Unreal Eats[1] is Healthy Living's original video series, where we go behind calorie counts and health claims to examine what's really in the processed foods that scream loudest in our food environment.


We know, we know, big drinks are bad for you[2] . But even the most vehement drink-size critic[3] can't really illustrate just how bad. So we decided to take some of the biggest, baddest drinks in town and compare them to food. Because it's one thing to know that a Double Gulp of Mountain Dew has 193 grams of sugar, and quite another to realize that that's the same amount in more than two (two!) pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.


If you need us, we'll be chugging water in the corner.




Video by Amber Genuske, Meredith Melnick, Laura Schocker and Rachael Grannell



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  • Starbucks' Grande Caramel Apple Spice With Whipped Cream


    <strong>Calories:</strong> 360 <strong>Fat:</strong> 8 g <strong>Saturated Fat:</strong> 4.5 g <strong>Cholesterol:</strong> 30 mg <strong>Sugars:</strong> 68 g <strong>Sodium:</strong> 0 mg The deal: <a href="http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/kids-drinks-and-other/caramel-apple-spice">This coffee-free drink is marketed to kids</a> and while 4.5 grams of saturated fat is an already high 22 percent of the daily allowance for an adult who eats 2,000 calories per day, it's significantly more for a child. That fat comes from the whipped cream, but even if that were to come off, there would still be 65 grams of sugar in the drink -- that's the equivalent of more than a can of coke (39 grams), a package of Twinkies (37 grams) and <em>two</em> Snickers bars (60 grams).




  • Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte


    <strong>Calories:</strong> 380 <strong>Fat:</strong> 13 g <strong>Saturated Fat:</strong> 8 g <strong>Cholesterol:</strong> 50 mg <strong>Sugars:</strong> 49 g <strong>Sodium:</strong> 0 mg <strong>Protein:</strong> 14 g The deal: We all know that 49 grams of sugar -- again, more than a can of coke (39 grams) or a package of Twinkies (37 grams) -- is not healthful. And research shows that consuming sugar in beverages <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/21/obesity-soda-sugary-drinks_n_1904732.html">can be even more harmful to health</a> than sugar in solid form. What's more, the 8 grams of saturated fat comprises almost <em>half</em> the recommended daily value.




  • Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Latte With Skim Milk


    <strong>Calories:</strong> 260 <strong>Fat:</strong> .5 g <strong>Saturated Fat:</strong> 0 g <strong>Sugars:</strong> 51 g <strong>Sodium:</strong> 0 mg <strong>Protein:</strong> 12 g The deal: If this drink is ordered in its <a href="http://www.dunkindonuts.com/content/dunkindonuts/en/menu/beverages/hotbeverages/specialitycoffee/latte.html?DRP_SWEET=None&DRP_FLAVOR=Pumpkin&DRP_SIZE=Medium&DRP_DAIRY=Skim+Milk">healthiest iteration</a> -- skim milk, no sugar or sweetener -- it can be a decent choice in terms of calories, fat and saturated fat. But with 51 grams of sugar, it's still a diet buster. What's more, since there's an option to add sugar <em>on top</em> of what's provided behind the counter, it can seem like you're making a healthy choice by abstaining from the extra, even though you aren't.




  • Panera Bread's Pumpkin Spice Latte


    <strong>Calories:</strong> 340 <strong>Fat:</strong> 10 g <strong>Saturated Fat:</strong> 6 g <strong>Sugars:</strong> 46 g <strong>Sodium:</strong> 115 mg <strong>Protein:</strong> 7 g The deal: This drink <a href="http://www.paneranutrition.com/">has the same problems with sugar and fat</a> as its counterparts at other chains, but it also has a surprising amount of salt -- in fact, at 115 milligrams, it accounts for 10 percent of a daily allowance.




  • Tim Horton's Small Caramel Apple Cider Supreme


    <strong>Calories:</strong> 210 <strong>Fat:</strong> 4 g <strong>Saturated Fat:</strong> 4 g <strong>Sugars:</strong> 57 g <strong>Sodium:</strong> 15 mg <strong>Protein:</strong> 0 g The deal: While <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/tim-hortons-caramel-apple-cider-supreme-small-43838521">reasonable in calories and fat and saturated fat content</a>, the 57 grams of sugar make this a bad choice.




  • Caribou Coffee's Pumpkin White Chocolate Mocha


    <strong>Calories:</strong> 680 <strong>Fat:</strong> 29 g <strong>Saturated Fat:</strong> 18 g <strong>Sugars:</strong> 89 g <strong>Sodium:</strong> 210 mg <strong>Protein:</strong> 12 g The deal: <a href="http://www.cariboucoffee.com/page/1/beverage-food-detail.jsp?id=372484&type=drink">Caribou Coffee's pumpkin-chocolate coffee confection</a> may be the worst offender of all with a high caloric count, high fat and saturated fat, more sugar than any other drink <em>and</em> the most salt.




  • Jamba Juice Pumpkin Smash Smoothie


    <strong>Calories:</strong> 390 <strong>Fat:</strong> 0 g <strong>Saturated Fat:</strong> 0 g <strong>Sugars:</strong> 75 g <strong>Sodium:</strong> 320 mg <strong>Protein:</strong> 10 g The deal: The lack of fat and saturated fat, coupled with a decent amount of protein,<a href="http://www.jambajuice.com/menu-and-nutrition/menu/in-season"> makes this smoothie attractive at first</a>. But with 75 grams of sugar, it still packs a calorie-laden punch. An option to "make it light" reduces the calories to 260 and the sugar to 50 grams per 16-ounce cup.