Posted at: 12/20/2011 10:40 AM

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Drink your way to health!

Holiday Celebrations come with calories – don’t let beverages be the primary source!
  • Eggnog – average cup of eggnog contains 250 calories!  A healthier option would be Bolthouse Farms nog at only 80 calories per cup.
  • Sparkling Cider – celebrate in style with a spritzy favorite.  Based on 100% juices, R.W. Knudsen cherry and grape flavors rank higher in NuVal scores than some juices.
  • Hot Chocolate – dark chocolate can be relaxing!  Look for 60% cacao content.
  • Water – calorie free and always delicious, there are many new options out there.
Calorie-Free Options (and Mixers)
  • Coconut water is refreshing and a good source of potassium which can help with hydration.  Only 50 calories for 9.5 ounces.  Non-carbonated.
  • Omega Water™ contains fish oil and provides you with 100 mg omega-3 fatty acids per bottle for zero calories.  Non-carbonated.
  • Sparkling Ice™ flavored beverages are calorie-free and have some additional vitamins including vitamin D and green tea extract.  Carbonated.  
  • The Metromint™ line of waters is another calorie-free source of hydration.  Various flavors including peppermint, spearmint and lemon mint, allowing for a refreshing sipper at your holiday party.  Non-carbonated.
  • Neuro™ Sun beverages are only 35 calories per bottle and offer 1000 IU of vitamin D.  Non-carbonated.
 Sparkling Blackberry Punch

Serves 10 (8-ounce glasses)

All you need
2 (17 ounce each) bottles Black Raspberry Sparkling ICE beverage, chilled
1 (32 ounce) bottle L & A Pomegranate Cranberry Juice, chilled
2 cups Hy-Vee raspberry sherbet

All you do

  1. In a large pitcher or punch bowl, mix Sparkling ICE drink and pomegranate-cranberry juice.  Add sherbet and stir gently until melted.  Serve.
Nutrition facts per serving: 99 calories, 0 fat, 20 mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate, 0.5g protein.

If you desire cocktails made with Sparkling Ice (and you are 21 or over) go to www.sparklingice.com for recipes.

While alcohol is fat-free, it does contain calories. In regards to weight management, keep in mind your body processes alcohol first, leaving carbohydrates and fats to get stored as fat instead of being used as fuel.  Best choices in moderation:

  • Wine (at 20 calories/ounce) Choose red over white for most antioxidants.
  • Hard Liquor (30 to 80 calories/ounce)  Use calorie-free mixers with 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.
  • Beer (9-18 calories/ounce) Light beer is your best choice at 9 calories per ounce.  Ale has the most calories.
  • Liqueurs (103 calories/ounce)  Often flavored and sweetened, they are small but mighty in calories.

Jen Haugen represents Hy-Vee as a nutrition expert promoting healthy eating throughout the community.  Jen is a member of the American Dietetic Association.



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