1. WORST CHRISTMAS SHAKE
Burger King Gingerbread Cookie Shake
What it is: vanilla soft serve, gingerbread syrup, crumbled gingerbread cookies
Most restaurants opt for the obvious seasonal flavors: pumpkin, apple pie, or eggnog. So I applaud the creativity of gingerbread cookies. However, no amount of creativity can justify the 124 grams of sugar in this shake. That's like eating 18 Little Debbie Gingerbread Cookies!
Most restaurants opt for the obvious seasonal flavors: pumpkin, apple pie, or eggnog. So I applaud the creativity of gingerbread cookies. However, no amount of creativity can justify the 124 grams of sugar in this shake. That's like eating 18 Little Debbie Gingerbread Cookies!
Nutrition info
(large)
810 calories
21 g fat (15 g saturated, .5 g trans)
142 g carbs (124 g sugars)
500 mg sodium
SMARTER CHOICE!
Gingerbread Cookie Sundae
350 calories
7 g fat (4 g saturated, 0 g trans)
68 g carbs (57 g sugars)
210 mg sodium
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2. MOST CARB-PACKED FALL SHAKE
Dairy Queen Pumpkin Blizzard
What it is: vanilla soft serve, nutmeg, pie pieces, pumpkin pie filling, whipped topping
I spotted the sign for this at a nearby DQ a couple weeks back, and I was immediately intrigued. It sounds incredible. But then I saw the nutrition facts. Even the mini version of this Dairy Queen creation packs 370 calories. Not bad, until you see the size of the mini cup. It's tiny.
Nutrition info
(large)
1,050 calories
37 g fat (22 g saturated, 1 g trans)
161 g carbs (118 g sugars)
730 mg sodium
SMARTER CHOICE!
Caramel Sundae
(small)
300 calories
7 g fat (5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
51 g carbs (36 g sugars)
150 mg sodium
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3. WORST FALL SHAKE, PERIOD
Culver's Pumpkin Pecan Concrete Mixer
What it is: pecans, pumpkin pie mix, vanilla custard mix
Similar to the DQ Pumpkin Pie Blizzard, but with even MORE fat. Sure, much of that is from the healthy fats in pecans. But there's still 44 grams of saturated fat, more than twice what you should consume in a day. That's not to mention the 3 grams of heart-clogging trans fats.
Nutrition info
(tall)
1,319 calories
72 g fat (44 g saturated, 3 g trans)
146 g carbs (120 g sugars)
626 mg sodium
SMARTER CHOICE!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Concrete Mixer
(mini)
(mini)
467 calories
26 g fat (15 g saturated, 1 g trans)
52 g carbs (42 g sugars)
229 mg sodium
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4. WORST SEASONAL DRINK
Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
What it is: steamed milk, mocha sauce, toffee nut and vanilla syrups, sweetened whipped cream, caramel sauce, turbinado sugar, sea salt
Apparently, plain old hot chocolate and marshmallows won't cut it anymore. You need mocha sauce and caramel sauce, sweetened syrups, plus extra sugar and, of course, a dash of salt to balance out that extra sugar. It's a laboratory concoction disguised as a holiday classic.
Apparently, plain old hot chocolate and marshmallows won't cut it anymore. You need mocha sauce and caramel sauce, sweetened syrups, plus extra sugar and, of course, a dash of salt to balance out that extra sugar. It's a laboratory concoction disguised as a holiday classic.
Nutrition info
(venti, whole milk, whipped)
600 calories
24 g fat (14 g saturated, .5 g trans)
90 g carbs (80 g sugars)
360 mg sodium
SMARTER CHOICE!
Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte
(grande, nonfat)
120 calories
0 g fat
19 g carbs (16 g sugars)
0 mg sodium
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5. WORST SEASONAL SANDWICH
Panera Bread Roasted Turkey & Cranberry on Ciabatta
What it is: ciabatta bread, spinach, roasted turkey breast, cranberry mostarda, garlic and herb spread
If the idea was to sandwich Thanksgiving dinner between two pieces of bread, Panera succeeded. This panini houses 770 calories, which amounts to one giant meal. Blame the behemoth piece of bread—the ciabatta alone contains 450 calories!
