(AscendHealthy.com) – The holidays aren’t always friendly to the waistline. Especially during family gatherings, it can be hard to pass up all those incredible food and drink options — and the calories can quickly add up. Check out how many are hiding in your favorite holiday drinks.
Eggnog: 180-265 Calories
A true holiday favorite, eggnog is about as iconic as it gets as a seasonal drink. Not too many people can resist this rich, creamy, sweet treat — but it’s loaded with calories. According to Consumer Reports, a ½-cup serving of the average, premade eggnog contains about 180, and that’s just the starting end. Going homemade and adding alcohol will bump a 4-ounce serving up to about 265 calories.
Wine: 120-200 Calories
The caloric content of wine can vary quite a bit depending on how sweet or dry it is. Wine Spectator lists dry wines at about 120-130 calories per 5-ounce serving. Keep in mind that many wine glasses hold far more than 5 ounces, so it’s important to track serving sizes to keep calorie counts accurate.
Mulled wine, which usually contains spices and some kind of sweetener like honey or apple cider, can pack 200 calories into a 4-ounce serving, according to BistroMD. Sangria, which combines wine, fruit, liquor and sugar, can have similar counts.
Beer: 53-191 Calories
Another relatively wide range exists in this group, which can be especially high in carbs. Calories.info has the low end set with Bud Select, at just 53 calories per 12-ounce serving. However, the average pilsner runs about 152 calories, a stout is likely to contain closer to 181 and a porter averages 191. Watch labels and keep count.
Hot Chocolate: 150-192 Calories
Does anyone really ever outgrow this sweet, wonderful blast from childhood? It can be a comforting choice on a cold winter morning. Regular packaged varieties average between 150 and 160 calories depending on whether or not they contain marshmallows. Sugar-free varieties are around 80 calories per serving, but they contain sugar alternatives.
For those of us who like the good stuff, this drink can wind up adding way more calories to the day’s tally. Real, homemade hot chocolate averages about 192 calories per serving, according to Livestrong. It’s also high in sugar.
Coffee With Irish Cream: 327+ Calories
One serving of this sweet liqueur, which contains high amounts of milk and cream, will add 327 calories to a cup of coffee. Another choice that’s high in sugar, Irish cream is also high in carbs and fat. Unless it’s a rarely enjoyed favorite, this one is best skipped altogether by people watching their waistlines.
Hot Buttered Rum: 292 Calories
This winter classic combines rum, spices and melted butter, so it’s no surprise that an 8-ounce serving contains around 292 calories. Individuals on low-cholesterol diets may want to say no to this choice, no matter how tempting, due to the high butter content.
Champagne: 80 Calories
Champagne might just look like bubbly wine, but it’s lower in calories. According to DiabetesStrong, champagne makes a great alternative to most alcoholic drinks because it only has 80 calories and 1.6 carbs per 4-ounce serving. That’s something worth toasting over.
Times of celebration sometimes merit a special food and drink, so don’t feel guilty if this holiday season brings a few extra calories with it. Moderation is the key. Enjoy that glass of eggnog or mug of hot buttered rum with the rest of the gathering — but try to lean toward other, healthier options for the rest of the year.
~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension
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