Holiday Treats That Make The “Nice List”

Written By: Briana Boehmer

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite parts of the holidays is enjoying the flavors of the season.  Flavors you normally don’t get to enjoy most of the year.  Pumpkin, gingerbread, nutmeg, peppermint…yep my mouth is watering.  How about yours?

Yet with this merriment of my taste buds comes an inevitable guilt.  9 times out of 10 the seasonal goodie I decide to devour is laden with calorie rich, nutrient impaired yumminess.  So this year I decided to go on a mission to find those popular chain establishments that were offering “healthy” options to quench my holiday sweet tooth.

Here is what made my top 5 (in no particular order):

1. Drink 

   Nice – Starbucks Gingerbread Latte hold the whipped cream (Tall Non-fat = 150 calories, 0 grams fat)
   Naughty – Eggnog (anywhere you get it) (1 Cup = 343 calories, 19 grams fat)
2. Frozen Desert

   Nice – Pinkberry – Peppermint frozen yogurt (1 Cup = 110 calories, 0 grams fat) 

   Naughty – Sonic’s Red Velvet Cheesecake Blast (1 Regular = 846 calories, 44 grams fat)
3. Baked Goodie
   
Nice – Great Harvest Pumpkin Nut and Spice Bread (Slice 56g (2oz) = 120 calories, 1 gram fat)

   Naughty – McDonald’s Holiday Pie (1 pie = 260 calories, 13 grams fat)
4. Meal

   Nice – You Pick Two Panera Bread Roasted Turkey Harvest Salad and Garden Vegetable Soup (370 calories, 21 grams fat…skip the dressing and now you’re at 300 calories, 15 grams fat)

   Naughty – BK Cranberry Chicken Tendercrisp (1 Sandwich = 488 calories, 14 grams fat)
   Note: While Panera may have more fat calories, they are from healthier sources!
5. If You Must Go Over The Top…
   
Nice – Add whipped cream to your Latte?
   Naughty – Denny’s Arthur’s Christmas Cookie Pancakes…really? (10 oz. = 660 calories, 22 grams fat)

The unfortunate reality as I began my search is that if it is a holiday food, it isn’t going to be making any top 10 healthiest food lists anytime soon. It’s a good thing these goodies are only available for a limited time! However, you can still enjoy the flavors of the season with less extravagant food choices.  That Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks tastes like a cookie to me with fewer calories and fat!

Now it’s your turn, we challenge you to head out and find a holiday treat that won’t sabotage your jean size.  If you find one you love, we’d love to hear it!

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