Hot Drinks to Warm You Up

Hey everyone, I apologize for not posting for awhile. I have been busy lately working, but that's no excuse not to find time to post for my followers. I will do better in the future to get you guys recipes and fun posts for the fall/winter season.

As the temperature is dropping and the weather is getting more and more miserable (cold), people often turn to hot drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate and teas to warm them up. In this post I will be giving advice on what to get to keep you warm for the fall/winter season. (DISCLAIMER: I am not a coffee drinker, I do not like the taste. The only coffee I like is Pumpkin coffee, in which case I usually have not more than 5 cups per season.)

Green Tea: I always have a box of Bigelow Green Tea in the cubbard because I am a HUGE fan of tea. Green tea, while hot and warming also has many health benefits. The facts are that is is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients which can improve brain health, lower risk of cancer and even fat loss. One of the key ingredients in green tea is actually caffeine, so it is like coffee without all the nasty calories and the 'jitters'. The antioxidants in green tea can also lower ones risk of cancer, but adding milk to your tea can lowers the antioxidant power of the tea, thus decreasing the preventative effects of the tea. I try to have tea whenever possible, and green tea is definitely my go-to for the colder seasons.

Coffee...black: From the majority of people I know, I can comfortably say that 10% of you drink your coffee literally black, with nothing else in it. Everyone else adds their sugar, cream, milk, spices, mixtures and whatever else; I'm not too sure, I'm not a coffee-drinker. The best advice I can give to you in this category is to order your coffee black and put in your own fixings. As a franchise such as Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks or anything other place alike, adds excessive amounts of what you ask for. If you haven't noticed, the last time you asked for 'a little whipped cream' on your low-fat chai latte, and they gave you some whipped cream with a little bit of latte underneath. I have nothing against the people who work at these stores, but sometimes they don't listen. Bottom line, add your milk, sugar, creamer, what-have-you yourself; that way you get the right amount.

Hot Chocolate: I am not a chocolate-fan at all, but I can honestly say that Dunkin Donuts does it right, I don't know what they put in there, but it is damn delicious. But for a small cup you're getting about 220 calories. By making some simple switches you can make your hot chocolate choice a little healthier; use a nut milk such as almond or another dairy-free option because of the boost of protein you get while also adding different flavors. Use unsweetened cacao to save some calories, use natural sweeteners such as honey, agave, maple sugar and more. Lastly, add warm spices to your hot coco, such as cinnamon, cardamon and ginger.

Spiced Apple Cider: For you alcohol-lovers out there, here is a hot drink that is sure to warm you up from the inside out. Not only is this drink delicious, but it is also fat-free and can be ready in less than 20 minutes. The health benefits of this drink are that it is blood clot lowering and has blood sugar lowering abilities. I found a recipe I like from Health.com via Spiced Apple Cider. Try it out and enjoy the deliciousness, minus the calories.

Hot Toddy: This warm drink is not only festive but also lower in calories than other drinks such as spiked hot chocolate, hot buttered rum or egg-nog. The citrus, honey and cinnamon working together have even been said to help get over a cold or two. I found a recipe for this delicious recipe on Popsugar.com via Hot Toddy Recipe.

While the weather continues to be sucky and miserable enjoy some hot beverages, but remember that there is such a thing as drinking your calories. Be mindful of what you are putting into your body!!

ENJOY!!