Coffee….is the planet shaking or is it just me?

Some of you may have read my post last Friday on Facebook……..”I am sitting here in Starbucks with my green tea, when I witnessed a guy ordering a Venti White Chocolate Blended Creme Frappuccino with double whipped cream!! 760 calories and 21g of fat. Nearly half the daily recommendation in one beverage –  speechless. Choose wisely over the weekend when meeting up with friends over coffee”

What is the best choice if having coffee? This question comes up nearly every week with some of my clients. So I have decided to write this entry for them! Some people have up to 5 coffees a day and think it is perfectly fine and that there is no harm in it at all. But when you add some milk, sugar and sometimes cream the calorie intake could rocket up to 800 calories!! So here are a few pointers when ordering your next cappuccino in Starbucks!

• Ask that your drink be made with skimmed (non-fat) milk instead and you’ll get all the nutrients and flavour without the fat. Opt for milk in your coffee or tea instead of cream.
• Toppings like these will add on the fat and calories to a beverage but offer no nutritional value whatsoever. Opting for whipped cream will add over 100 calories and 10 grams of fat to your beverage.
• If you do end up choosing one of the more indulgent, high-calorie drinks, opt for it in the smallest available size to help keep the extra calories to a minimum. If you’ve made a healthier choice, size is less of an issue.
• Okay, one final thought before we get to it:  If it comes with whipped cream, it’s not coffee — it’s dessert.
• Caffeine is the stimulant in coffee and tea that reduces drowsiness and increases alertness. Know how much caffeine is in your drink. Avoid caffeine after 5pm so that it doesn’t interfere with the quality or quantity of your sleep. If you drink caffeinated beverages regularly, re-hydrate with water (caffeine is a diuretic — it increases urine production) and make sure you are getting enough Calcium and Vitamin D in your diet (caffeine leaches Calcium from bones).
• Use less sugar, or, even better, no sugar. Train yourself to enjoy your favorite beverage with less sugar by gradually reducing the amount you use. Choose beverages that have little or no added sugar. If you have a sweet tooth, try using honey instead of sugar to sweeten your drink.

Best Choice Coffee (calories) 

1.  Black Coffee Americano    16
2. Cappuccino   140
3.  Cafe Latte   220
4.  Cafe Mocha (no cream)   360
5. White Chocolate Mocha (with cream)   430

Information taken from Starbucks

cafe Latte cafe mocha Cappuccino coffee healthy choice Starbucks