CHICAGO, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- A regular hamburger at McDonald's has fewer calories than some holiday drinks, a registered dietitian at Loyola University Health System warns.
Brooke Schantz of the Loyola University Health System in Chicago says 8 ounces of eggnog has 343 calories and 19 grams of fat; 12 ounces of hot chocolate made with whole milk and whipped cream has 310 calories and 16 grams of fat; and a 16-ounce peppermint mocha made with 2 percent milk and whipped cream has 400 calories and 15 grams of fat. A regular hamburger at McDonald's has 250 calories.
Schantz says holiday pounds can be avoided by drinking some lower calories alternatives such as a reduced-fat eggnog version, or by making your own eggnog using egg whites. For a skinnier hot chocolate make it with non-fat milk and skip the whipped cream or marshmallows, Schantz says.
Instead of the 400-calorie peppermint mocha, add 1 tablespoon of Coffee-mate seasonal flavor peppermint mocha to a regular cup of coffee, Schantz advises.
"It's okay to treat yourself to your favorite holiday drink," Schantz says in a statement. "But try to do it in a way that won't bust your waistline."
Although 8 ounces of Champagne has 156 calories, toast in the New Year in moderation. The more you drink, the higher the calorie count and the more likely you will be to overindulge in food, Schantz warns.
