From the Wellness Team: Wellness Wednesday Nutrition Tip: Be mindful of holiday beverages

It’s important to remember that all the fun traditional beverages served around this time of year aren’t simply calorie, fat, or sugar-free. For example, a Grande Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks gives a whopping 440 calories, 50% of the daily value for saturated fat, and 54 g of sugar!

Below is a list of which drinks to be mindful of along with some tips on how to enjoy your favorite holiday drinks.

Be mindful of:

  •  Eggnog
  •  Coffee drinks: Lattes, Frappes, Macchiatos
  •  Coffee creamers
  •  Hot chocolate
  •  Spiced apple cider

Tips to enjoy:

  •  Always order the smallest size available to cut calories, fat, and sugar
  •  Skip the whipped cream on coffee drinks if you order them frequently
  •  Look for sugar-free coffee creamer options
  •  Make hot chocolate with milk to provide a better balance of nutrients
  •  Order coffee drinks with skim or low-fat milk to cut calories and fat, but also provide protein
  •  Enjoy one cup of the drink, and then switch to water or a calorie and sugar-free flavored water

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a wonderful December!

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