With the abundance of coffee shops in Ann Arbor, it is hard to pass up the opportunity to stop for a caffeine pick me up before class or while on the way to the library.  What most students don’t realize though is that while stopping for that vanilla latte might give you a temporary boost of energy, it also sets you back a few hundred calories.  Empty calories offer no nutritional benefit, and a lot of the beverages offered at coffee shops fall into this category.

Starbucks “Nutrition by the Cup” pamphlet (available at any Starbucks location) offers some insight into the calorie content of popular beverages.  Most students would be surprised to find out that a grande nonfat vanilla latte from Starbucks packs close to 200 calories and offers little, if any, nutritional benefit.  And watch out for some standard classics.  The Starbucks signature hot chocolate is more caloric than one might think with a grande coming in at a whopping 410 calories and 12 grams of fat.  To get rid of the excess calories and fat, and to save a few dollars, you would be much better off making a hot chocolate at home.  For instance, there are only 120 calories in the standard Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix and even less if you opt for a diet or sugar free variety. 

If you can’t resist stopping by Starbucks or Espresso Royale on your way to class, be sure to make smart decisions.  Regular brewed coffee is only five calories.  Add nonfat milk and a calorie-free sweetener, and you’ve saved yourself over 100 calories.  For more elaborate drinks, sugar free syrups are also the way to go as they flavor your beverage of choice without the added calories.  Many coffee shops now offer a variety of sugar free syrup flavors including vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut.


Finally be sure to ask that your beverage be made without whipped cream, which can cost you anywhere from 50 to 110 calories and 5 to 11 grams of fat!  By making simple changes like switching to a low-fat milk or soy milk, or using a calorie free sweetener or sugar free syrup, you can save yourself from splurging on unnecessary calories without changing your beverage too much.  Of course, it is perfectly fine to order that Starbucks white chocolate mocha with whipped cream every once in a while, but make sure you know it is more of a dessert than a cup of coffee! 


For more information on the calorie content of your favorite java concoctions, be sure to check out the website of your favorite coffee shop.  Many coffee shops such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts now offer beverage nutritional information online.  If you are unsure whether or not your drink of choice is adding unnecessary calories to your waistline, don’t hesitate to search for the nutritional information online or ask your barista for a pamphlet, as this information is often readily available.