8 Easy Ways to Make Holiday Drinks Healthier

Clink your glasses to a healthier holiday drink with less fat, sugar and calories using these 8 helpful tips. We put a healthier twist on all your favourite holiday drinks to ensure a happy and healthy holiday season and New Year.

‘Tis the season - the holiday drinks season that is! When flavour notes of cocoa, gingerbread and peppermint fill our cups (and our noses!), giving us those much needed warm hugs with every sip on a chilly winter's evening.

But we all know that as delicious and tasty as these festive holiday drinks can be, they’re usually loaded with sugar, artificial flavourings and jam-packed with fat and calories. 

If only there was a way that one could enjoy these tasty treats, but not feel guilty with every sip. We’ve compiled a list of tips that you can use to make these seasonal staples healthier, without sacrificing the taste of the holidays! Consider this a Natura twist on your favourite holiday drink classics! 

1. Read the ingredients list before you order your holiday drink

Depending on your diet and/or lifestyle choices, reading the label is something that is probably fine-tuned into your shopping experience. If you’re on Keto you’re already being mindful of your sugar intake, or if you’re Gluten Intolerant you are cautiously avoiding products with gluten, but while these may not be your specific dietary concerns, it never hurts to be mindful of the ingredients, nutritional labels and preparation instructions when making a choice of what to put into your body. Things like keeping an eye out for coffee that is organic, options to replace dairy with non-dairy milk or non-dairy creamer, or opting for sugar-free syrups, are all ways to help make your piping hot cup of cacao or latte much healthier!

2. Substitute healthier add-on options when you can

Treating yourself here and there to a whipped cream topping or a chocolate drizzle at Starbucks isn’t going to hurt! But if you’re the kind of person who loves to sip on a hot chocolate or a warm gingerbread latte every day of the holiday season, substituting for a healthier alternative can make a big difference in terms of calories, sugar and fats. 

Tip: If you craving all the fixin’s, here are some ways to enjoy them in a healthier way:

• A sprinkle: Organic Cacao Powder
• A drizzle: Good Good Maple Sweet Like Syrup
• A top off:  Organic Heavy Coconut Whipped Cream

3. Be aware of the sup Size of your holiday beverage and quantity of ingredients 

Cup sizes can be deceiving. What is considered a large drink, might be more than your recommended daily intake of caffeine or way over the amount of sugar you wish to consume in a day! Always be mindful of the cup size when ordering or even making it at home. Since these drinks are typically rich, thick and sweet, we often don’t need a mountainous cup to feel satisfied. Opt for a smaller cup size, it’ll taste just as delicious we promise!

Here’s a tip: Next time you’re ordering, inquire how many pumps of liquid sugar or syrup they put in your drink and inquire if they can make it half sweet! Oftentimes they put more flavouring than needs to be and the drink can still be quite tasty at semi-sweet! Or ask what kind of sugar-free syrups they offer and try a “skinny” holiday drink instead!

4. Make festive drinks from home when you can 

This is one of the best ways to ensure that you know what is going into your drink and how much! Make your peppermint mocha latte or hot cocoa at home, using products you can find on Natura Market’s website. 

What you’ll need for the classic holiday drink recipes:

• A cup of deluxe hot cocoa: Nutpods Toasted Marshmallow Dairy-free creamer, Castle Kitchen's Keto Hot Chocolate and Cookie Dough Marshmallows
• A peppermint mocha: Simply Organic Peppermint Flavor, Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee Latte Mix, Mint Chocolate Chip Marshmallows and your choice of milk base!

5. Avoid sipping on holiday drinks at night 

It is best to enjoy a cup of the holidays midday and avoid drinking sugary or caffeinated drinks at night. 

But if the craving for something festive or sweet occurs, opting for a tea such as peppermint or ginger, both are caffeine-free and flavour notes of the holidays that can help to satisfy your sweet tooth! If you’d like to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or a coffee late in the evening, opt for a decaffeinated coffee or to flavour with sugar-free syrup, sugar-free sweetener drops or sugar-free creamer instead.

Here’s a Tip: Nutpod Dairy-Free Creamers come in a variety of flavours, including cinnamon swirl and french vanilla! Splash a little into your cup for a keto-friendly, low-calorie, tasty holiday-inspired drink that will ensure you still get a good night's rest.

6. Top off your holiday drink with a dash of spice!

Spices can add tremendous flavour to a festive drink, without adding excessive calories or sugar. Things like cinnamon and nutmeg already are flavour notes found in many holiday drinks, dishes and baked goods! Not only do these spices add a tasty kick, but consuming them also has a wide variety of health benefits as well.

• Cinnamon is both sweet and warm in flavour, like a cozy hug on a cold day! It’s loaded with antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is known to reduce the risk of heart disease and lower blood sugar levels.
• Turmeric has a more earthy, pungent taste but can be added to your coffee to help dilute the taste! It is also anti-inflammatory and can help to improve skin health, delay Alzheimer's and assist in treating arthritis. 
• Nutmeg is similar to cinnamon but less intense in flavour! Known for its destressing properties and calming effects. It can help to improve blood circulation and pressure and also aid indigestion. 
• Ginger in its natural form is a tad more “spicy” in flavour than what we’re used to in gingerbread, but it reaps in health benefits! From aiding in recovery from the cold and flu to assisting in healthy digestion to reducing the risk of cancer and diabetes, and more!

7. Try out a dairy-free option!

You don't need to be vegan or dairy-free to enjoy nut milk or dairy-free latte! Choosing to be mindful of your dairy consumption on a daily basis is a great habit to have. Overconsumption of dairy products has been linked to high cholesterol, diabetes and can cause digestive discomfort or a potential intolerance to lactose. Limiting your consumption and choosing dairy-free milk alternatives for your holiday drinks (and after the holidays are over) can help to maintain good health!

8. Add a health boost to your coffee cup

Sneaking in collagen, protein powder or MCT into your holiday drinks is a way to take them from a tasty treat to a powerful health boost! 

As we age, our collagen production decreases, which leads to signs of ageing, loss of skin elasticity, dryness and wrinkles. Sneaking in collagen powder or a collagen creamer (both made and safe for consumption) to your morning joe can help to alter these effects and signs of ageing! 

Depending on your health or lifestyle restrictions, you may need to incorporate more protein into your diet! Adding protein powder to your holiday drink can help to make you feel fuller longer (as many of these drinks are caffeinated and filled with sugar, we often crash shortly after drinking them). Protein powder’s benefits also include reducing blood pressure, building muscle, repairing tissue and providing added nutrients to the body.

MCT oil (Medium-chain triglycerides) is a supplement extracted from coconut oil that can offer a source of energy, prevent obesity and aid in the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Adding a few scoops of MCT powder can give your holiday drink the health boost it needs!

Wrapping it up...

Seasonal holiday drinks may have a bad rep in terms of calories, sugar and fat, but they don’t have to be! These helpful tips allow you to still sip your way through the season without losing the taste of the holidays. Keeping in mind that you can continue to make these modifications, like opting for sugar-free syrups or substituting for a dairy-free creamer, even after the holidays are over to truly reap the rewards and health benefits longer term!

Seasons Greetings from Natura Market!