Free pastel mints at restaurants are NOT "Free"

[SpecialK 22]

Okay friends, I thought I'd confess and share that I learned this the hard way. Someone brought in a bag of those Brach's Starlite pastel mints to work and they were so tempting that before I realized it I had popped a bunch in my mouth on a couple days in a row. THEN I caught up on my food tracking of calories consumed and those mints blew me away. Not only was it empty sugar calories, but 20 TINY MINT, yes those ones that are 1/2" square, are 60CALORIES.

So the next time you are tempted to take a free spoonful (or handful) of those mints from a dish at a restaurant, just remember, they aren't free in terms of calories.

:tongue2:

Edited September 24, 2009 by SpecialK
Corrected mistake it is 20 pastel mints for 60 calories.

[Mimilou2004 13]

Plus, who knows who's hands have touched them? Even with a spoon handy!!!!

Mimi

[thinoneday 445]

Okay friends, I thought I'd confess and share that I learned this the hard way. Someone brought in a bag of those Brach's Starlite pastel mints to work and they were so tempting that before I realized it I had popped a bunch in my mouth on a couple days in a row. THEN I caught up on my food tracking of calories consumed and those mints blew me away. Not only was it empty sugar calories, but 3 TINY MINT, yes those ones that are 1/2" square, are 59 CALORIES.

So the next time you are tempted to take a free spoonful of those mints from a dish at a restaurant, just remember, they aren't free in terms of calories.

:tongue2:

YUCK!!!! :w00t: 59 calories for those piddly little things! Might as well had a couple of spoons of pure sugar! I didn't even realize that they had so much calories! That is amazing and I love those things. . . ha, hence the 330 lbs i carry! hehehe. . . thanks for sharing that tidbit of information, i'll never eat those again. . .i'm not banded yet, but will be soon (I hope) and I'm learning very quickly whats good and whats not! Have a great day all!!!

[Melody2006 1]

I love those things. A week ago I was at a chinese dinner and on the way out I handed a spoonful to a friend. I didn't have any but I was so tempted. Now I feel guilty for encouraging the friend to have some.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

If you like a mint after eating, pop a Certs. They are only 5 calories a piece. You'd have to eat almost a whole roll to equal 1 point.

Those pastel mints must be chock full of something to be that high in Calories!!

However, you have to wonder how obsessed are we that we count mint calories?? lol! :tongue2:

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Plus, who knows who's hands have touched them? Even with a spoon handy!!!!

Mimi

Good point... :tongue2:

[SpecialK 22]

Here is the nutrition label info from Daily Plate:

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 3 pieces (15g) 1" round disks individually wrapped

Amount per Serving

• Calories 60 Calories from Fat 0
  

% Daily Value *

• Total Fat 0g 0%
  
• Saturated Fat 0g 0%
  
• Trans Fat 0g
  
• Sodium 10mg 0%
  
• Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
  
• Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
  
• Sugars 8g
  
• Protein 0g 0%
  

INGREDIENTS: BRACH'S STAR BRITES PEPPERMINTS CORN Syrup, SUGAR, PEPPERMINT OIL, ARTIFICIAL COLORS (TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BLUE 1, RED 3, YELLOW 6, RED 40).

Edited September 24, 2009 by SpecialK
These are the 1" round disks not the tiny squares

[SpecialK 22]

I had heard that the bowl full of mints in restaurants even with a spoon to dip them out is not a good idea to take them due to the germs from people who reach into the bowl with their hands. So I knew not to take unwrapped mints at a restaurant but this temptation for me came because someone bought a bag at work and was sharing among coworkers I knew. I poured a handful out of the bag, ate those and then kept going back for more. Lord help me!

[SpecialK 22]

Okay, I couldn't resist to see the nutrition info of a TABLESPOON of white sugar compared to the mints! So it looks like there are calories from the corn Syrup combined with the sugar -- all around a good sugar high! Nothing nutritional at all but then I kind of should have guessed that but the hand was quicker than the brain.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 TABLESPOON (12.55g)

Amount per Serving

• Calories 47 Calories from Fat 0
  

% Daily Value *

• Total Fat 0g 0%
  
• Saturated Fat 0g 0%
  
• Sodium 0mg 0%
  
• Total Carbohydrate 12.55g 4%
  
• Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
  
• Sugars 12.55g
  
• Protein 0g 0%
  

Edited September 24, 2009 by SpecialK

[maryrose 2]

Are we talking about those wrapped mints - Brachs starbrite "starlite" wrapped mints? I can see those being 20 calories each. They are like a butterscotch hard candy.

The tiny little butter mint candies that are just in a dish, I don't think they are 60 calories for three of them. They are each about the size of a tiny, tiny button right?

I may be wrong, but I am in the candy business so I googled it.

[SpecialK 22]

Yes Mary Rose - those little tiny 1/2" by 1/2" by 1/2" size bits of yellow, pink, green, etc. buttery tasting mints -- 20 of those tiny things is 60 calories versus 3 of the 1" round peppermints for a hard candy is about 60 calories. I'd much rather have the one that I can suck on for awhile and have it last versus the others melt in your mouth and are quickly gone.

The disks are called Brach's Starlight or Starbrite individually wrapped Peppermints

The tiny squares are lots of brands but I found a Richardson's Pastel After dinner mints... is 20 pieces for 60 calories. That is a little better.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 20 pieces Amount per Serving

Calories 60

Calories from Fat 0%

Daily Value *

Total Fat 0g

Saturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 0mg

Total Carbohydrate 15g

Dietary Fiber 0g

Sugars 15g

Protein 0g

Edited September 24, 2009 by SpecialK

[maryrose 2]

Special K,

OK got ya! Lol..

I wanted something BAD so BADDD today at the store, but I resisted.

I used to the love those soft butter mints that melted in your mouth!

Good grief!

Special K, I am working a candy fair with my family next week. I well standing there selling 2,000 pounds of fudge. Help me!!!

:mad:

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Just an FYI... if you love chocolate or caramel etc... and want to savor it - See's candies makes a lollipop that lasts a really long time! It's 80 Calories and for me that's not bad.