During the holiday season, there’s nothing better than getting together with friends and family and toasting to health, happiness and a great year. It’s healthy for us to let loose, dance, laugh and heck, enjoy a good cocktail or festive drink. While many of us blame holiday weight gain on cookies and treats, we overlook the calories and sugar in all of the booze we’re knocking back. But don’t fret! One of my favorite nutritionists recently gifted me with her new book, “The Thinking Girls Guide to Drinking (Cocktails without Regrets).” Below are three holiday cocktail recipes that are easy to make, taste delicious and have nutritional benefits to help with digestion, inflammation and immunity.
Cozy Fire:
Containing orange bitters for digestion, this drink is an excellent alternative to dessert. Ginger helps reduce inflammation, which alcohol is known to cause. Bonus: ginger is also adept at preventing nausea.
Cozy Fire:
2 ounces spiced rum
3/4 ounce ginger syrup
2 dashes orange bitters
Stir all of the ingredients briefly with ice to chill, then strain into a rock glass with a single large ice cube.
Lady Slipper:
Not every cocktail needs to be high-octane! This low-alcohol alternative features Pedro Ximenez, which is a form of sherry, in addition to antioxidant-laden chocolate extract. It’s sweet and sippable, and you can likely have two without feeling three sheets to the wind.
Lady Slipper:
3 ounces Pedro Ximenez
¼ ounce crème de cacao
½ teaspoon chocolate extract
Pour all ingredients into a sherry glass and stir.
Bathing in Gold:
Autumn and winter’s favorite spice blend not only tastes like pumpkin pie, it contains cinnamon to balance blood sugar and anti-fungal cloves. The liqueur in this is an herbal one made with echinacea, which helps ward off cold and flu.
Bathing in Gold:
7 ounces apple cider
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 ½ ounces Alpine herbal liqueur
Heat apple cider in a small pot with pumpkin pie spice, stirring to combine.
Pour into a coffee mug and add liqueur.
Author Ariane Resnick comments about the inspiration for the book, “Alcohol can be a part of a healthy lifestyle; it’s all about what you mix it with and how you consume it. These drinks were designed to help you look good, feel great, and regret nothing. What makes a better gift than that?!”
Originally published at medium.com