The Worst Drinks in America [Part II]
9. Worst “Reduced Calorie” Smoothie
Dunkin Donuts Reduced-Calorie Berry Smoothie (32 oz)
490 calories
4 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat)
97 g carbohydrates
83 g sugars
Sure, this blend may not completely derail your diet. But it’s a perfect example of how the restaurant industry fools health-conscious consumers with labels like “reduced-calorie.” There’s nothing “reduced” about a smoothie with more calories than a Quarter Pounder. You’re better of avoiding all smoothies on this menu-each of Dunkin Donuts’ medium-size fruit-and-yogurt smoothies packs at least 60 grams of sugar. That’s more than four times the sugar in a chocolate-frosted cake doughnut.
Drink This Instead!
Peach Flavored Iced Tea (32 oz)
20 calories
0 g fat
6 g carbohydrates
8. Worst Slush
Sonic Route Large Lemon-Berry Cream Slush (20 ounces)
630 calories
15 g fat (9 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
99 g sugars
To be fair, this belly blaster is more of a shake-slush hybrid: half sugar-saturated ice and half high-fat ice cream. Think it sounds tasty alongside a Sonic Cheeseburger and fries? Maybe so, but that’s a meal that will cost you more than 1,500 calories.
Drink This Instead!
Small Strawberry Real Fruit Slush (14 ounces)
210 calories
0 g fat
52 g sugars
7. Worst Holiday Coffee Drink
Starbucks Venti 2% Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha (20 ounces)
660 calories
22 g fat (15 g saturated)
95 g sugars
Between the candies and the casseroles, we already have plenty of temptations to deal with during the holidays. We certainly don’t need Starbucks’ surreptitious sugar overload thrown into the mix. The name implies indulgence, sure, but the fact that this cup holds more sugar than 9 Krispy Kreme doughnuts is pretty appalling. Settle for a candy cane in your coffee or find a different drink.
Drink This Instead!
Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte (16 ounces)
130 calories
0 g fat
17 g sugars
6. Worst Hot Chocolate
Starbucks Venti 2% Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate (20 ounces)
760 calories
37 g fat (22 g saturated)
85 g sugars
380 mg sodium
Since when did hot chocolate require salt and caramel to meet the expectations of consumers? Seems a bit gratuitous, no? Thanks to Starbucks’ monstrous creation, the classic winter comfort beverage is now sullied with more than a full day’s worth of saturated fat and as much sugar as nearly 4 Hershey’s chocolate bars.
Drink This Instead!
Grande Nonfat Vanilla Crème (16 ounces)
270 calories
7 g fat (4.5 g saturated)
38 g sugars
5. Worst Cocktail
Red Lobster Traditional Lobsterita
890 calories
0 g fat
183 g carbohydrates
Lobsterita means a lobster tank-size glass filled with booze and high-fructose corn syrup. You’d have to drink 4 regular on-the-rocks margaritas to outdo the massive calorie load. Pair that with a dinner and you might be pushing a full day’s calories in one meal. If you want to get drunk, take a shot. If you want to enjoy a cocktail, make sure it doesn’t start with a bottle of mix-your body and your taste buds will thank you.
Drink This Instead!
Malibu Hurricane
200 calories
0 g fat
36 g carbohydrates
4. Worst Float
Baskin-Robbins Large Ice Cream Soda with Vanilla Ice Cream Float (32 ounces)
960 calories
40 g fat (25 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
136 g sugars
If you’re going to have a float, it’s best to limit yourself to one small scoop of ice cream and a reasonable pour of soda, yet Baskin-Robbins’ smallest portion is 32 ounces! Unfortunately, if the ice cream mogul doesn’t begin offering smaller sizes, your options are limited. Either split a small float or cut the soda out of the equation.
Eat This Instead!
Vanilla Ice Cream Scoop (4 ounces)
260 calories
16 g fat (10 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
26 g sugars
3. Worst Ice-Blended Coffee Drink
Così Gigante Double OH! Arctic (23 ounces)
1,210 calories
19 g fat
259 g carbohydrates
How does Così’s coffee creation reach such abysmal heights? By dropping a giant Oreo cookie into the blender with a flood of chocolate syrup and then sticking another Oreo on top. The only thing stronger than the massive caffeine jolt will be the sugar crash to follow. “Blended coffee drinks” is a troubled genre in need of a name change; we think “caffeinated milk shakes” is a more apt description.
Drink This Instead!
Grande Latte (15 ounces)
210 calories
7 g fat
21 g carbohydrates
2. Worst Smoothie
Smoothie King’s The Hulk, Strawberry (40 ounces)
2,088 calories
70 g fat (32 g saturated)
240 g sugars
To be fair, this smoothie is designed to help people gain weight—and for that reason alone, it isn’t our Worst Drink in America. The problem is that we live in a nation in which two-thirds of us are overweight, and the number of professional body builders doesn’t constitute a significant demographic. Plus, if you really want to put on some pounds, just eat 9 Odwalla Super Protein bars. That’s how many it would take to match this caloric load.
Drink This Instead!
The Shredder, Strawberry (20 ounces)
356 calories
1 g fat
41 g sugars
1. Worst Drink in America 2009
Cold Stone Creamery PB&C Shake Gotta Have It Size
2,010 calories
131 g fat (68 g saturated)
153 g sugars
The PB&C is intended to denote peanut butter and chocolate, but the more accurate translation might be potbellies and cardiovascular disease. After all, this one drink does pack more calories than a dozen ice cream sandwiches and more saturated fat than nearly 20 large orders of McDonald’s French fries. And what’s even more depressing is that no shake on Cold Stone’s menu, not even the small sizes, falls below 1,000 calories. Choose a small ice cream and use the 1,640 calories for something with at least a trace of nutritional value.
Eat This Instead!
Peanut Butter Ice Cream Like It Size
370 calories
24 g fat (13 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
28 g sugars
Source: http://eatthis.womenshealthmag.com/slide/worst-drink-america-2009
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