Pilates Wellness Wednesday: Mindful Sipping for the Holiday Season

A champagne glass sits among festive decorations with warm, blurred Christmas lights behind.

The holiday season brings parties, dinners and a steady flow of drinks. Your choices matter. They affect your energy, sleep and how you feel the next morning. Here is a simple guide to help you pick the healthiest options without killing the celebration.

Champagne and Brut Prosecco

Dry sparkling wines sit at the top of the healthier list.

• A standard glass of dry Champagne contains about 3 to 4 grams of carbohydrates, with many Brut and Extra Brut styles closer to 1 to 2 grams.

• Brut Prosecco sits in a similar range. A glass has roughly 1.5 grams of sugar.

• These are low compared to many still wines. They are not sugar free, but they are low.

How this compares to wine

• A typical glass of white wine contains 2 to 4 grams of sugar.

• A glass of red wine usually has 1 to 3 grams of sugar, but some fuller styles climb higher.

• Sweet or off-dry wines are much higher.Dry sparkling wins if your goal is the lowest sugar and carb intake.

The alcohol free choice

People reach for eggnog because it feels festive. It is a heavy drink.

• One cup carries about 20 to 34 grams of sugar.

• It also contains significant fat and calories.Good as a once-a-year treat, not as your regular holiday drink.

Better options include:

• Sparkling water with citrus.

• Herbal tea blends served warm.

• Light alcohol free sparkling drinks with low sugar.

Simple Pilates Teachers guidance

• Choose Brut or Extra Brut sparkling if you want alcohol with the lowest sugar.

• Avoid drinks made with syrups or cream if you’re trying to stay light.

• If you want alcohol free, skip heavy eggnog and choose something clean and refreshing instead.

A mindful drink keeps you steady through the season. Enjoy the celebrations without the fog the next morning.