NutritionDoc

Whatever happened to the humble cup of joe? Yesterday's simple serving of black coffee, virtually calorie free, has morphed into today's melange of espresso shots, foamed milk, whipped cream and caramel. Some coffee bars even offer mix- ins like crumbled Oreo cookies and Snickers candy bars, uping the level of decadence.

 

If you add those irresistible toppings, you push up the calorie, fat, sat fat and sugar tallies of your favorite coffee drink. Order up a Starbucks venti White Chocolate Mocha made with whole milk and whipped cream and you have taken on 630 calories, 29 grams of fat, 19 grams of sat fat and 69 grams of sugar. You might be better off with a chocolate shake!!

 

If coffee bars are not tempting enough, retail shops now stock a variety of bottled coffee beverages. But beware; many of them list nutrition info for only half the bottle. You will need to double those numbers if you drink it all. Down an entire Starbucks Frappuccino and you will get up to 340 calories - more than double the calories in a 12oz cola.

 

Opt for "skinny" drinks like a small Caribou Coffee Northern Lite Latte for only 80 calories and 0 fat and you will still get all the flavor rewards of a rich brew with 30% of the daily value for calcium as a bonus. Now that is worth waking up for.

 

 Suggestions to lighten up your coffee break :

 

 1. Order small when you belly up to the coffee bar. But learn the lingo. A small coffee is not always called "small". At Starbucks it is "tall".

2.  Ask for non fat or skim milk in your coffee drink to slim it down.

3. Request sugar free syrups in flavored lattes to trim sugar calories.

4. Ask for "no whip" and save up to 130 calories, 12 grams of fat (8 sat fat).

5. Check out nutrition numbers, ahead of time to spare you spur of the moment decisions that cost you caloreis.