3 Hot and Healthy Drinks to Sip and Savour

The time for cold outdoor adventures and warming up by the fire with hot and healthy drinks in hand is here! Although comforting, the high-calorie content of many winter beverages can be challenging for those of us with healthy weight management goals.

Instead of succumbing to unhealthy traditions, give your hot winter beverages a makeover with these tips for keeping the fat and sugar content of your favourite hot beverages under control:

• Use low-fat milk or unsweetened dairy alternatives instead of cream
• Dilute ciders and mulled wines by adding hot water and an extra cinnamon stick
• Top your mug with frothed soy milk instead of whipped cream
• Flavour lattes and mochas with real spices or extracts instead of sugary syrups
• Opt for a strongly brewed herbal tea with added ginger, cloves, nutmeg, peppermint leaves, or whole cranberries

We’ve given three traditional hot winter drinks a healthy makeover. So go ahead and sip on one of these tasty, hot beverages that’ll satisfy your cravings without breaking the calorie bank:

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte

A pumpkin spice latte from a café can pack as much as 50 g of sugar per 16 oz serving.

By making your own, you can customize the sweetness and sugar content to suit your healthy preferences while maintaining the taste you love.

This recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp pumpkin puree
• 1 cup unsweetened soymilk (divided in two)
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp powdered ginger
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• ¼ cup espresso

Instructions

1. In a small pot, whisk together pumpkin, half the soymilk, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, maple syrup, and espresso until well combined
2. Heat on medium-low until hot
3. In a glass vessel, steam the remaining half of the soymilk until hot and frothy OR warm milk on the stove then froth using a hand-held frother
4. Poor espresso mix into a large mug and top with frothed soymilk

2. Swedish Glogg

Glogg, or mulled wine, is a great way to conjure up winter cheer on a cold afternoon, especially if it’s stormy out! By cutting back the alcohol and sugar of traditional recipes, you can keep the calorie content reasonable and still wow your guests with this hot and healthy drink.

This recipe makes 3–4 servings.

Ingredients:

• 500 mL water
• 1 navel orange, peeled and juiced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 2 cardamom pods, slightly squished
• 1 slice fresh ginger
• ¼ cup whole cranberries
• 2 drops liquid stevia 500 mL fruity red wine

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine water, orange peel and juice, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, cranberries, and stevia
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat for about 10 minutes
3. Reduce heat to low, then add in the wine
4. Heat for about one minute before serving

3. Hot Cocoa

Is there a more classic hot winter beverage than hot cocoa?

Here’s a little trick that is guaranteed to elevate your hot cocoa; chocolate protein powder! This simple addition makes your standard hot cocoa a simple, delicious, extra silky treat that is also calorie-wise! Your hot cocoa just got some serious game.

This recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients

• 300 mL almond milk
• 1 scoop *PGX Satisfast Vegan Protein, Dark Chocolate
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 square dark chocolate

Instructions

1. Using a small saucepan, heat almond milk on medium until hot
2. Remove from heat and stir in whey protein drink mix and vanilla until well combined
3. Pour into a mug and drop in the chocolate
4. Stir with a spoon and serve

*Drink additional water (8 fl. oz.) after ingesting PGX. If you are taking medications, take one hour prior to or two hours after taking PGX.