How Many Calories ... in a cup of Light Egg Nog

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Nov 21st 2007 6:00AM

Egg nog and Christmas go hand in hand. Well, at least for me they do. Growing up, the promise of gifts under the tree was always the highlight of Christmas, but having a carton of Egg Nog in the fridge was almost as exciting. And as I got older, egg nog was just as exciting because now I could get in in my latte from Starbucks and I could help myself to my mum's special rum-infused egg nog too. My point? I love egg nog.

But like all good things, it's pretty obvious that egg nog isn't the healthiest beverage out there. I mean, it's pretty much just cream with some sugar. If you're an egg nog fan, this can be a disheartening realization. But what about so-called light egg nog? It's got to be low-cal, right? What do you think?

The answer is 280 calories, and there's 4 g of fat to go along with that. And regular egg nog? It has 343 calories and 19 g of fat if you're interested. You can burn off that 280 calories by jumping rope for 25 minutes or walking for an hour.

Now 280 calories isn't bad, but it certainly isn't calorie-free and keep in mind that a cup isn't very much. So while it's okay for a sometime snack, it's not something you should drink every day during the holiday season. And seeing as the total calories aren't that far off from full-fat egg nog, you might want to consider treating yourself to the real deal if it's only an occasional indulgence.

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Comments (15)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Cyn 11-22-2007 @ 3:07PM

You can buy fat-free eggnog, in cartons. My hubby and I drink it, and it's quite good. I'm a eggnog lover too, and I enjoy the fat free. Of course, it's not as good as the "real thing", but it is still very good!

Bill Herzog 11-22-2007 @ 3:31PM

My Dad used to make his own Egg-Nog. Was 4 eggs, 1/2 cup Sugar,1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 gal milk. I revised by using enough eggbeaters to make up 4 eggs,enough packets of Equal to make 1/2 cup sugar w/cinnamon and Skim milk instead of Vit D. I have to double the receipe cause my family thinks it`s the best darn egg-nog you`ll ever taste. Thank-you

Joni 11-22-2007 @ 8:52PM

I think even thought the calories are a little much, as long as it is drank as a treat, I say cheers!

ed 11-22-2007 @ 5:26PM

i buy a half gallon at christmas time and enjoy it at night watching tv, it is gone in 3-4 nights. but it is good

David 11-22-2007 @ 5:33PM

It sure is great on cereal, especially granolla types.

meg 11-22-2007 @ 6:05PM

Publix low fat egg nog tastes better than any full fat brand, with the sole exception of the Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice egg nog. That one is worth the calories!

Carl Tapp 11-22-2007 @ 7:10PM

I DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE FAT OR THE CALORIES . I LOVE
EGG NOG TOO , AND IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR 2 MONTHS,
WHICH IS A GOOD THING FOR ME . I BUY A HALF GALLON AND GRATE A LOT OF NUTMEG INTO IT OR SOMETIMES USE CLOVE OR CINNAMON . THEN I CHUG-A-LUG IT FROM THE BOTTLE AND ENJOY . I ALSO LOVE EGG NOG ICE CREAM .

Pastor Smith 11-23-2007 @ 10:25AM

Egg-Nog is better than sex.

Zaphod 11-22-2007 @ 7:24PM

I like egg nog. In a year I will drink maybe a quart. I don't think a quart of egg nog a year will shorten anyones life. A life, by the way, is what the folks who write articles like this need to get.

Billy Reilly 11-22-2007 @ 7:25PM

Your gonna die of something, why deprive the great ride with Crappy egg nog, as long as your doing your part with exercise and watching the rest of your diet, embibe, drink that sweet nectar of the nog, I sure will

Zaphod 11-22-2007 @ 7:25PM

By the way one of my favorite Holiday treats is a large Egg nog shake from McDonalds

Pencilpnt 11-22-2007 @ 7:37PM

Its not Christmas if there's not eggnog in the frig.

Yvonne 11-22-2007 @ 7:40PM

I love egg nog also. It wouldn't be Christmas without it. I tried Silk Soy Egg Nog and enjoy it very much.

John Marinkovits 11-22-2007 @ 8:10PM

Calories do NOT matter. Fat does NOT matter. It all comes down to advertising. No, I am NOT going to go out and buy lite eggnog, I happen to like the full flavored stuff. Just like a baby will cry for attention, paople will always write stuff like this. Don't fall for it.....

moochbabe 12-15-2007 @ 12:57AM

I buy this stuff called holly nog which is made with soya milk, though you would never know unless you had seen the carton before hand. even my mom (who has a fear of soymilk on its own) LOVES the stuff; and the nice thing? It's only 130/cup!