It’s time for peppermint mochas, gingerbread and eggnog lattes, and steaming mugs of hot chocolate; it’s time to go over to a pumpkin spice latte. Sugar crashes aren’t fun, but it’s perfectly acceptable to indulge in these drinks when the occasion calls for it, which should be during the entire holiday season.
So you don’t miss out on these sweet sips, nutritionists helped us discover when to drink your holiday-themed lattes and hot chocolate. Here’s everything you need.
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Don’t Skip Breakfast, But Stick To The Morning
Dietitian Eleana Kaidanian recommends consuming these sweet and caffeinated drinks before noon because of their caffeine content. She said that many of these festive drinks, in addition to the excessive sugar content, also contain caffeine. Your morning breakfast might also influence your holiday drink order because it will stabilize your blood sugar so you won’t crave sugary, unhealthy foods.
Before Or After Working Out, Consider Having Your Latte
Peppermint mochas as pre-workout fuel? Wirtz suggests you can consider sugary, caffeinated drinks as pre-workout fuel. “It’s best to have concentrated sugar sources just before exercising, like a holiday-themed latte, as glucose (sugar) is crucial for activities such as cardio or weightlifting,” she said, adding that caffeine also enhances workouts.
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It’s Always Possible To Lighten Up Your Drinks
There are easy tricks that a dietitian can provide you to avoid or reduce the chances of sugar crashes altogether. Wirtz recommends skipping the whipped cream, using half the sweetener, or choosing a calorie-free sweetener. You can order a black coffee or Americano with one pump of holiday flavoring if you prefer. There are ways to time your consumption of sugary, caffeinated beverages, so they don’t adversely affect your energy levels and health nationwide.