Who else loves to drink?
Photo: Hiromy
Americans love to drink, as evidenced by cup holders provided in our vehicles, movie theaters and grocery carts. From super-size Slurpees to Macho Grande Mochas, we’ve got it going on. That’s why we need to be realize that calories in those beverages can add up, sabotaging our health plans. When you drink 8 ounces of orange juice, you swallow 112 calories, equal to eating about 5 Starburst candies. Think that doesn’t sound like much? If you drink an 8 ounce glass of juice daily for one year, that adds 41,000 calories (12 pounds of weight) to your diet—that’s a lot of Florida sunshine!
A 20 ounce glass of Cherry 7 UP adds 250 calories, about the same as slamming back a quarter cup of M&M’s. Move up to a Starbucks 24 ounce Java Chip Frappuccino Blend Coffee with Whipped Cream, and you’re talking 720 calories, equivalent to 68 Junior Mints (yum!). If you can’t resist Margaritas, beware; those sweet senoritas deliver a whopping 750 calories, about the same as 48 of the gummy worms you craved as a kid.
Interesting beverage facts:
If you stack ice in your glass, you’ll burn more calories, about 1 calorie for every ounce of liquid.
If you pour your bottled liquid into a glass, you tend to drink more than from the bottle or the can.
And due to a weird psychological effect, if you use short glasses versus tall glasses, you’ll pour and drink more. In one test, when bartenders made a drink calling for 1.5 ounces of hard liquor, they poured 1.6 ounces into a tall glass, but 2.1 ounces into a short glass; 37% more booze. Now we know to request a short glass with our order!
The Cornell University Food and Brand Lab offer these additional measures, for your pleasure:
- 12 ounces of beer – 146 calories
- 12 ounces light beer – 99 calories
- 4 ounces wine – 103 calories
- 12 ounces cola – 152 calories
- 12 ounces Ginger ale – 124 calories
- 12 ounces lemon-lime soda – 147 calories
- 12 ounces orange soda – 180 calories
- 6 ounces hot chocolate mix – 119 calories
- 6 ounces black tea – 2 calories
- 6 ounces brewed coffee, decaf or regular – 4 calories
- 16 ounces V8 Splash Fruit Medley – 220 calories
- 20 ounces Tropicana Twister, strawberry/kiwi – 325 calories
- 16 ounces Gatorade – 100 calories
Keep in mind the typical “super sized” drink at your Quickie Mart contains 24-32 ounces of your favorite thirst quencher.
I drink ALOT of OJ.
Are you telling me that orange juice is bad for you? Why of all things holy could that be!?