Would you drink a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?

That’s the question posed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest [CSPI], after figuring that the venti (20-oz) Starbucks Caffè Mocha you order is the equivalent of sipping that 500-calorie burger through a straw.

And a venti Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino, with 650 calories and nearly a day’s saturated fat, is a McDonald’s coffee plus 11 creamers and 29 packets of sugar, according to the watchdogs at CSPI.

In the latest issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter, CSPI’s nutritionists tell you how to keep your coffee break from becoming a Big Mac break.

“Most people wouldn’t consider shoehorning in a Quarter Pounder with Cheese somewhere between breakfast and lunch, but it’s perfectly possible to get 500-plus calories in a drink from Starbucks,” said CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley.

“Fortunately, it’s a cinch to bring down the calories and saturated fat in many of these drinks by making a few simple changes.”