[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/12\/holiday-beverages\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/12\/holiday-beverages\/","headline":"4 Heart-Healthy Holiday Beverages to Enjoy","name":"4 Heart-Healthy Holiday Beverages to Enjoy","description":"We all look forward to the holiday season\u2019s delicious treat and drinks, but the extra calories can put a damper on the festive food and drinks. Creating substitutions and new choices to enjoy your favorite winter beverages will ensure you stay heart healthy and look good in your pictures with family and friends. Eggnog Mix […]","datePublished":"2013-12-23","dateModified":"2019-12-09","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/eggnog.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/eggnog.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/12\/holiday-beverages\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health","Nutrition"],"wordCount":391,"keywords":["apple cider","apple juice","autumn","Christmas","cinnamon sticks","cloves","cocktails","cranberries","eggnog","healthy recipes","heart healthy","holiday season","hot chocolate","low-fat","mini-marshmallows","nutmeg","recipe","skim milk","sugar-free","Thanksgiving","winter","winter beverage"],"articleBody":"We all look forward to the holiday season\u2019s delicious treat and drinks, but the extra calories can put a damper on the festive food and drinks. Creating substitutions and new choices to enjoy your favorite winter beverages will ensure you stay heart healthy and look good in your pictures with family and friends.EggnogMix it up. Fill your glass with half- to three-quarter-parts of low-fat or skim milk and one part eggnog. You\u2019ll still get the flavor without all the calories.Act like a kid. Take out the alcohol. This simple step will reduce the caloric content.Cut the fluff. Pass on that big dollop of whipped cream to avoid the extra sugar and saturated fat.Find an alternative in its many low-fat or non-dairy versions.Hot ChocolateSkip the heavy stuff. If you order hot chocolate at a restaurant or coffee shop, ask that it be made with low-fat or skim milk, and without the whipped cream.To make instant hot chocolate at home, look for product packets marked \u201clow-fat\/fat-free\u201d or \u201clow-sugar\/sugar-free.\u201d Be sure to add the mix to low-fat milk, skim milk or hot water.Go easy on the toppings. Use five to eight mini-marshmallows instead of large ones. If using whipped cream, look for low-fat versions and stick to less than one tablespoon. If you have hot chocolate regularly, try to limit the toppings to \u201conce in a while treats\u201d since they can pack a lot of calories and added sugars.Apple CiderRead the labels. When buying cider at the store, check its added sugar content. Many products contain added sugars, which can increase your calorie intake and cause weight gain. Choose low-sugar and sugar-free options.Do it yourself. When making cider at home, use low-sugar apple juice and a variety of spices (like cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg and whole cranberries). You\u2019ll keep the flavor while cutting calories.Cocktails and Other Alcoholic BeveragesEnjoy cocktails. Serve non-alcoholic versions of your favorite cocktails to lower the calories. Be sure to check the nutrition label, because sometimes products that are alcohol-free have more added sugar.\u00a0Break it up. To reduce the amount of calorie-laden drinks you consume during a holiday gathering, drink a glass of water or sparkling water between each beverage. This will help fill your stomach, leaving less room to overindulge."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2013","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"4 Heart-Healthy Holiday Beverages to Enjoy","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2013\/12\/holiday-beverages\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]