FOR THE SAME amount of sugar, YOU COULD EAT 31 Werther’s Original Caramel chocolates (Caitlin Thorne Hersey)
FOR THE SAME CALORIES, YOU COULD EAT 4½ York Peppermint Patties (Caitlin Thorne Hersey)
FOR THE SAME amount of sugar, YOU COULD EAT Two Slices of Pumpkin Pie (Caitlin Thorne Hersey)
They’re baa-ack! ’Tis the season to indulge, and coffee chains are taking advantage of the holiday spirit by introducing seasonal beverages loaded with heavy cream, milk and tons of extra sugar.
A regular coffee with cream and sugar will only set you back about 63 calories.
But a “venti” peppermint white chocolate mocha with whole milk and whipped cream from Starbucks clocks in at a whopping 700 calories — about one-third of your recommended caloric intake for the entire day.
According to David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health and author of the best-selling “Eat This, Not That!” series, those extra 637 calories will cost you an hour at the gym.
“For every high-calorie drink you forego in December, it’s an hour on the treadmill you won’t spend in January,” says Zinczenko, who notes that the average American gains between 1 and 6 pounds between Thanksgiving and the new year. “If you cut out caloric drinks, you can pretty much eat whatever you want this year,” he adds.
That’s because cutting liquid calories is a more effective way to lose weight than cutting food calories. After all, people tend to mindlessly gulp down sugary drinks, which don’t offer the same feeling of satiety as food.
To cut calories at your next trip to the barista, Zinczenko suggests ordering a small or medium cup, holding the whipped cream and opting for skim milk. That last step alone will shave off about 100 calories.
He also recommends choosing a cappuccino over a latte since it contains less milk and fewer calories.
And instead of downing a flavored latte, consider adding a flavor shot (preferably sugar-free) to regular coffee — which is only about 5 calories in its natural state.
As Zinczenko sees it, “Too much of our coffee has been razzle-dazzled into sugary, fatty dessert-like beverages.”
We spoke to Zinczenko about the five worst culprits and how they stack up against popular holiday treats . . .