Healthier Holiday Cocktails
By Nancy Adler
The holiday season is filled with celebrations and cheer, but it’s also a time where people indulge a bit more than usual; in fact, many Americans will gain between 5-10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That is a significant amount of weight in four short weeks. And much of it comes from extra calories we don’t think about, like what we’re drinking. So to avoid that holiday weight gain along with eating a clean diet, practicing the 80/20 rule and making sure to fit in those weekly workouts it’s time to you may want to take a peek at your alcohol consumption. I enjoy and recommended to my clients a few healthier cocktail recipes that are full of Christmas spirit, without all of the added sugar and additives often found in pre-made mixes and drinks.
Let’s get real for a moment, we know alcoholic beverages aren’t good for us! Especially high calorie cocktails like eggnog which has weighing in at 223 calories and 11 grams of fat per serving. Beverages like these are basically a cheeseburger in a mug, friends. I really don’t expect you to go without any holiday merriment, but you may want to take a look at what you’re drinking and be an informed party goer. I want you to enjoy holiday parties and get togethers without derailing your healthy lifestyle and workouts. These healthier cocktail recipes are full of Christmas spirit, without all of the added sugar and additives often found in pre-made mixes and drinks. These delicious drinks have ingredients like rosemary, sage, ginger, lemon, cinnamon, & cranberries that have tons of health benefits and also happen to taste and smell amazing!
Enjoy ! The most wonderful time of the year. With a few helpful tips you can still enjoy the libations the holiday brings and not stretch out the waistline.
KOMBUCHA COSMOPOLITAN 198 calories per glass
Drink a cosmo and get your probiotics too! That’s right; this refreshing Kombucha Cosmopolitan is perfect for the holidays and celebrations all year long! The festive combo of cranberry and lime is refreshing and has a little kick from the Kombucha tea. Probiotics help maintain GI and gut health which is especially important if you tend to indulge this time of year.
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces gluten free Vodka
1 ounce orange liqueur
1/2 large lime, juiced
3 ounces cranberry Kombucha tea
Ice
Lime twist for serving (optional)
CHRISTMAS SANGRIA 115 calories per glass
Sangria is a festive way to infuse wine with fresh fruits herbs. In this recipe, we used cranberries, apples, and fresh rosemary to take this wine from ordinary to extraordinary!
Ingredients
1 bottle Pinot Grigio (we used the Barefoot brand)
1/4 cup of apple cider
6 whole cranberries
6 cranberries cut in half
1/2 a golden delicious apple cut into chunks
8 sprigs of Rosemary
Directions
Cut 6 cranberries in half, and chop 1/2 half of a golden delicious apple into chunks.
Pour Pinot Grigio into a pitcher or your desired serving container, and add in all the cranberries, rosemary, and apple.
Let the Sangria chill for at least four hours before serving, and garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh Rosemary.
APPLE SPICED MAMOSA 159 calories per glass
Just like apple pie! This delicious glass of bubbly Apple Spiced Mimosa is perfect for your holiday brunch or dinner party, and much lower in calories than most holiday drinks.
Ingredients
2 champagne flutes
1 bottle of champagne (you won’t use the whole bottle)
1 1/4 cups no-sugar-added apple juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)
For Sugar Rim
1 1/4 teaspoon coconut palm sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
ROSEMARY GIN FIZZ 129 calories per glass
INGREDIENTS
3 one-inch sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 small lemon, juiced
½ teaspoon honey
1 ½ ounces gin
3 ounces club soda
INSTRUCTIONS
In a small drinking glass, muddle the fresh rosemary, lemon juice and honey.
Fill the glass with ice, then pour in the gin and top with club soda.
Give it a little swirl with a spoon. That’s it!
GRINCH PUNCH 171 Calories per glass
A cup full of this frothy citrus punch would make any Grinch’s heart grow! This is another lower calorie dessert beverage that’s extremely festive and easily made non-alcoholic for any younger party goers.
Ingredients
1 container lime sherbert. (Low sugar if possible )
1 bottle of champagne or prosecco
3 bottles of Izzes Clementine Sparkling Soda
1 fresh lime for garnish
Directions
To dust the rim of your glass just wet the rim of the glass with water and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
Add 2 tablespoons of lime sherbet (sub with sorbet if dairy free) to each glass.
Add equal parts of Champagne and Izzes Clementine soda.
Squeeze 1 wedge of lime into your drink and use another wedge for garnish.
HOLIDAY MOSCOW MULE. 124 calories per glass
Kick off your next party with this Holiday Moscow Mule with fresh mint and ginger! We love this drink because it is low in calorie, but loaded with fresh mint and bright holiday flavors. The fun garnishes on this beverage take this cocktail from special to spectacular, and we promise this is the perfect signature cocktail to share with friends.
Ingredients
1 shot of vodka
1/2 can of Ginger beer (We used Q Ginger Beer)
1 shot of cranberry juice
4 fresh mint leaves and 1 slice of fresh ginger peeled and muddled
Copper Moscow mule cup
Ice
Optional Garnishes
Lime wedge
Orange peel curl
Cinnamon stick
Sugar dusted cranberries
Directions
Muddle the fresh mint and ginger or chop very fine.
Add ice to your copper mug.
Pour in the vodka, ginger beer, and cranberry juice.
Add in garnishes
To make the sugar dusted cranberries rinse cranberries with water and just sprinkle with sugar.
