6 Inflammatory And Unhealthy Dunkin' Drinks To Skip This Fall, According To Experts
1. Flavored Frozen Coffee With Cream
The main issue with Dunkin's frozen coffee, especially when you add in cream and flavored syrups (like mocha, French vanilla, caramel, and more), is the fact that it's loaded with calories and sugar. "This indulgent beverage combines rich flavor with cream, resulting in a calorie bomb," Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet warns us, noting that "a large size can contain approximately 990 calories, contributing to excessive energy intake." Yikes! It shouldn't be surprising that excessive sugar intake comes with a range of health risks, including weight gain. Richards tells us that a flavored frozen coffee from Dunkin' "tends to have a high sugar content, which can lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes, negatively affecting energy levels and overall health." That's definitely not a great way to start your morning.
2. Frozen Chocolate
In an interview with Eat This, Not That, Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, at Balance One Supplements, told the outlet: "This frozen treat contains [nearly] 700 calories in one medium serving—[around] 500 in a small—along with 114 grams of added sugar." The expert continued: "Frozen drinks, like Dunkin' Donuts' Frozen Chocolate, are made with flavored syrups and whole milk which makes them high in calories, sugar, and fat—especially if you choose larger sizes or add extra toppings like whipped cream." She also stressed: "This drink is highly inflammatory and will also result in a rapid glucose rise and crash. These combinations can lead to chronic pain, overeating, fatigue, brain fog, and irritability."
3. French Vanilla Swirl Frozen Chocolate
Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, and author of the Sports Nutrition Playbook, also told Eat This, Not That: "A large serving of this drink provides 900 calories, 17g fat and 162g of sugar." With more than seven different types of sugar additives, "this drink packs a sugar-laden punch," she stressed. Instead, she advised: "The best solution when it comes to coffee is to order a coffee with milk, hot or cold. Then, add a splash or two of your favorite flavor [yourself]. Skip the whip, the drizzle, and all the added sugars, and you'll save hundreds of calories."
4. Vanilla Bean Coolatta
Coolattas are very refreshing and beloved, but also, calorie bombs. Goodson also dished to Eat This, Not That, regarding this drink: "This frozen drink option clocks in at 790 calories, 6g fat and 167g sugar per large serving." She continued: "With approximately 85% of calories coming from sugar alone, this drink is primarily sugary syrup."
5. Frozen Chai Latte
"Although chai tea can be a healthful option if ordered properly, this [large] frozen chai latte is packed with additional sugars and saturated fats, coming in at 690 calories, 12 grams of total fat—with more than half coming from saturated fat, and 129 grams of sugars," Goodson warned in the aforementioned interview with the outlet. She added: "The best solution when it comes to coffee is to order a coffee with milk, hot or cold. Then, add a splash or two of your favorite flavor [yourself]. Skip the whip, the drizzle, and all the added sugars, and you'll save hundreds of calories!"
6. Blue Raspberry Coolatta
Another coolatta from the chain to skip is this blue raspberry one, as told to Eat This, Not That by Bill Bradley, RD, at Mediterranean Living. "The Blue Raspberry drink is one of the unhealthy drinks in Dunkin' Donuts," he said. The expert added: "While it can be a perfect alternative for people who don't drink coffee because of the caffeine it contains, it's not good for you since it contains artificial dyes and flavors. It's also loaded with sugar."
6 Dunkin' Drink Orders All Under 135 Calories
1. Blueberry Iced Green Tea
Green tea presents a myriad of health benefits with every sip— from promoting glowing skin to its ability to assist your gut health. This, Richards tells us, is due to its high antioxidant contents. Green tea, she explains is a detox tea. "Detox teas can be a great beverage to consume to speed up metabolism and fat burning," she says, as it can help you target your goal of healthy weight loss. "Some of the more popular and effective detox teas are those with a high antioxidant content." This fall at Dunkin', you can elevate your iced green tea experience with a hint of blueberry flavor. Opting for the unsweetened version aligns better with weight loss goals, yet even with the subtle addition of sugar-free blueberry, a medium-sized drink remains a low-calorie choice at just 10 calories.
2. Raspberry Iced Green Tea
Similarly, infusing your unsweetened medium iced green tea with a hint of raspberry offers a delightful twist, adding just 10 calories without any sugar. Jay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, registered nutritionist and Director of Formulations at ASYSTEM, notes that decaffeinated green tea in particular is a "healthy beverage that can help you reduce weight effectively." "It also provides many health benefits because it is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect your body from harmful toxins," he notes.
3. Iced Toasted Almond/ Hazelnut Latte
Popular TikToker @joanna_kellogg shared a "low-calorie coffee order" that is making waves on the app in a video post. This order is specifically a medium iced original latte with almond milk, one toasted almond shot and one hazelnut shot (both sugar-free) and one Splenda. In the app, TikTokers noted that this comes to 130 calories. For an occasional treat (and so much less sugar than other orders), this is worth a try for coffee lovers who don't want to pack on the calories!
4. Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher
Dunkin's low-calorie refresher beverages are crafted with B vitamins and the invigorating energy of green tea. A medium-sized Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher, for instance, contains precisely 130 calories. In contrast to other menu options, this drink offers a caffeinated and revitalizing experience with significantly fewer calories and reduced sugar content.
5. Mango Pineapple Refresher
Likewise, the medium Mango Pineapple Refresher at Dunkin' also comes to 130 calories. Due to overwhelming popularity, the Mango Pineapple Dunkin’ Refresher made a triumphant return to the Dunkin' iced beverage menu last year. This delightful drink blends the tropical tastes of mango and pineapple with a choice of either green tea or coconut milk, both known for their potential weight loss benefits.
6. Butter Pecan Vanilla Cold Brew With Cream
In an engaging TikTok video, popular creator @courtney_mercer shared her "low-calorie, low sugar" Dunkin' order consisting of a medium cold brew, two butter pecan swirls, three sugar-free vanilla shots and one cream. "It has just one thing of cream in there and it's so yummy. When I did the calculations it is under 120 calories." The social media user also noted that she got this order through the Dunkin' app. Compared to other sugar-laded, heavy latte drinks, this cold brew with flavoring (and you can always add less!) can be a great treat once in a while when you're working towards your weight loss goals. Happy Dunkin' taste testing!