By Cat Wilson
Guest Columnist

We have entered the fall months of the crazy pumpkin this and pumpkin that including the very popular pumpkin spice drink at your local coffee shop. Did you realize that drink has:

• 420 calories
• 65 grams of sugar
• 15 grams of fat

Remember our calculation of grams of sugar divided by four equal a teaspoon of sugar? Sixty-five divided by four equals a whopping 16¼ teaspoons of sugar in that one drink.

What? This has 16 Teaspoons of sugar? Photo from Shutterstock.

Does a carmel apple spice sound like a better choice? Turns out it’s less calories and fat, but the sugar is even higher.

• 380 calories
• 70 grams of sugar (17½ teaspoons)
• 8 grams of fat

Maybe just a cup of hot chocolate to warm your innards?

• 370 calories
• 37 grams of sugar (9¼ teaspoons)
• 16 grams of fat

Even a frappe coffee, which just means iced or slushy, has 11 teaspoons of sugar by the time it’s completed.

The offender is the ‘pumps’ they add to your drink, mocha sauce, pumpkin spice sauce and caramel. Then add the drizzles and assorted other ‘toppings.’

I know two people that allow themselves one of the above in October and one in November as special treats and I say kudos to them! I know many more that lose all control and join the craziness for two months and see no problem in doing so.

Do you prefer one of the frozen drinks from the machines in a convenience? The average large size is 45 grams, or 11¼ teaspoons of sugar.

Personally, I have never had any interest in trying an energy drink, but I’ve certainly seen massive amounts of younger adults consume way too many of these. A can of the ‘green one’ boasts having 160 milligrams of caffeine and 54 grams of sugar (13½” teaspoons).

Our last example is a sports drink that has been around since 1965 that was designed to replenish the carbohydrates, water and electrolytes that were lost while playing sports. A 30-ounce bottle has 48 grams of sugar, or 12 teaspoons of sugar.

The pumpkin and apple drink has some natural sugar, but the rest is all added sugar. As we’ve talked about in previous columns, the American Heart Association recommendation for sugar intake per day is 26 grams (6½ teaspoons) for woman and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men. These drinks are a far cry from fitting into that recommendation; we can do better.

Cat Wilson lives in South Bend and transitioned from a vegetarian diet to eating a plant-based diet over two years ago. She may be contacted at [email protected].