Something Healthy: 12 cool light summertime drinks compared

If you’re like me, you like nothing better than a nice cool smoothie or milkshake on a hot summer day.

In this article we explore 12 popular drinks available from 5 different popular establishments.

We will choose a winner based on taste and nutritional value.

Note: All values shown are without whipped cream (booo!!)

Company Product Serving Size Calories Total Fat
Starbucks Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino® Light 16oz 230 1g
Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino® Light 16oz 180 1.5g
Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino® Light 16oz 260 7g
Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino® Light 16oz 180 1.5g
Starbucks Orange Crème Frappuccino® Light 16oz 140 0g
Tim Hortons Iced Capp – Original (with milk) 12oz 180 1.5g
Steak’n'Shake Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Milk Shake 1 shake 500 9.5g
Steak’n'Shake Vanilla Frozen Yogurt Milk Shake 1 shake 532 9.5g
Steak’n'Shake Chocolate Frozen Yogurt Milk Shake 1 shake 553 10g
Caribou Coffee Northern Lite Chocolate Cooler 16oz 210 5g

Caribou Coffee

Northern Lite Vanilla Cooler 16oz 220 6g
Panera Bread Strawberry Smoothie 22oz 300 1.5g

The clear winner in the nutritional category would have to be Starbucks with their three delicious 16oz drin

ks which come in at less than 200 calories each. For some reason, my favorite Starbucks drink the Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino light does not have nutritional information available however I assume that it is roughly the same as the Orange Creme Frappuccino Light.

Tim Horton’s a favorite of Canadians and some die hard fans in America delivers a delicious drink with its Iced Capp, keep in mind you must order it with milk or chocolate milk otherwise they craft it with cream and that sends the calories and fat content through the roof. (try it with chocolate milk for an extra delicious drink)

Steak’n'Shake brings an option to the table for a “once in a blue-moon” milkshake experience. These are definitely special occasion style drinks.

Caribou Coffee brings some delicious and fairly sane choices to our round-up with its Chocolate and Vanilla Northern Lite Coolers. At just over 200 calories these drinks should hit the spot all summer long.

Finally, Panera Bread has recently introduced a Strawberry Smoothie. (why anyone would need a 22oz smoothie is beyond me) but at 300 calories and 1.5 grams of fat you shouldn’t have to spend too much extra time on the treadmill if you indulge in this one.

Keep in mind that many of the drinks above also come in ‘regular’ forms which are much more dangerous to your healthy lifestyle. Be sure to order the light versions with no whipped cream.

Andrew

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