When faced with the decision of food, most people go for what seems delicious, but are our favorite foods actually killing us?

Many of the foods teenagers mindlessly enjoy are high in sugar, fat, and calories. In a typical 2,000 calorie diet the recommended amount of fat is 65 grams, and added sugar is 24 grams for women and 36 grams for men.

If these numbers were taken into account when making dietary decisions, some of the foods we enjoy on a daily basis would not even be considered.

Who doesn’t love Starbucks? While these coffee drinks are delicious, did you know a tall frappuccino can have 47 grams of sugar? In just one drink, in the smallest size, the recommended sugar intake for the day is already surpassed. “It’s scary that in just one drink I’ve already had too much sugar for the day. I didn’t know Starbucks was that bad for me,” junior Claire Jakubowski said.

Speedway slushies are another treat enjoyed on a daily basis. In just one 22 ounce drink it can contain 44-48 grams of sugar depending on the flavor. Again the daily intake of sugar is already overtaken by just one drink in the smallest size.

Panera mac and cheese, while delicious, is another food that should not be consumed regularly. In the small size it contains 30 grams of fat.

The recommended amount for the whole day is 65 grams, and already in just part of one meal almost half of the daily value is consumed. This may not seem as alarming as the other foods, but a lot of foods have natural fats that are not taken into account. This is also likely not the only thing eaten at the meal.

Most teenagers do not realize what they are truly putting into their body. If too many fats and sugars are consumed this can lead to weight gain and life threatening diseases, like diabetes and heart disease. “In moderation these foods are okay, like once a month, but no more,” gym teacher Jill Urbaniak said.

Erin Chambers, Staffer