Pumpkin Spice...not so nice?

A few weeks ago, I was indulging my caffeine addiction by going through the Starbucks drive through. I was drooling over the pumpkin spice latte to a friend on the phone, but ordered regular coffee instead. My friend asked why I hadn't ordered the latte, which inspired this post.

For Starbucks lovers everywhere, the beginning of fall officially begins with the return of the pumpkin spice latte. In fact, it has gotten so popular that many stores have been running out of the drink due to popular demand. So what's in this drink that makes it so beloved? The latte itself is no different than any other latte... so what is in the pumpkin spice syrup that makes it so irresistible? Pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves... right? Wrong.

Ingredients in Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Syrup:
Sugar, Condensed Nonfat Milk, Sweetened Condensed Nonfat Milk, Annatto (E160b, Colour), Natural and Artificial Flavours, Caramel Colour (E150D), Salt, Potassium Sorbate (E202, a preservative).

Hmm. I don't see pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg in there anywhere. So what does that mean for you?

Artificial Flavors
A blanket term referring to over 100 possible chemical additives.
Potential side effects: Allergic and behavioral reactions

Artificial Colors
Potential side effects: Allergies, sinus congestion, hyperactivity in children, worsens symptoms of ADD and ADHD

Aside from basically being coffee mixed with chemicals, the nutritional information for a pumpkin spice latte leaves something to be desired:

Nutrition Facts

Size	Calories	Fat (grams)	Sugar (grams)
Short	210	8	25
Tall	300	11	38
Grande	380	13	49
Venti	470	15	62

To put this into perspective:
Drinking a grande pumpkin spice latte is the same as eating a piece of pumpkin pie. To work off that grande latte, you would need to walk 4 miles. Drink one every day, and you will gain a pound every 9 days.

For those of you who are like me and would rather eat your calories in the form of pumpkin pie than drink them in coffee, Trader Joe's makes an amazing Pumpkin Spice ground coffee that is naturally flavored, and sugar and calorie free! (Thanks to my mom for this find!)

 



There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to a pumpkin spice latte on occasion. After all, healthy eating is all about moderation. Try to think of sweet coffee drinks as a dessert rather than a drink. When you do choose to indulge, opt for the tall size with skim milk and skip the whipped cream for a reasonable 200 calorie treat.