It was the Year of the Unicorn Frappuccino.
But it’s clear from our collective Google searches that, in 2017, some of us were still tempted to try the latest wave of over-the-top, sugar-laden, calorie-dense offerings from our favorite fast food stops. (Or at least, we heard about these goodies, and wanted to know just how bad they are for us.)
So just how bad are they?
We’ll get to the specifics in a minute. But first, let’s keep in mind that while many foods are unhealthy, it’s a crappy diet that will get you into real trouble, says Joy Dubost, PhD, RD, a food scientist and private nutrition consultant.
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Her point: None of the items on this list will do your health any favors. But just as working out once a month won’t reshape your body, an occasional fast food treat isn’t going to blow up all your diet and weight-loss goals. (Here are 8 things nutritionists want you to know about weight loss, but would never say to your face.)
With that in mind, here are the most-searched new fast food items of 2017—along with their calorie counts and expert insights into just how bad they are for you.
Unicorn Frappuccino calories: 410 per 16 ounces, according to Starbucks
More key nutrition stats: 16g fat, 230mg sodium, 62g carbs (59g sugar)
Whenever you’re talking drinks, your primary worry is sugar. And as you might expect from a specialty coffee beverage the color of Fruity Pebbles, the Unicorn Frappuccino is absolutely loaded with the sweet stuff, says Jim White, RD, owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios. White points out that women should try to limit their daily added-sugar intake to less than 6 teaspoons, while men should aim for 9 teaspoons or less. One teaspoon of sugar equals to roughly 4.2 grams. That means this drink—assuming you order a grande (a.k.a. medium)—packs a whopping 14 teaspoons of sugar.
Dubost offers a more concise take: “This is a dessert.” If you’re trying to keep your total daily calorie intake in a healthy range—somewhere around 1,800 to 2,000 calories, depending on your weight-loss goals—this one drink would take up 20% to 25% of your allotment, she adds.
See how sugar affects your body: