Blended coffees are still quite the rage.  Starbuck’s Frappuccinos, Coffee Bean Blendeds, and now McDonald’s Coffee Frappes.  Unfortunately, these caloric “drinks” (they’re more like entire meals) can really do you in.  Check out the gnarly nutritionals:

• McDonald’s Small Mocha Frappe:  450 calories, 20 grams fat, 56 grams sugar
• Starbuck’s Grande Java Chip Frappuccino: 440 calories, 18 grams fat, 63 grams sugar
• Coffee Bean Medium Caramel Ice Blended: 530 calories, 11 grams fat, 82 grams sugar

GROSS.  And these aren’t even the biggest drinks–order a Large Caramel Frappe from McDonald’s and you’ll slurp up 680 calories before you know it.  So rather than pack pounds on your frame, make your own lower-cal beverage (in photo above):

Amelia’s Blended Banana Mocha

6 oz brewed coffee, cooled

2 Tbsp nonfat dried milk powder

1 Tbsp cocoa powder

1 heaping Tbsp powdered sugar

splash of vanilla extract

½ a frozen banana

6-8 ice cubes

Mix the coffee, dried milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla in a blender until frothy.  Add frozen banana and ice cubes 2 at a time, blending in between to make sure they get pulverized.  Keep adding ice until you reach desired consistency.  Top with 1 Tbsp whipped light cream, if you can’t live without the whipped cream.  Makes 1 serving, 155 calories (170 with whipped cream).
Tip: if you’re blender isn’t cooperating, make sure that you add the liquid ingredients first, then add just 1-2 ice cubes at a time, using the “pulse” button on your blender.
Tip #2: Do you have trouble getting enough fiber in your diet?  Add a spoonful of Benefiber (or other tasteless powder fiber supplement) to this beverage – you won’t even notice it’s there.