NutritionDoc

As the weather gets chilly, Starbucks is doing its part to keep you toasty. Its hot beverages do not only warm your insides they can put an extra layer of insulation around your middle . . . and inside your artery walls.

 

Take the White Hot Chocolate. The mix of steamed milk with a twist of white chocolate and vanilla syrup and topped with whipped cream sounds elegant. A 490 calorie grande (16 oz) with 13 grams of sat fat sounds anything but.

 

Would you stop at McDonald's for a quick Quarter Pounder with Cheese on a cold day?? Even with non fat milk and no whipped cream, the drink has 360 calories and 4 grams of sat fat.  To its credit, Starbucks says that it will have eliminated all artificial trans fat from its foods by the end of the year. You can pick up fruit, vegetable rich (but salty) salads, and even nutrition pamphlets at some outlets. And the Web site features a tall Nonfat Caramel Macchiato =140 calories; a grande Nonfat Latte = 130 calories and a tall Nonfat Caramel Latte with sugar free syrup = 90 calories.

 

So instead of adding one more layer of personal wrap around cushioning with a White Hot Chocolate, why not warm up with a slimmed down drink and an extra scarf??