It’s a beautiful, cool fall night. You and your sweetie have just ended another fun dinner date and in preparation to stay awake for the late-night movie, trod down to Starbucks. As you stand before the bubbly, over-caffeinated barista, you know the best thing for you is the basic coffee of the week, but the sweet smell of lattes quickly erases the memory of your pasta dinner. Your mind is made up. You’re gonna order one … but which is your best bet?

THE CHALLENGE: List these delicious coffee drinks in order from best to worst by calorie count—no cheating!— and see who does better, you or your BFB! (Note: All calorie counts are for 16 ounce-coffees, made with 2% milk, and include whipped cream if offered.)

THE PRIZE: Superior knowledge and, of course, bragging rights—it’s harder than it seems!

A. Caffè Mocha
B. Cappuccino
C. Pumpkin Spice Latte
D. Cinnamon Dolce Latte
E. Caramel Macchiato
F. Cafe Latte

See how you did! Continue Reading →

Pumpkins and weather cool enough for layering might be what you look forward to each fall, but for many BFBs, it’s football and the return of their favorite beer—Oktoberfest. Not only are these varieties popping up on bar menus, but there are also the parties and fests themselves.

If you can’t help but swap out your regular lite order for a sweet, fall-filled glass, you’re not alone. Just keep in mind that, on average, Oktoberfests run about 80 to 100+ calories more per bottle than calorie-conscious beers like Miller Lite (96 calories per 12-ounce bottle).

To keep calories in check, tip back half the number of glasses that you usually would when you’re drinking. Luckily, thanks to the full-bodied nature of these autumn beers, sipping is the best way to enjoy them anyway.

Check out the calories of some of the most popular Oktoberfest brews below. Continue Reading →

By now, you’ve probably seen at least one commercial heralding the arrival of Applebee’s new Realburgers. Recently, airwaves have been saturated with good-looking guys chomping down like real men into real burgers. “Real Juicy. Real Deal.” It’s advertising good enough to get any BFB salivating.

Curious to find out the calorie content, I clicked over to Applebee’s website. But a few minutes of looking only left me real annoyed—there weren’t any calorie stats to be found. (Though I got a good eye roll out of the sneaky slogan for their Fire Pit Bacon Burger: “A Healthy Appreciation for Bacon.” Haha, Applebee’s. So clever.) Considering that other chain restaurants like Chili’s and Ruby Tuesday share nutrition info for all of their menu items, I was surprised. If the Buffalo Chicken Crisper Bites are 1,600 calories at Chili’s, they’re 1,600 calories, and they say so clearly on their website. They don’t try to hide it.

So, I decided to give Applebee’s a call to see why they weren’t sharing their stats. They passed me to their PR contact, Miles McMillian. Check out his response, with my inserted comments, below. Continue Reading →

Sharing a glass of wine instead of bottle at dinner may help keep your honey healthy. A new study published ahead of print in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that men who drank up to a half a glass of wine each day boosted their life expectancy by five years. Though wine drinkers had less risk of dying from coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, a disorder where the blood vessels of the brain stop working correctly due to high blood pressure, wine drinkers weren’t the only ones reaping benefits. The researchers also found that light, long-term alcohol consumption — up to 20 grams a day — of all types extended life by about two years compared to those who drank no alcohol at all.

But don’t think that’s a signal to polish off a six pack. Twenty grams is only about .7 ounces. So, about 1/8 of an 8-ounce wine glass. Which isn’t a lot. But even if you know you’ll never subsist on a few sips, take heart: those who drank more than 20 grams a day still lived longer than non-drinkers. (That said, too much alcohol is obviously dangerous to your health and your waistline, so be smart!)

And if the next time you’re out your guy is deciding between a glass of pinto and a mixed drink, tell him this:

” … men who drank only wine, and less than half a glass of it a day, lived around 2.5 years longer than those who drank beer and spirits, and almost five years longer than those who drank no alcohol at all.”

Headed to the bar? Chug this chaser to slim down!

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Nothing is more romantic than sharing a bottle of wine, but drinking a quarter of your daily calorie needs in liquid form is never a good idea. Of course, racking up alcohol calories on a date is much too easy. There’s the pre-dinner drink at the bar as you wait for your table, the shared bottle — or two! — of wine at dinner, and sometimes, even the after-dessert digestif, or the “let’s pour one more drink now that we’re home and snuggled up on the sofa” martini. And if your night out is the bar, drinking is the main event.

Why’s it so easy? (Other than the annoying fact that after a certain number of drinks you’re too relaxed to really care all that much? Well, until, maybe, you go to pull out your swimsuit?) One shot of alcohol has about 80 calories, a bottle of wine clocks in at over 500 calories (a single 4-ounce glass will cost you about 70 to 80. Which means that 8-ounce pour your guy usually hands you is closer to 150!), and, depending on the brew, a 12-ounce beer can be anywhere from the high 90s to 150 or more.

To avoid the calorie calamity, alternate your drinks with water. If it seems too plain, ask for seltzer with a slice of lemon or lime. You’ll stay hydrated, enjoy the bubbles, and you’ll kill some time so you aren’t downing as many empty calories. (You’ll also have a much better chance of avoiding the dreaded hang over — which means you’ll actually get yourself out of bed the next morning for that yoga class that sounded so sweet until you agreed to have another!)

So when your sweetheart so kindly offers to refill your glass, or the amazingly efficient waiter starts to top you off, or that cute boy at the bar offers you another beer, make sure to order that good-for-you chaser of water in between. Your pants, your body, and shoot, your wallet (or his!), will thank you for it.

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The next time you find yourself snuggled into a booth with your sweetie at Ruby Tuesday, you’ll find there’s much more to pick for your sides than fries and a baked potato. And though RT is doing more than most chow chains to give diners healthier options, you can still make their “Smart Eating” options even smarter. And there’s a Best Boy Bet your guy might be open to trying too!

Fresh Steamed Broccoli (in a buttery sauce)
73 calories, 5 g fat, 3 g net carb, 2 g fiber
Date smart: Though it’s fresh and “steamed,” they’re still adding butter. Ask ‘em to hold it.

Sautéed Baby Portabella Mushrooms
173 calories, 14 g fat, 7 g net carb, 2 g fiber
Date smart: Remember, “sautéed ” means it’s been tossed in a pan with oil or butter—and this “light” side has 14 grams of fat. So if you get it, don’t think his fries are freebies. Continue Reading →

The movies are a super-fun date and nothing is cuter than standing shoulder to shoulder with your honey, ticket stubs between your fingers, deciding what size of popcorn you should share. But before you say yes to the large (”It’s only a quarter more,” say BFBs everywhere), check out these alarming popcorn facts—and see how long you’d have to lock lips to burn them off!

Calories based on a 140-pound woman.

Large popcorn—20 cups!—no butter
Calories: 1,283 calories
Fat: 78 grams—that’s 120 percent of your fat calories for the day!
Makeout math: 18.8 hours

Medium popcorn—15 cups—no butter
Calories: 951
Fat: 58 grams
Makeout Math: 13.9 hours

Small popcorn—9 cups—no butter
Calories: 573 calories
Fat: 35 grams of fat
Makeout Math: 8.4 hours

Nutritional Trivia: Fat chat for those suddenly silent moments
The “butter flavoring” the kid behind the counter is pedaling is anything but real butter. It comes in sludge form and only turns to liquid once it’s heated. Think a pump or two won’t hurt you? Think again. One tablespoon adds about 130 calories and 14 grams of fat!

So, how do you avoid the fat trap at the theater?? What healthier options have you tucked into your purse?