Guilt-Free Winter Drinks: From Hot Chocolate to Holiday Cocktails

Chocolate. Steaming cups. Sweet and spicy. Warming and soothing. Ah, you recognize the familiar joys of hot winter drinks. What's not winning you over are the bloated calories in some of your favorite drinks. You still want to indulge in the flavors of the holiday, but without all that guilt. With some modifications and some substitutions, you'll still be able to fit into that slinky New Year's Eve dress, without missing out on winter drinks and holiday socializing.

Warm Winter Drinks

No-Guilt Hot Chocolate Mocha

You know it's coming: the inevitable chocolate craving. During the holidays, it can be hard to resist the homemade chocolate fudge, the bowls of chocolate candies on office desks, and the frothy chocolate coffee drinks from your favorite cafe. Make your own version, with fewer calories and none of the guilt. If you really want to cut out the calories, skip the marshmallows and the candy cane. Use caffeine-free coffee or, substitute one full cup of water and add a second tablespoon of cocoa to go make just hot chocolate.

1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup of coffee
1 Tbspn unsweetened baking cocoa
1 packet of your favorite artificial sweetener
handful of mini marshmallows
1 candy cane stirring stick

Spiced Apple Cider

Bring all of the ingredients to a boil and let simmer for five minutes. Makes four tasty servings. For a caffeine boost, mix in a cup of black tea. For a party cider, spike it with an apple whiskey.

1/2 quart apple cider
1/4 quart cold water
1 small orange, sliced
1/8 fresh lemon, sliced
2 cloves
1/2 cinnamon sticks
1/4 pinch ground allspice (to taste)

Christmas Sleep

Did you ever drink warm milk to help you sleep? If you're wound up and need something warm and soothing, try a cup of Christmas Sleep. Heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave. Stir in the honey. Sprinkle in the cinnamon and cardamom to taste.

1 cup skim milk
1 dash cinnamon
1 tspn honey
1 dash cardamom

Cranberry Christmas Spritzer

Lessen the calories in an ordinary glass of wine by making your own Cranberry Christmas spritzer.

1/2 cup of white wine
1/4 cup of low-calorie cranberry juice (pomegranate juice also works)
1/2 cup seltzer (choose seltzer not tonic water)
one slice of lime

Sources

Personal Experience
http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/Spiced-Apple-Cider/r3857.html