Brew Up Some Comfort

The weather outside may be frightful, but the easiest way to make it more delightful is home–brewing a hot, soothing beverage. And with these ideas, you can indulge without piling on the pounds:

• Herbal tea: With zero calories, tea can be filled with antioxidants that may help prevent cancer and heart disease. Try green, mint, chamomile, or black. Sweeten with a dash of honey or add flavor with a twist of lemon.
• Hot cider: Pasteurized ciders can be laden with calories, but it’s easy to make your own lower–calorie version by simmering a pot with fresh orange juice, lemon, cloves, and cinnamon (the spices are loaded with antioxidants and minerals).
• Mulled wine: Red wine has powerful antioxidants; when combined with spices like cinnamon and cloves, it can warm you up and help keep you healthy. To cut back on calories, substitute half the wine with tea or low–fat cider.
• Coffee: Black coffee is low in fat and calories, high in antioxidants. To add a little zip, pour in low–fat milk and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Try to limit your daily caffeine dose, though, to 300 mg (about 3 8–ounce cups).
• Hot cocoa: Make a healthier version using low–fat milk, or spice it up with nutmeg, chili powder, and cinnamon sticks.