3 Healthy Alternatives to Dangerous Holiday Treats

The holidays can make it feel almost impossible not to overindulge in everything . . . from food and desserts to alcohol. Overindulging can lead to feeling bloated and sick or even end in dangerous behavior when there’s alcohol involved. To keep you healthy, safe (and free of regrets) this holiday season, here are the three best healthy alternatives to dangerous holiday treats.

Eggnog

It’s hard to resist this creamy treat around the holidays, but with a little tweaking you don’t have to! Pre-made lower fat versions of eggnog are now available in most grocery stores. If you’re making your own eggnog, then it’s advisable to make a non-alcoholic version. Not only will you cut extra calories, but you can help avoid getting tipsy around your guests (or getting your guests tipsy!). Another way to make eggnog healthier is to cut back on the amount of sugar used and opt for low-fat cream or milk instead of the full fat versions. Soy eggnog is also becoming a regular holiday staple for the health conscious crowd.

Cookies and Other Sweets

The holidays wouldn’t be complete without cakes, pies, cookies, and other yummy treats (can anyone say fudge?). You can make these treats much healthier by swapping out certain ingredients: whole wheat or whole grain flour for white flour; a natural substitute like Stevia for refined sugar; and applesauce for oil. Again, cutting down the amount of sugar in your recipes is another easy way to make healthy alternatives to your favorite holiday treats. And, if pumpkin pie is your weakness, look for crust-less versions to try. You’d be surprised at just how delicious these alternatives can be!

Cocktails

Here’s a secret that you may not have heard: cocktails can be just as tasty even when you don’t add the alcohol! Sure, having a cocktail without alcohol may seem a little odd; but what tends to make fancy cocktails so tasty is all of the other ingredients and not the actual alcohol. All of the specialty cocktails available at bars, restaurants, and parties during the holidays can be made without the booze . . . or at least with a lot less than you think. You can also substitute the wine in drinks with low-calorie sparkling cider or replace rum with a tiny bit of rum extract.