A regular latte or cappuccino from a Canadian coffee shop packs a punch in fat and calories, a new report shows.
The Centre for Science in the Public Interest took a close look at the offerings from Canada's big three coffee chains, Tim Hortons, Starbucks and the Second Cup.
Starbucks' blueberry green tea Frappuccino was the worst, weighing in at 560 calories and nine grams of fat per 16-ounce serving.
A Tim Hortons double-double — with two creams and two sugars — has 160 calories per 10-ounce cup. A black coffee had about 10 calories and no fat.
"We're concerned about the public health implications of people consuming food products or beverages that can adversely affect their health," said Bill Jeffery of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest in Ottawa.
One drink could pack the 500 to 600 calories of a healthy dinner of chicken breast, rice and vegetables, said Dana Wilkinson, nutrition research co-ordinator at the University of Alberta.
Starbucks declined to comment on the report's findings. In a statement, the company said they offer "a wide variety of options."
Starbucks started the sweet trend to lure people who don't necessarily like plain coffee, said coffee lover and freelance writer Gilbert Bouchard of Edmonton.
The strategy introduces people to coffee culture through a form they're already familiar with, such as milkshakes and soft drinks, Bouchard said.
The strategy worked, and the high-calorie drinks are among the most popular at coffee kiosks across Canada.
But a single beverage can represent a quarter of your recommended daily caloric intake, with little nutritional value.
A daily double-double or low-fat latte adds up to an extra 17 pounds of fat in one year.
The report's authors recommend avoiding whipped cream and extra sugar and suggest asking for skim milk.
The report, called "Good Cup, Bad Cup," also includes the saturated and trans fat content of the beverages.
4 comments:
Yes you got it Jennifer. Exactly right. Don’t drink a cup of coffee a day. Just eat Poutine for breakfast and lunch, and you are all set. Brilliant.
On a side note, Ms Ash (that heartless woman) has gotten me hooked on Green Tea Frappuccinos.
Oh i know, the Green Tea Frappuccino's with black berry syrup and to die for. I did have one the other day sans whipped cream though, it's a start.
I know how bad they are but I do LOVE the Green Tea Frappuccinos. I've had to cut back though since I started my diet. I do generally have 1 cup of coffee (with cream and sugar) per day. It is only 2 Weight Watchers points as opposed to the fatty fraps. Ahhhh... I do miss the fraps though.
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