email this pageMy favorite summertime treat is a chocolate hand-dipped ice cream shake at the local ice cream shop. They don't have nutritional information. Any idea how many calories are in my summer shakes?
Signed,
Crazy for Chocolate
Dear Chocolate,
I have a pretty good idea since I researched all sorts of beverages for my upcoming book, Dining Lean. While most of the fast food restaurant “shakes” contain about 200 to 300 calories per 8 fluid ounces, shakes that are promoted as “hand-dipped,” “hand-scooped” or “made with real ice cream” contain 400 to 600 calories (or more!) for the same amount.
Now, before you start with “oh, that's not too bad,” I don’t know of a single place that sells an 8 fluid ounce (1 cup) shake. That’s the size of one of those small styrofoam cups that are in the office break room or a typical fast food “kiddie” cup. Very small! Chances are your shake is twice as big—or bigger!
Here's a short summary of how chocolate shakes stack up at some of the chains:
- Burger King Shake, 16 ounces = 470 calories, 14g fat
- McDonald Triple Thick Shake, 16 ounces = 580 calories, 14g fat
- Carl Jr or Hardees Hand Scooped Ice Cream Shakes, 16 ounces = 710 calories, 33g fat
- Cold Stone Creamery Like-It Fudge PB&C, 12 ounces shake = 985 calories, 69g fat (NOTE: that's just 12 ounces!!)
Regarding calcium, I was a bit surprised that most shakes have quite a bit. BK has 35 percent DV (daily value, meaning that it contributes over a third of your calcium needs for the day), McDonald’s has 45 percent, the 12-ounce at Cold Stone Creamery, 50 percent!
P.S. I'm hoping you’re not adding “mixers” to your shake. That will probably add another 25 percent more calories.
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