Put Down The Mulled Wine And Step Away From The Baileys!

Try These Winter Wellness Warmers Instead…

We’ve all done it once, twice… possibly a few too many times.

We get all geared up for Christmas, excited to do things with the family, go out with old friends, and before we know it, we’ve had a three-course meal and more glasses of wine than we can count and instead end up spending the rest of the holidays on the couch watching old reruns of the Vicar of Dibley and hoping our bellies won’t stretch out our brand new, freshly gifted trousers before we can start our juice cleanse on the 1st.

But perhaps this year will be different.  After all, if you can’t summon the willpower to get back on a health kick following a worldwide pandemic when can you?

Let’s face up to the facts of our favourite tipples when it comes to Christmas time.

Eggnog

Definitely the worst of the worst bunch; eggnog is boozy, creamy and delicious and unfortunately, that’s exactly what makes it terrible for your body – with as over 400 calories per glass and up to 30g of fat. Ouch!

Baileys

Baileys is – let’s face it – one of the most unhealthy alcoholic drinks you could possibly choose with a whopping 5.8g of fat in a 37ml shot. That’s 130 calories per shot and 5.2g of alcohol.

And for a full glass of Baileys (100ml) you’re looking at as much as 350 calories and 16g fat. Maybe fun for a tipple at the end of a night out, or to jazz up your hot chocolate, but drinking it over the whole Christmas and New Years period starts to add up.

But if you simply can’t sacrifice the Baileys, maybe try the vegan version, the Baileys Almande? It has half the calories and only 1.1g fat per 100ml.

Hot Chocolate

While hot chocolate is good in that it doesn’t usually contain any alcohol (unless you choose to add it!), it is packed with sugar and fat and can contain as much as 500 calories a cup if you include all the cream and marshmallows (you know, the good stuff).

However, there are a lot of lower calorie alternatives on the market, so shop wisely and save calories!

Mulled Cider

We hate to say this because mulled cider is one of our personal favourites. Not too sweet, not too heavy, and with just the right amount of alcoholic kick, this warming drink is ideal for snuggling up on a cold winter’s evening. But we can’t deny that there’s a lot of reasons to avoid it.

For a start, one glass of mulled cider can have over 300 calories in it (and more if you add a spirit to your recipe, such as brandy). Most of this is sugar though, so we can feel slightly better in the knowledge that there’s not too much fat in here.

Now that we all know just how much we ate last Christmas (and continue to regret it), let’s take a look at the alternatives which will take their place.

The Seasonal Saviours!

Heavenly Healthy Hot Choc

Creamy, sweet, rich and velvety. You’d never know it was dairy-free and only 150 calories.

Cacao (not cocoa!) is packed full of antioxidants, iron, and does not have milk or sugar added to it like conventional hot chocolate powder. If you want a little fun, feel free to top it all off with some vegan ‘mallows.

Ingredients:

240ml oat milk

1 tbsp cacao powder

1 tbsp sweetener of choice (agave, honey or maple syrup all work well here)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Vegan mini marshmallows to top (optional)

1. Combine all ingredients in a pan and stir with a spoon or whisk until smooth and hot.
2. Pour into a mug and serve topped with the vegan marshmallows.

Spiced Turmeric And Orange Tea

Instead of your mulled wine or cider this year, why not try a spiced tea instead? Herbal teas are packed full of antioxidants and vitamins, and are a great way of keeping your immune system in fighting shape over the Christmas period. Not to mention they’re a handy alternative when you’re staying off the hard stuff!

Ingredients:

1/2 inch turmeric root

Juice of 1 orange + slices to garnish

1 cinnamon stick

1/4 inch fresh ginger

Honey or syrup to taste

1. Boil all the ingredients in a large pan.
2. Transfer to heatproof glasses and garnish with orange slices.

Cranberry Vodka Cooler

If you really can’t stay off the tipple this Christmas, I have a bit of good news for you. Vodka is only 100 calories a shot and has no fat. Cranberry juice is high in vitamins C, E, K1 and B6 and contains 15% of your RDA of copper. Top up with some no added sugar tonic and you’ve got a nice little low-calorie drinkie that might stop you feeling quite so grim the next morning.

Ingredients:

1 shot vodka

Half cup tonic

Half cup cranberry juice

Sliced orange (to garnish)

1. Combine all ingredients in a glass and garnish with a slice of orange.