Tis the season for a little (low carb) holiday cheer! Check out these suggestions for keeping the cocktail carb count low and then take a taste of these brand-new low carb and keto-friendly holiday drink recipes:
- Get spirited. Certain spirits, such as Scotch, rye, vodka and gin are naturally low in carbs. Just be sure to avoid mixing them with juice, tonic water or non-diet soda. Go for seltzer, diet tonic or diet soda instead.
- Wine also wins. If you’d prefer white wine, pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc are your best choices. If you’re into red, try pinot noir. A 5-ounce glass of wine contains around a little over 3 grams of Net Carbs. If you’re in the mood for a little bubbly, good news: champagne or sparkling wine contain anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 grams of Net Carbs per 5-ounce glass. Choose dry varieties of wine instead of sweet wines, which tend to be higher in carbs. There are also a variety of new low carb brands of wine and beer on the market worth checking out. As always, don’t forget count these carbs toward your total daily count.
- Water works. Alcohol can dehydrate you, and dehydration is also the culprit for holiday hangovers everywhere, so alternate each drink with a glass of water or club soda.
- A little goes a long way! One too many drinks, and suddenly it’s just not as easy to resist the tempting holiday treats that surround you. Your body will also burn alcohol before fat, so if you overdo it on the holiday cheer, it may slow down weight loss.
- Make it a mocktail. More companies have started to offer zero-alcohol beer (that actually tastes good!) and mocktail mixes, and bars are starting to include mocktails on their menus, if you want to feel like you’re imbibing while keeping your wits about you. A word of caution: You may not miss the booze in your mocktail, but if it’s made with fruit juice or simple syrup, it’s probably full of sugar. Stick with mocktails that contain sugar-free fruit-flavored sparkling water, blends and garnishes of low-glycemic fruits like berries, sweeteners such as stevia or sucralose, and a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice. You can also turn some of our low carb cocktail recipes into mocktails simply by omitting the alcohol.
If you’re ready to toast the holidays with some new low carb and keto-friendly cocktail (and mocktail) recipes, try these:
Everything goes better with butter, especially when it’s accompanied by a blend of cinnamon and other spices and a dash of rum.
This drink is sure to warm you up on a chilly night.
This festive, fruit-filled drink is bursting with the colors and flavors fresh orange, lemon and limes, cranberries and pears and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Cranberry Ginger Sparking Mocktail
This beautiful sparkling mocktail is just as fun as a cocktail, minus the carbs and sugar.
Cheers!