Holiday Drinks Beware!

I'm always up for a Pumpkin Spiced Latte. I'm not sure if I just enjoy the process of grabbing a friend or co-worker to take the walk to Starbucks a block from our office or if I really like the drink. I try and be smart and make it non fat with no whipped cream...I know..taking the fun out of it. It's so easy to grab a latte, mocha or coffee, but now that there are so many seasonal drinks out there, it's really eye opening to see exactly how many calories and fat grams you're downing.

I saw this on The Daily Meal (http://www.thedailymeal.com/). It lists some drinks to beware of...fun stuff like eggnog milk shakes from places like Sonic and Jack in the Box that aren't found in my neck of the woods. But, the Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and Mc Donald's drinks are!

Here are some of the drinks highlighted by The Daily Meal

1. McDonald's Peppermint Mocha

The large size has 410 calories and 17 grams of fat, the medium rings in at 320 calories and 12 grams of fat and the small has 260 calories and 7 grams of fat.

The Daily Meal estimates that  for 60 more calories the large Peppermint Mocha from McDonald's, you could be enjoying their 10 piece McNuggets instead.

2. Starbucks....here's a little cheat sheet to some of the wintertime Starbucks favorites!

Caramel Brulee Latte...a Grande made with whole milk will set you back 430 calories and 17g of fat

A Grande Peppermint Mocha made with whole milk...that'll be 440 calories and 19g of fat

Grande Gingerbread Latte...360 calories and 17g of fat

if you're trying to not drink your daily intake of calories and fat and happen to find yourself in a Starbucks...keep it to a Tall, no whipped cream and non fat milk is the moral of this story! Those nutritional stats are for the Grande..aka Medium sized drink at Starbucks...I cringe to think what a Venti or Large will set you back.

3. Dunkin Donuts

Peppermint Mocha...470 calories and 17g of fat for a large

A large Pumpkin Latte will cost you 430 calories and 12g of fat and this one kind of came as an eye opener to me....a large Hot Chocolate...450 calories and 15g of fat!!!

The Daily Meal estimates that a holiday latte from Dunkin Donuts coming in around 460 calories is the equivalent to eating 13 chocolate glazed munchkins.

So, whether you're headed out for a dreaded grocery store run, Black Friday sales, or good old Christmas shopping at the mall, think twice about these little festive pick me up drinks. Or, if you're grabbing one, save some calories by getting the smallest size with no add ons like whipped cream and have it made with skim milk. As someone who watches their daily calorie intake, I'd rather be eating 450 calories than drinking them!