The Holiday Coffee Drinks That Will Help — or Ruin — Your Diet

Ho, ho, ho-ly crap are those holiday drinks at your local coffee chain bad for you. We know, we all want to indulge in a sugary-sweet holiday drink while we're out shopping for Christmas presents, and sometimes we just need an excuse to feel the holiday spirit. But with all the gingerbread cookies, peppermint bark, pies, hams, — and don’t even make us count the wine and beer — the holiday drinks we’ve come to love and expect every holiday season are just adding onto your daily limit of calories and sugar.

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There's no need to fret, though (as we're sure you're already panicking about meeting the in-laws or buying the wrong gift for your little ones) — you can still indulge in your peppermint, gingerbread, and cinnamon-flavored drinks this month.

While we can't tell you that a peppermint mocha is as good for you as a carrot stick, we can tell you that at every coffee shop you visit, there is a healthier holiday option available. With fewer calories, grams of fat, and the true killer of it all, grams of sugar, these drinks can stil make your holiday season sweet as can be. 

Of course, there are always options to make your beloved holiday coffee drink healthier — or "skinny." Ask for no whip (save it for the pie), or low-fat or skim milk in your drink to cut back. At some shops, like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, you can ask for no-sugar-added or sugar-free syrups to make the drink a bit healthier. 

Check out the holiday drinks to avoid this season, and see which ones are healthier options. After all, this is the season of giving — and that includes giving yourself a break for a sweet drink now and then.

With research from Hannah Allaman