Healthy Holiday Cocktails

Raise your glass, but keep your keep sugar-intake low.

'Tis the time of the year again. With the merry season comes a lot of extra cheer. Laughter fills the room and drinks start flowing like a river.

Even if Christmas parties have been discouraged all throughout the land, this hasn't stopped most of us from enjoying a tipple or two.

It's been a tough year, and we are ready to reward ourselves with some spirits.

But boozy drinks come with a lot of extra calories from alcohol. Cocktails are always a party favourite, but they are wrapped in extra sugar, carbs, and calories! That's not good tidings to those who are living with diabetes.

Now, this doesn't mean you should give up the drink this season. We've had plenty enough of the Grinch this year. Instead, some minor tweaking on your recipes can change some beloved Christmas cocktails into healthier counterparts.

You'll be in happy spirits downing these drinks without adding extra weight. Cheers!

The Gimlet

The funny thing about hard alcohol is that doesn't actually contain sugar. If you are watching your carbs, you can still drink vodka, rum, tequila, whiskey and gin. But they do have calories from their alcohol content.

If all that checks your boxes, a classic gimlet could be your go-to drink. Mix 2.5 oz. Gin, half an ounce of fresh lime juice, and half-ounce simple syrup (still sugar but much less).

The Paloma

Some people find it hard to believe that tequila is a healthier alcoholic option. Vodka is 96 calories when compared to one ounce of tequila which has only 64 calories.

Tequila has lower calories and no sugar. It becomes unhealthy because most people pair it with sugary mixtures.

A Paloma cocktail is less so. Mix a quarter cup tequila with a quarter cup of grapefruit juice. Add a splash of lime juice and top off with soda water. Definitely a healthier option to a margarita.

The Moscow Mule

This classic drink is traditionally served beautifully in a bright copper mug. While the traditional recipe calls for ginger beer, swap it with sugar-free diet ginger beer or diet ginger ale.

Mix the vodka, lime, and ginger beer.

Rum and Coke

Swap the infamous sugar pop for diet soda, and you've got yourself an easy healthy drink.

The key to staying healthier this holiday is moderation. Stick to the recommended guidelines for men and women, and you can enjoy cocktails this season without harming your waistline. Cin-Cin!