Are your drinks naughty… or nice during the holiday season? The calories in those festive beverages can add up quickly! So before you belly up to the bar… or barista, feast your eyes on the numbers in these 5 holiday favorites – it just might put you in the mood for one of the season’s best qualities – sharing.
The naughties…
Hot-Buttered Rum: With a combination of brown sugar, butter, rum, and whipped cream, no wonder a cup has 418 calories and 17 grams of fat – Yikes! [webmd.com]
Eggnog: A seasonal favorite – with alcohol, 8 ounces has 394 calories; skip the booze and it’s 343 calories and 19 grams of fat, including 11.3 grams of saturated fat. [thecaloriecounter.com]
Peppermint Hot Chocolate (hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps): 6 ounces of this chocolatey minty goodness will set you back 203 calories and 3.7 grams of fat. [drinksmixer.com]
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: It may be fat-free, but even a Grande Nonfat, No Whipped version of this Starbucks favorite has 260 calories. Order a tall and you’re down to 200. [starbucks.com]
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha: Indulge in the whipped cream in a Grande Nonfat Peppermint Mocha and you’re guzzling 360 calories and 10 grams of fat – better to share or scale down to a Tall Nonfat, No Whipped – but you’re still looking at 220 calories. [starbucks.com]
The not-as-naughties – Nice?
Wine Spritzer (wine and club soda): 5 ounces – 80 calories [calorielab.com]
Mulled Red Wine: 5 ounces – 125 calories [mayoclinic.com]
Champagne: 4 ounces – 91 calories [caloriecount.about.com]
Spiced Apple Cider: 8 ounces – 117 calories [recipezaar.com]
Irish Coffee: 9 ounces – 160 calories [drinksmixer.com]
Must be careful out there! My favorite holiday drink is Ghirardelli Peppermint Hot Cocoa. Mmmm… I usually indulge and have this all to myself. 
What’s your favorite? And do you share?
…if I said milk…would that seem sad???
VERY sad.
I’m worse than Lance. At least milk has some health benefit. My big splurge is diet hot cocoa (from a mix, no less!) with a single Hershey’s Kiss stirred into it. Woo-hoo.
Looking at those numbers, I think I’m glad I don’t drink anymore.
(Whoops. Forgot about my Christmas Eve Splurge, which is my grandmother’s homemade Boiled Custard. One glass is all I can manage, thank goodness.)
Ummm… what is Boiled Custard? It’s a drink???
Oh, how I love me the Shamm-pane-ya! (but 4 ounces is not enough)
Did not mean to be the Anonymous lover of Shamm-pane-ya. It is the Yum Yucky who loves it lots.
YY – It is quite delish!
GASP!!! Not worth it….I’d rather chew my calories! I’ve been whipping up my own coffee blends lately and it’s worked like a champ! Now I can control what goes into my cup.
I must say, I love the starbucks peppermint mocha, but I do get the tall non-fat, no whip and unfortunately, when I do get it, it tends to be a meal. Really fills you up.
WOW! Who knew??
I’m all about water now, don’t tell, it’s my weight loss secret
http://calorielab.com/news/2009/12/15/dr-j-reveals-his-weight-loss-secret/#comments
Dr. J – Okay, I won’t tell a soul.
wish I had read this BEFORE I went to starbucks this morning.
Who Knew?
I love black tea with a splash of Baileys. Mmm. Or red wine straight-up. Or champagne with just a little bit of orange juice.
Hot chocolate is my true “indulgence”
Tea with Bailey’s? Never tried that, but it sounds really good… and warm.