Food for Thought with Nutrition Coach Coley Haas
COFFEE:
Coffee is not only a drink but it is turning into a hobby and a way for you to grab a midday treat and catch up with some friends. Are you paying attention to your coffee order?
The most popular drink at Starbucks is a Vanilla Latte. For those of you who have never had one it’s a rich, full-bodied espresso blended with creamy steamed milk and vanilla syrup. This drink has 250 calories – 6 grams of fat – 37 carbs – 150 mg of caffeine!
For under 200 calories, you could of had:
A. 1/2 apple with 1 tbsp of peanut butter
B. 10 carrot sticks with 2 tbsp of dip
C. 2 bags of popcorn
D. 5 triangle whole wheat pita & 1 quarter cup of hummus
E. 1 Apple & string cheese
Why not try? …
Black coffee with cinnamon and unsweetened coconut milk!
And then our next favorite: SODA
If you think you can’t afford nutrition, take a look at how much you spend on sweets, snacks and soda a month.The National Soft Drinks Association reported that Americans spent a total of $65 billion on soda in 2012. This is far more than other non-alcoholic beverages! By comparison, Americans spent a total of $11 billion on bottled water, and roughly the same on coffee. According to Time magazine, the average household spends about $850 per year on soda alone. That was in 2012…. ya’ll it’s 2019! We need to be more conscience of what we are putting into our bodies and our childrens’ bodies.
Soda doesn’t have any health benefits. Researchers have found that teen girls who regularly drink carbonated beverages, have nearly three times the risk of bone fractures of girls who don’t drink soda at all.
Even though Coke Zero doesn’t have sugar it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. CARBONATED WATER, CARAMEL COLOR, PHOSPHORIC ACID, ASPARTAME ( linked to cancer ), POTASSIUM BENZOATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, POTASSIUM CITRATE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, CAFFEINE is the ingredient list for coke zero. Even though you think you are drinking a soda that is better for you, the sweetener they use still triggers receptors in your brain to want more sugar.
Here are some Healthy Alternatives –
Sparkling water with a splash of juice
Tea hot or cold
Fruit and herb infusions
Coconut Water – with no flavors or sugar added Mineral Water
Water with natural oils
Next time you are standing at the coffee counter to choosing a beverage with lunch, think about what’s best for you body. If you’re looking for a little help with these, I meet with people each week for FREE “Hungry for Help” consultations. It might be just what you need to make a healthier choice!
Keep moving,
Coley
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