Don't down deez drinks, dude

I blogged about the Top 20 Worst Drinks in America as presented by The Mag. Actually, on Thursday I gave you numbers 20-11.

Here are the Top 10 drinks to avoid.

Disclaimer: If you like Starbucks and/or Baskin Robbin's, you may not want to proceed.

10. Worst Chai Tea Drink: Caribou Coffee Large Chai Tea Latte (420 cal, 47g sugar)
9. Worst Kid's Hot Beverage: Cosi Kid's Hot Chocolate (436 cal, 60g sugar per 12 oz. can)
8. Worst Summer Cocktail: Piña Colada (625 cal, 75g sugar)
7. Worst Coffee Alternative: Starbucks Venti White Hot Chocolate (640 cal, 76g sugar, 23 g fat - 15 g saturated)
6. Worst Hot Coffee: Starbucks Venti 2% Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha (660 cal, 95g sugar, 22 g fat - 14 g saturated)
5. Worst Blended Fruit Drink: Baskin-Robbins Pomegranate Banana Fruit Blast Smoothie (1,020 cal, 232g sugar per 32 oz.)
4. Worst Frozen Coffee Drink: Cosi Gigante Double OH! Arctic (1,033 cal, 35g fat, 177g carb per 24 oz)
3. Worst Smoothie: Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo'd Power Smoothie (1,170 cal, 169g sugar per 30 oz.)
2. Worst Milkshake: Baskin-Robbins Large York Peppermint Pattie Shake (2,210 cal, 281g sugar, 103g fat - 57 g saturated - per 30 oz)
1. The Worst Drink in America: Baskin-Robbins Large Heath Bar Shake (2,310 cal, 266g sugar, 108g fat - 64 g saturated)

Thoughts:

* My wife loves the two Starbucks drinks on this list but she swaps out some of the stuff that makes it appear on this list - she gets the peppermint mocha sans whip cream. That helps minimize some of the damage. I don't like peppermint at all so I've never been addicted to that. Actually, I've never been that crazy over Starbucks but that's mostly a cost thing. I did however go to Panera Bread recently and I think I might make that a regular destination.

* I can't believe that numbers two and one each have more than 2,000 calories. That is just insane.

* Smoothies can also be a bit deceiving and that two are on this list should just serve a reminder to not take things at face value. I go to this place at the local mall (I forget the name) for smoothies (when I'm not making them myself of course) and that place pretty much tosses some fruit into a blender as well as some plain yogurt and that's it. Pretty much you're drinking mashed up fruit, not so much the 200 grams of sugar found in those other ones.

* As with anything, though, you just have to pay attention to the labels. And if you're going to Baskin-Robbins, chances are you won't have many healthy choices. So know that ahead of time. When I go to certain places (like yesterday for lunch I went to an all-you-can-eat Mexican food buffet at a local El Torito) that I know I'm going to be surrounded by less-than-healthy options, I just plan for that ahead of time and try to accomodate as much as possible.