November 13, 2007

'Tis the Season... To Drink Big Macs?

The latest Starbucks campaign proudly advertises the seasonal return of three holiday beverages -- eggnog, peppermint mocha, and gingerbread lattes.

If winter just isn't the same with a daily eggnog latte for you, I'm afraid I have some bad news.

Even at its tamest (tall size, with nonfat milk), this beverage delivers 350 calories, 9 grams of saturated fat (45% of the recommended daily maximum), and 5 teaspoons of added sugar.

Let's put this into context for a minute.

That's as many calories as six and a half Oreo cookies, as much saturated fat as a Big Mac, and twice as much sugar as a chocolate frosted Dunkin' Donuts donut.

Like it grande (and still nonfat)? That adds up to 450 calories, 11 grams of saturated fat, and 7 teaspoons of added sugar.

Thinking more along the lines of a Venti (20 ounce beverage) made with 2% milk? This particular concoction contains 610 calories, 17 grams of saturated fat, and 10.5 teaspoons of added sugar.

We're talking 60 more calories than half a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, 85% of the daily saturated fat limit, and as much sugar as a can of Coke.

You're better off with the other two options.

A tall, nonfat gingerbread latte without whipped cream only adds 160 calories to your day.
The fat and saturated fat amount, meanwhile, are literally nonexistent. Here's a nice bonus -- you still get thirty percent of your recommended calcium intake!

Even if you like yours with 2% milk (Starbucks' standard), you are still getting a 200 calorie beverage with only 15% of a day's saturated fat.

Go ahead and have some eggnog at your office party, but keep it out of your daily coffee habit!

1 comment:

jamie said...

I had a job interview at starbucks today and they gave me an eggnog latte....I was practically choking it down, thinking of all those calories!!! ugh.... tasted good though :)