Coffee

By Julie Janeway and Karen Sparks

Coffee House Warning

Mmmmmm...coffee.... For many it's the official start of the day, and for others it's the difference between productivity and slamming your face onto your desk at 3:00 pm. But all coffee is not created equal; especially if you buy those fun Italian coffee drinks from your favorite barrista.
British researchers tested many of the big chains' drinks (including well-known American coffee house offerings), and found that many of them contained more than 400 calories! Bariatric surgery patients are supposed to refrain from drinking their calories, so this can be a serious issue. One of these drinks is equivalent to the calories we should consume in almost two full meals! In many instances, a fast-food burger would contain less fat and calories, and at least it would provide some protein!
The culprits are full-fat milk, half-and-half, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and flavored syrups. Even soy milk has a high sugar content and contains fat. Researchers found that one mocha coffee made with full-fat milk added up to 396 calories, and the same coffee made with semi-skimmed milk, but topped with whipped cream, contained 326. Ouch!
We went to visit our local Starbucks to see what all the ruckus was about. We read the flavored syrups' nutrition labels and found they contain 80 calories or more per pump. In contrast, the sugar free flavored syrups contain no calories, use sucralose (Splenda®), and do not contain sugar alcohols. So if you want that hazelnut or other flavoring, opt for the sugar free variety, and be sure to use non-fat milk too. All the other milk options will probably make you sick anyway. If you want some additional flavoring, sprinkle a little cinnamon - yum!
If you're thinking of trading in the coffee drinks for the blended fruit drinks - don't. For example, a Starbucks venti strawberries and crème frappuccino (without whipped cream) contains 540 calories, .5g saturated fat, 60g carbs, and 53g of sugar! And that's without the whipped cream!!!
A single cup of coffee in the morning is okay to get you going, but relying on coffee throughout the day is not a plan. Remember that caffeine is a gastric stimulant (as well as a mental stimulant), and it will prompt you to eat and graze. To stay awake throughout the day, water is your best bet - and get more sleep! As a final warning (and this should go without saying), beware the goody counter at the coffee emporium. Save yourself the angst and use the drive through instead.