Surprising Ways Coffee Packs on the Pounds

As seen on July 1st, 2013 on:

written by The Nutrition Twins,

If you think you don’t have to worry about your coffee because you don’t use real cream or gobs of sugar, you may want to take a closer look at your morning cup of Joe—you could be downing more calories than you think.

SURPRISE #1: You lighten your coffee with a fat-free powdered coffee creamer
Your creamer is only fat free (that means it has less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving) if you stick to one serving. However, a serving is 1 flat teaspoon, while the average coffee drinker uses at least 2 tablespoons. Two tablespoons of corn syrup and partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated fats are not only unhealthy, but add up to about 50 calories and 1.5 g of fat, almost all of which is saturated fat.

The damage: Over the course of a year 50 calories per drink adds up to five extra pounds. If you have more than a cup a day, you’re looking at an even higher number on the scale.

SURPRISE #2: You take 2% reduced-fat milk in your coffee
Many people mistakenly think that 2% is a much better option than whole milk, so they pour it more liberally. In reality, whole milk contains 3 percent fat, which means reduced-fat milk doesn’t cut too much.

The damage: A few tablespoons of 2% milk adds about 30 calories. Again, this isn’t too bad, but most people use a good deal more than a serving and don’t just stop at one cup a day, which means you’re adding more fat to your diet than you may have budgeted for in the long run.

SURPRISE #3: You add syrup to your brew
You are much better off simply adding a sugar packet than going for syrup. A teaspoon of sugar has 15 calories and 4 grams of sugar. Most people pour on at least two tablespoons of syrup, which comes to roughly 80 calories—as much as a slice of bread.

The damage: Syrup sweeteners often add several hundred calories to your brew. Over the year, just one coffee a day could be causing you to swallow over 90,000 additional calories. That’s 26 pounds in a year!

SURPRISE #4: You skip breakfast but drink coffee
You may think you saved calories by tricking your body into feeling full, but once that caffeine high wears off, you’ll crash and be in search of real food. You can only trick your body for so long before it wants a true source of fuel.

The damage: In addition to being tired, you’re ravenous too. When you’re tired you’re more likely to make poor dietary choices and to overeat. It becomes more difficult to pass up a burger and fries for a salad at lunch.

TELL US: How do you take your coffee?

Edamame Hummus