Nutrition info
770 calories
23 g fat (8 g saturated, 0 g trans)
101 g carbs (17 g sugars)
1,170 mg sodium
SMARTER CHOICE!
Smoked Turkey Breast on Country Bread
420 calories
3 g fat(.5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
66 g carbs (3 g sugars)
1,650 mg sodium
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6. WORST PUMPKIN PASTRY
Dunkin' Donuts Pumpkin Muffin
What it is: pumpkin muffin with streusel topping and icing
I applaud Dunkin' for using real pumpkin, not some factory-produced faux pumpkin. The real problem with this muffin is its resemblance to cake. As if streusel weren't enough, the guys at Dunkin' iced this dessert-in-disguise with a blend of sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, trans-fatty partially hydrogenated oil, and corn starch.
I applaud Dunkin' for using real pumpkin, not some factory-produced faux pumpkin. The real problem with this muffin is its resemblance to cake. As if streusel weren't enough, the guys at Dunkin' iced this dessert-in-disguise with a blend of sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, trans-fatty partially hydrogenated oil, and corn starch.
Nutrition info
550 calories
24 g fat (5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
77 g carbs (41 g sugars)
480 mg sodium
SMARTER CHOICE!
Pumpkin Munchkins (3)
180 calories
7.5 g fat(3 g saturated, 0 g trans)
27 g carbs (12 g sugars)
225 mg sodium
7. TRANS-FATTIEST SEASONAL SHAKE
Jack in the Box Eggnog Shake
What it is: vanilla ice cream, eggnog syrup, whipped topping, maraschino cherry
Jack in the Box boasts about using "real ice cream." Congrats. But can someone tell me what "eggnog syrup" is?
Nutrition info
What it is: four oatmeal spice pancakes filled with diced apples, carrots, coconut, and walnuts, and topped with whipped butter and cream cheese icing
Carrot cake is perhaps the world's most deceptive dessert. It sounds insanely healthy—wow, I'm eating vegetables for dessert!—but the scary truth is that carrot cake houses more calorie-dense oil than most other types of cake. And, sorry, calling cake a pancake doesn't make it any healthier.
Nutrition info
7. TRANS-FATTIEST SEASONAL SHAKE
Jack in the Box Eggnog Shake
What it is: vanilla ice cream, eggnog syrup, whipped topping, maraschino cherry
Jack in the Box boasts about using "real ice cream." Congrats. But can someone tell me what "eggnog syrup" is?
(24 oz)
1,135 calories
54 g fat (37 g saturated, 3 g trans)
140 g carbs (103 g sugars)
375 mg sodium
8. WORST SEASONAL BREAKFAST
IHOP Carrot Cake Pancakes
SMARTER CHOICE!
Chocolate Overload Cake
302 calories
7 g fat(2 g saturated, 0 g trans)
57 g carbs (34 g sugars)
347 mg sodium8. WORST SEASONAL BREAKFAST
IHOP Carrot Cake Pancakes
What it is: four oatmeal spice pancakes filled with diced apples, carrots, coconut, and walnuts, and topped with whipped butter and cream cheese icing
Carrot cake is perhaps the world's most deceptive dessert. It sounds insanely healthy—wow, I'm eating vegetables for dessert!—but the scary truth is that carrot cake houses more calorie-dense oil than most other types of cake. And, sorry, calling cake a pancake doesn't make it any healthier.
(4 pancakes)
1,120 calories
47 g fat (11 g saturated, .5 g trans)
152 g carbs (76 g sugars)
SMARTER CHOICE!
Simple & Fit Whole Wheat Pancakes with Blueberries
(served with egg substitute and two strips of turkey bacon)
(served with egg substitute and two strips of turkey bacon)
460 calories
12 g fat(2.5 g saturated, 0 g trans)
63 g carbs (29 g sugars)
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