Find out which coffee drinks have the least fat and calories, and which sugary drinks to avoidWith
the summer heat already in full swing, it's time to bring on the icy
coffee drinks - along with the calories. While many are trying to keep
their bikini bods in check, the sugary temptation of an ice-cold drink
can be too much to resist. But just how fattening are these seemingly
innocuous beverages? Fitness and nutrition professional Bryan Renaud shed some insight on how to get your sugary drink fix this summer without the harmful effects.
Click here to see the Best and Worst Summer Coffee Chain Drinks
In light of the recent conversation about the sugary drink ban
, health officials are investigating other ambiguous beverages to determine which drinks
will be affected by the ban. Starbucks Frappuccinos, for example, may
qualify as milkshakes, which will not be affected by the ban.
But if the ban does eventually affect the ubiquitous Frappuccino, will
the Light options still be available? That is yet to be determined, but
according to Renaud, the calories and fat saved with the light option
may not necessarily be healthier. "Everybody thinks it's healthier to
order the skinny version," he says. "They don't count the calories, but
it's the same harmful ingredients going into your body. To make
something fat-free or sugar-free, it requires putting all this unnecessary stuff in there. It's the same chemical stuff, just repackaged."
The problem with these chain coffee drinks isn't just the milk, it's the sugar. Mark Bittman, author of
How to Cook Everything
and New York Times columnist, agrees, calling sugar "the tobacco of the
21st century." But where should legislators draw the line? "Sugar or
sugar alternatives affect your body the same way," said Renaud. So when
ordering your next coffee drink, be wary of
the light options, or even the teas and lemonades you think are so much
healthier: sugar is sugar, in one form or another.
Click here to see Starbucks' Secret Menu: The Ultimate Guide
Consider yourself educated. If you're trying to watch your calorie
intake, or are looking for a safer way to indulge, look no further.
We've researched the best and worst drinks from popular coffee chains to
tell you which ones to sip, and which ones to avoid. Here are a few
tips on how to make your favorite drink a little healthier:
• The easiest thing to cut, but often the most dearly missed, is the
whipped cream. Because of those nifty plastic dome-shaped cups, baristas
can put more on top of cold drinks than on hot ones, meaning that
during the summer the calories stack up.
• If you don't specify what kind of milk you want, most coffee chains
will default to whole milk. "If you want to replace something, replace
the milk," said Renaud. "Almond or coconut milk are great options to get
some nutritional value out of your drink. If you're going to drink cow's milk, 1 or 2 percent is fine. We need some good fat in our diet."
• Eliminating pumps of syrup will save you about 20 calories and 5
grams of sugar. While there are sugar-free syrup options, the artificial
ingredients in low-cal sweeteners can be just as harmful to your
health.
• Remember - size matters. "If I'm going to order a coffee drink… I
just order a smaller size," said Renaud. "The quantity is just
completely out of control. People have no idea how much is going on in
there." Scaling down from a venti size to a tall can make a huge
difference in terms of fat and calories. You don't need 20 ounces of
your favorite drink, or the calories and fat that come with it.
While your favorite large coffee drinks are still on the menu, take a
moment to educate yourself on the most fattening coffee-chain beverages
and their healthier alternatives.
*Unless specified, calorie counts are taken from a Grande size made with whole milk.
With additional reporting by Emilia Morano-Williams.
Credit: Flickr/ owlpacino
McDonald's
Worst: Chocolate Chip Mocha Frappé (530 calories/ 24 grams of fat]
Better: Iced Coffee (all flavors) (140 calories/ 5 grams of fat)
Best: Regular Coffee (0 calories/ 0 grams of fat)
McDonald's Chocolate Chip Mocha Frappé may seem over-indulgent, and it
is. This drink manages to put 530 calories and 25 grams of fat into the
single serving size. While an iced coffee would normally be a better
option (it certainly is a healthier option on most menus), steer clear
of the McDonald's version. With a laundry list of ingredients and a high
calorie count - it comes with added milk and sugar - this drink clocks
in at 140 calories and 5 grams of fat. Must go to the McCafé? Choose the
regular coffee and add the milk and sugar yourself.
Credit: Flickr/ revrev
Caribou Coffee
Worst: Espresso Cooler (210 calories/ 4 grams of fat)
Best: Iced Northern Lite Mocha (140 calories/ 3 grams of fat)
While words like "mocha" generally indicate a high-calorie drink, the
Iced Northern Lite Mocha at Caribou Coffee is one of the better options
to satisfy your craving for a frosty drink. With 140 calories and 3
grams of fat, it packs less of a punch than some of their other,
unassuming drinks. Despite the innocent name, the espresso cooler will
give you 210 calories and 4 grams of fat for a small.
Credit: Flickr/ NeoXerxes
Dunkin' Donuts
Worst: Iced Caramel Mocha Latte (220 calories/ 3 grams of fat)
Best: Iced Caramel Mocha Coffee (120 calories
/ 0 grams of fat)
Headed to Dunkin' Donuts to satisfy your sweet coffee craving? If it's
the caramel-mocha combo you crave, the Iced Caramel Mocha Coffee is your
best bet. With 120 calories and zero grams of fat, it'll satisfy your
sweet tooth without destroying your diet. Ditch the Iced Caramel Mocha
Latte, which, at 220 calories and 3 grams of fat for a small, will leave
you with a sugar and caffeine high.
Credit: Flickr/ yoshimov
Starbucks
Worst: Tazo Chai Frappuccino Blended Crème (360 calories/ 15 grams of fat)
Better: Tazo Iced Chai Tea Latte (270 calories/ 7 grams of fat)
A blend of sugary chai tea, whole milk, and ice, topped with whipped
cream, can set you back 360 calories. While the iced versions of these
tea lattes do lower the calorie count, watch out for the hidden calories
still lurking in your favorite drink. For a healthier chilled chai
experience, try a nonfat Tazo Iced Chai Tea Latte, with 200 calories.
It's not the healthiest tea drink on the menu, but it'll still satisfy
your cravings.
Credit: Starbucks
Starbucks
Worst: Strawberries and Crème Frappuccino Blended Crème (470 calories/ 17 grams of fat)
Best: Strawberry Smoothie (300 calories /2 grams of fat)
All the milk and whipped cream added to your Strawberry Frappuccino
drink cancels out any nutritional value it would have had. For a fruity
flavor without the unnecessary indulgence, swap the Frappuccino for the
Strawberry Smoothie and save 170 calories and 15 grams of fat. With
strawberry purée, a whole banana, and whey protein inside, this smoothie
satisfies even the strongest sweet tooth while nourishing your body.
Credit: StarbucksStarbucks
Worst: Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage (480 calories/19 grams of fat)
Better: Mocha Frappuccino Light Blended Beverage (130 calories /.5 grams of fat)
Best: Iced Coffee (90 calories/0 grams of fat)
Starbucks is promoting the Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino as its new
summer drink, but this fat-laden Frappuccino contains roughly the same
calories and fat as a McDonald's Double Cheeseburger. To get a similar
chocolate and coffee frozen blend with significantly fewer calories, try
a Mocha Frappuccino Light Blended Beverage and save a whopping 350
calories and 18.5 grams of fat. While it may be the best of the cold
coffee beverages, just be aware that Starbucks sweetens its iced coffee
when they brew it, so before you add any milk or sugar, your coffee is
hitting the 90 calorie mark.