A medium Coke Slurpee from 7-Eleven contains approximately 300 calories. This Slurpee size is 20 ounces (591 ml). The calorie count comes from the Coca-Cola syrup and ice that make up the sweet frozen beverage.
Calories in Slurpees
Slurpees are frozen carbonated beverages sold at convenience stores like 7-Eleven. They are made by mixing syrups, like Coca-Cola or Cherry flavoring, with icy water. This process produces a semi-frozen slushy drink.
The calorie content of Slurpees varies based on the flavor and size. Medium cups are 20 oz and considered a regular size. Here are the approximate calories for basic Slurpee flavors in a medium size:
- Coke Slurpee: 300 calories
- Cherry Slurpee: 330 calories
- Blue Raspberry Slurpee: 290 calories
Extra calories can be added with mix-in candies like Sour Patch Kids or M&M’s. Using cream or whole milk rather than water also increases the calorie count. Diet soda flavors have 0 calories because they are made with artificial sweeteners.
Nutrition Information for Medium Coke Slurpee
A medium Coke Slurpee contains about 300 calories. It has 76g of carbohydrates and 76g of sugar. These numbers are based on the standard recipe, but can vary slightly between locations.
Here is the full nutrition information for a 20 oz medium Coke Slurpee from 7-Eleven:
- Calories: 300
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 76g
- Sugar: 76g
- Protein: 0g
As you can see, the high calorie count comes from the large amount of sugar. There are 76 grams of sugar in a medium Coke Slurpee, which exceeds the recommended daily limit.
Coca-Cola Syrup
The key ingredient providing calories in a Coke Slurpee is the Coca-Cola syrup. This sugary syrup gives the frozen beverage its sweet cola taste.
A medium Coke Slurpee is made with approximately 4-5 ounces of Coca-Cola syrup. This small amount of syrup contains around 250 calories and 65g of sugar.
The nutritional values for 5 oz of Coca-Cola syrup are:
- Calories: 250
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 65g
- Sugar: 65g
- Protein: 0g
So the majority of calories and sugar in a medium Coke Slurpee come directly from the Coca-Cola syrup used to give it the classic cola flavor.
Ice
The other main ingredient in Slurpees is ice. The ice helps make the drink slushy but adds minimal calories.
A medium 20 oz Slurpee is made with about 15-16 oz of icy water. Plain ice has no calories, so the ice itself does not contribute anything to the calorie count.
However, if using sweetened cream or whole milk rather than water, the ice component would add calories and fat. With standard water ice, the icy base only provides texture with no calories or nutrition.
Fruit Syrups
For fruit-flavored Slurpees,fruit syrups are used instead of Coca-Cola syrup. These sweet fruit concentrates also have a high sugar content.
For example, the cherry syrup used for a Cherry Slurpee may contain around 240 calories and 60g sugar per 5 oz serving. So the fruit syrups contribute nearly as many calories as Coke syrup.
Effect of Size
The size of the Slurpee greatly impacts its total calorie amount. A medium is 20 ounces while a large is 30 ounces.
Increasing the Slurpee size by 50% will add roughly 50% more calories. Here’s a comparison of calorie amounts in different Coke Slurpee sizes:
| Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small (12 ounces) | 180 calories |
| Medium (20 ounces) | 300 calories |
| Large (30 ounces) | 450 calories |
As shown, doubling the size from small to medium leads to about 150 extra calories. The large 30 oz size has a full 450 calories, making it a very high-calorie beverage choice.
Extra Calories from Mix-Ins
Adding candies or other extras to a Slurpee will further increase its calorie count. Popular options like Sour Patch Kids, M&M’s, or Reese’s Pieces can add 100 calories or more to the total.
Using whole milk or sweetened cream rather than water is another way to significantly increase the calorie amount. Avoiding these extra mix-in options will help keep your Slurpee lower in calories.
Sugar Content
A main nutrition concern with Slurpees is their very high sugar content. A medium Coke Slurpee contains a full 76 grams of sugar.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to no more than 36 grams per day for men and 25 grams per day for women. Just one 20 oz Slurpee exceeds this daily amount.
Consuming sugary drinks is linked to weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and other health risks. The excessive sugar in Slurpees is certainly a negative aspect of enjoying these frozen treats.
Slurpee Nutrition Facts
Here is the nutrition label for a medium Coke Slurpee from 7-Eleven showing the full vitamin and mineral profile:
Key takeaways from the Slurpee nutrition facts:
- Very high in sugar – 76g per serving
- No protein
- No fat
- Contains some caffeine – 22mg
- No fiber
- Provides a small amount of nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, and iron
Overall, Slurpees are essentially sugary sodas with some minor nutrient content from the fruit flavors. But the incredibly high sugar content is the predominant nutrition factor.
Healthier Slurpee Options
Some ways to make your Slurpee a little healthier include:
- Choose a small size
- Select a diet/sugar-free flavor
- Ask for half syrup and half water
- Skip the candy add-ins
- Use light ice cream instead of whole milk
These tweaks reduce the total calories, sugar, and fat content. Diet flavors with artificial sweeteners are an easy way to eliminate most of the calories while still enjoying the icy blended texture.
Slurpees as an Occasional Treat
Slurpees can be enjoyed occasionally as a sweet treat without too much guilt. The key is moderation and limiting size and add-ins. Try getting a 12 ounce mini with a diet soda flavor for the lowest calorie option.
Be mindful of getting a medium or larger size with sugary add-ins too frequently. The calories and sugar quickly add up and likely will exceed healthy daily limits.
Overall, an occasional small Slurpee is a tasty way to beat the heat without too many nutritional drawbacks. But it should not become a daily habit due to the high calorie and sugar content found in medium to large sizes.
Conclusion
A medium 20 oz Coke Slurpee from 7-Eleven contains about 300 calories. This comes primarily from the 76 grams of sugar in the Coca-Cola syrup used to make the frozen beverage. The ice itself is calorie-free, but candy or cream add-ins can significantly increase the total calorie count.
Enjoying a small-sized Slurpee now and then is perfectly fine. But be cautious of bigger sizes with heavy sugar content and unhealthy add-ins. Moderation and reasonable portion sizes are key when indulging in these sweet, icy treats.
