June is just around the corner, which means that summer's almost here. And who doesn't like to enjoy a nice, cold treat after a hot summer day?
No one I know.
Whether it's a scoop of ice cream, a milkshake, or one of those hopelessly addictive blended iced coffee drinks that seem to be cropping up everywhere, most of us are going to reach for a sweet treat at least a few times this summer. And why not? We deserve it.
If you're health-conscious, though, you might want to do a little research before you splurge. You might be surprised at what you find. Just this morning, for instance, I learned that this shake has a whopping 2310 calories, more than many of us need to consume in an entire day, along with 320% of the saturated fat (one of the bad kinds) recommended for daily consumption. What's worse? Check out that ingredient list. That's way more than I can count on my fingers and toes, and there are quite a few I've never even heard of.
The good news is that many restaurants and coffee chains are putting their nutritional information out there so that we can educate ourselves before we buy. Baskin-Robbins isn't the only one. For what's in your Cold Stone treat, check here. And you can find out what's in your fancy coffee by checking out Caribou and Starbucks. Looking for nutrition information from somewhere else? Do a Google search like Panera nutrition, or Planet Sub nutrition. It works best for big chains, many of which are starting to respond to demands for nutrition and ingredient information.
Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't all have a chance to partake in the sweet goodness of summer. I'm just a big advocate of knowing what you're getting into. Personally, I think I'll skip the large Heath shake. I like to be able to pronounce what I'm consuming.
Interested in learning more about nutrition? Check out the ADA Nutrition Care Manual through our databases page, or try a keyword search for nutrition in our catalog.
Image credit: the greatest milkshake ever by jasmined
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