Would You Like Coffee With That Cream?

Do you love your goumet coffee? I most certainly love mine. Those frothy, creamy, sweet cups of goodness that hit the right spot. They brighten your day or can sooth your savage beast when you need comfort the most. Yes, they comfort and satisfy you , but do they do your hips justice? I have always wondered about the Karma of life that says that if it tastes yummy, it must be really bad for some part of your body especially your butt.

Think about this. You are out shopping and your feet hurt and the clerks were rude. What sounds good to you? Yes, the biggest Carmel Frappuccino that your stomach can hold. That'll show the world that you won't let them treat you like that. You can kill two birds with one stone too. Those ventis not only make things look brighter but they taste yummy too and you can sit down and rest those poor 'aching dogs.' Let's take a look at the calorie count in those desert beverages that we have come to love and depend on so much.

• Two tablespoons of flavored nondairy creamer (liquid) adds 80 calories and four grams of fat (as much as a pat of butter).
  
• Two tablespoons of flavored syrup adds 80 calories, but no fat.
  
• One tablespoon of cream adds 50 calories and six grams of fat.
  
• One tablespoon of liquid plain nondairy creamer has 25 calories and two grams of fat.
  
• One tablespoon of half-and-half has 20 calories and two grams of fat.
  
• Cappuccino (espresso, steamed milk, foamed milk) has seven grams of fat and 137 calories when whole milk is used; four grams of fat and 109 calories with low-fat milk; just under a half gram of fat and 80 calories with fat-free milk.
  
• Coffee latte (espresso and steamed milk) has 212 calories and nine grams of fat when whole milk is used; 167 calories and six grams of fat with low-fat milk; 123 calories and 0.6 grams fat with fat-free milk.
  
• Coffee mocha with whole milk (espresso, cocoa, steamed milk) has 340 calories and 20 grams of fat with whipped cream; 260 calories with six grams of fat without whipped cream.

How was that for an eye opener? Makes you want to diet, doesn't it? This doesn't even begin to include all those fattening concoctions that you find smelling like heaven and sitting in the glass front display case, just calling to you. Cakes, cookies, scones and cookies the size of a dinner plate are just a few of the goodies that beckon. Just one will make your coffee so much better, right? It's great as lot as you realize that you are using your calorie count for the whole day on this one little stop over before you go home. Most women need between 1500 and 1700 calories to maintain their weight. One of those calorie laden coffees and a pastry will cost you in the neighborhood of 1100 to 1200 calories. Still need all that comfort?

Starbuck's famous Carmel Frappaccino contains whole milk, carmel and ice, along with whipped cream and carmel drizzle on the top. There are a meager 525 calories in a venti which is only 24 oz. Compare that to a McDonald's Big Mac at the total of 560 calories for a Big Mac and you begin to get the picture.

One frappaccino and a couple of regular sodas will shoot you past 1/3 of your total calorie allotment for the day and that is whithout any food. Add a pastry and you not only shoot past that 1/3, but you score big!

You can still have your coffee and eat it too though. You may ask for a Low-fat or a Light coffee which contains skim or low fat milk. It will taste almost as good. You can also skip the whole frappaccino thing altogether and order a black coffee and use Tbs. of flavored CoffeeMate. Hazelnut is one of my favorites. CoffeeMate contains only 15 calories per tbs. Skip the snacks completely until you get home if you have the will power. Your little black dress will appreciate your sacrifice.

I really have to go though. My Starbuck's Mocha Lattee and piece of carrot cake are calling to me.