Time is hurtling toward the finish line of both the holiday season and 2025.

Perhaps you managed to limit your intake of Halloween sweets and pumpkin-flavored novelty snacks for the better part of autumn. However, now the special winter beverage menus have gone up. The colder weather and simmering stress behind growing seasonal to-do lists make creamy and hot drinks, whether flavored with peppermint, cinnamon, cloves, chocolate, or caramel, seem particularly appealing.

In addition to everything else going on this time of year, you may be trying to finalize travel plans. Whether spending time with loved ones or going on a solo adventure, you may find similarly sweet and festive beverage offerings at rest areas, at the airport, or at many of the charming cafes on your itinerary.

My seasonal morning coffees are ever present to the point of becoming a culinary cliché. What I tend to lose track of during holiday travels and gatherings is my daily hydration.

The UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences has an Ask IFAS publication on choosing water instead of sugary drinks. The publication discusses the importance and health benefits of drinking water instead of sugary beverages and lists recommended daily amounts of water. Lastly, the publication shares tips to help readers stay hydrated by drinking more water while reducing intake of beverages containing excessive amounts of sugar and calories.

Interested in learning more about nutrition? Want to find out more about eating well, whether you are dining at home or going out to eat this holiday season? Remember to Ask IFAS!

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