When everyone is ready to celebrate the holiday season, you don’t want to be left out of the fun just because you’re eating healthy and losing weight. Well, we’re here with some good news for you: You can enjoy an adult beverage with your Nutrisystem weight loss plan. Just choose cocktails that are loaded with flavor but lower in calories. These nine ideas are sure to make your spirits bright without derailing your progress.
Before we start mixing drinks, let’s go over a few tips from the dietitians at Nutrisystem. A serving of liquor is one shot or 1.5 ounces. Limit yourself to two servings a week and try not to have them on the same day.
Follow your cocktail with a glass of water (or seltzer) to keep you hydrated and help you avoid overindulging. It’s best not to have a cocktail on an empty stomach and be especially careful about loading up a plate of unhealthy appetizers to go with your drink. Also beware of mixers and other cocktail ingredients that are loaded with sugar.
When you want to have a drink, these cocktails are a smart choice because they have tempting flavors and brilliant colors, but they don’t overload you with unnecessary calories or sugar. These ideas work great for two cocktails, or you can mix up a batch for a crowd. Their festive holiday ingredients make them just right for any seasonal get-together!
1. Winter Sangria
Sangria is a punch made with wine and a combination of fruits. For the holiday season, use a fruity tasting red wine and add in fresh cranberries and slices of oranges and apples. Make it a day in advance of your party so the fresh fruit has time to soak up the wine.
2. Dairy-Free Eggnog
We’ve given the holiday favorite a healthy makeover while preserving the creamy goodness of the original. In our Dairy-Free Eggnog recipe, we use real eggs blended with almond milk as the base. Then we season it all with honey, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and natural sweetener. Add a shot of dark rum for a rich flavor and just a bit of a kick!
3. French 75
This light, bubbly cocktail is perfect for an elegant gathering. It’s made with gin and lemon juice, plus sparkling wine or champagne for a little fizz. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel for a party-worthy presentation.
4. Hot Toddy
When you want a cocktail that will warm you up on a cold night, make our healthier version of this classic Christmas cocktail. The base of this Hot Toddy recipe is hot tea spiced with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, then sweetened with honey and lemon juice. You can drink it just like that on any day but for a party you can pour in a serving of brandy or rum and everyone will feel extra cozy.
5. Rosemary Gin Fizz
The same herb that adds flavor to your turkey punches up the taste of this simple cocktail, too. To make a Rosemary Gin Fizz, you muddle (or crush) sprigs of fresh rosemary in the glass to release its flavorful oils. Add gin, lemon juice, a bit of honey for sweetness, and finally some club soda. The savory rosemary complements the taste of juniper berries in the gin.
6. Negroni Americano
A cocktail does not need to be complicated to be sophisticated. A Negroni is a popular drink in Italy that features equal parts gin, red vermouth and Campari, an herb-infused liqueur. For the Americano style, you replace the gin with club soda, reducing the alcohol content and calories with some bubbles.
7. Cranberry Paloma
Here’s an idea for putting extra cranberry sauce to use in an eye-catching cocktail. Add the cranberry sauce to the blender with tequila (a low-calorie alcohol), lime juice and grapefruit juice. Finish with club soda for a bit of sparkle.
8. White Christmas Mojito
Give the ever-popular mojito a holiday spin by blending coconut milk with lime juice, a natural sweetener like stevia, and mint leaves. Mix those ingredients with half servings each of white rum and coconut-flavored rum. Serve over ice and garnish with mint leaves and pomegranate seeds for seasonal color.
9. Espresso Martini
If you and your guests are coffee lovers, these flavorful espresso martinis are sure to be a hit. They’re made with cold espresso, unsweetened almond milk half-and-half, and sugar-free vanilla syrup. You can offer them as mocktails or add a shot of vanilla vodka. Finish them with a topping of a few coffee beans and unsweetened cocoa powder and you have the perfect drink to cap off a fun celebration.
