It’s important to stay health conscious during the holidays. Sometimes Christmas can be an excuse to eat more than your fair share of cookies and sweets, but the truth is, just because the holidays are here, it doesn’t mean your healthy lifestyle has to go out the window.
Taking care of your health doesn’t have to be daunting this holiday season. Make small, healthier choices every day and it will be easier than you think.
Making small adjustments is easier than you might think. For instance, a holiday classic like eggnog is delicious, but can be high in sugar and calories. This Christmas 2016, why not opt for sugar-free eggnog instead. Here are a couple of healthy eggnog recipes to try out this year.
Healthy Eggnog Recipes Your Family Will Love
Eat Fit Eggnog
This recipe is dairy-free and fat-free.
Makes 4 half-cup servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Cashew-Almond Milk (or any unsweetened vanilla almond or coconut milk)
- 2 tablespoons no-sugar simple syrup
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
- Put all your ingredients into a blender and blend on high for 2-3 minutes. Pour the mixture into a medium-sized pot.
- Warm the pot on medium-low for 10-15 minutes while whisking occasionally. During the last 3 minutes, be sure to whisk frequently to prevent simmering. Aim for hot but not boiling. If your mixture begins to simmer, turn the heat down.
- Remove liquid from heat and place it in the fridge overnight. It will thicken as it cools. When it’s ready to drink, whisk to incorporate. If it is too thick for your preferences, you can always whisk in some extra milk. Pour into cups and sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!
Sugar-Free Eggnog:
Serves 5
Ingredients:
- 5 cups non-fat milk (or non-dairy milk if you are vegan)
- 1 ounce package of sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 packet aspartame sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon rum flavored extract
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the non-fat milk, vanilla pudding mix, ground cinnamon, sweetener, dash of nutmeg and rum extract. Mix all the ingredients well with a wire whisk for about 2 minutes. If the mixture is thicker than you like, add in some more milk and sweetener, to taste and preferred consistency.
Although the benefits of eggnog are few according to health experts, it doesn’t mean you have to avoid it altogether during the holidays.
Opting for these healthier recipes eliminates a lot of the excess sugar and fat within the beverage. The fact that it’s simple enough to make with any non-dairy “milk” is amazing, too, since there are tons of vegans out there who don’t want to miss out on Christmas cheer just because of their diet.
All the ingredients in the above recipes are easy to find at your local grocery store and make for a great healthy eggnog recipe. The warm spices in eggnog are perfect for the winter season and this classic Christmas beverage will leave everyone feeling cozy, happy, and healthy! Happy Holidays!
Sources:
Kimball, M., “Eggnog for everyone: Dairy-free, vegan, better for you options” nola website; December, 20, 2016; http://www.nola.com/healthy-eating/2016/12/eggnog_for_everyone_dairy-free.html; last accessed December 20, 2016.
Willis, F., “Sugar-Free Eggnog” All Recipes; http://allrecipes.com/recipe/15912/sugar-free-eggnog/; last accessed December 20, 2016.
