYfMUF8
Image via Thinkstock
