With the holidays come parties with lots of food and calories. It’s easy to let your resolve to eat cleanly slide in the face of so many temptations. But with a little splurge here and a little splurge there, the calories add up quickly, and you could end up seeing a few extra pounds when you step on the scale at the end of the holidays. That’s why it pays not to give your indulgent side free rein during the holidays.
On the other hand, some may watch every brownie bite or slice of pumpkin pie they put into their mouth but freely return for another glass of beer or eggnog. They seem oblivious to the calories lurking in these holiday drinks, and that could make it harder to zip up their jeans come January.
Holiday Beverages: Do They Cause You to Eat More?
According to Canadian researchers, sipping a few alcoholic drinks may actually increase the amount of food you eat. That means more trips to the buffet table for high-calorie appetizers. It seems that your body doesn’t “register” the calories you take in through alcohol, so it doesn’t reduce your desire to eat. Plus, drinking alcohol makes it easier to lose track of how much food you’re taking in. Research also shows that people eat more when most of their calories come from alcohol or fatty foods.
The Calories in Alcoholic Beverages Add Up Quickly
One cup of eggnog has around 340 calories and 19 grams of fat – not to mention the 34 grams of carbs. One of these along with a few appetizers, and you’ve eaten the equivalent of a meal with very little nutritional value to show for it. The only redeeming features of eggnog is that it’s relatively high in calcium and has almost 10 grams of protein.
Wine may have heart-healthy antioxidants, but it’s not calorie-free. A 5-ounce serving of red wine has 150 calories and 5 grams of carbs and dessert wines have even more. It’s easy to forget that wine has calories as you leisurely sip it while chatting with friends. Enjoy a glass of wine, but don’t forget to take the calories into account when you choose your appetizers.
Beer and liquor can also throw off your calorie count. A 1.5 ounce serving of liqueur has 188 calories, and most cocktails have between 120 and 150 calories each. Frozen drinks have even more. Beer can add inches to your waistline too. A 12-ounce serving of regular beer has around 150 calories, while a light beer has 110. As you can see, the additional calories from holiday drinks aren’t insignificant, especially when you combine them with appetizers and party food. You can do some serious caloric damage from holiday parties alone.
The Bottom Line?
Don’t let your guard down at holiday parties. Holiday drinks are high in calories, especially if you choose frozen drinks, cocktails or eggnog. If you choose to drink alcohol at parties, stick to a single glass of wine. At least it has some additional health benefits. Sip it slowly, and don’t forget to take the extra calories into account when you step up to the appetizer table.
References:
The New York Times. “A Recipe for Weight Gain: Adding Alcohol to Fatty Food”
Calorie Count at About.com
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