Made with rice, melon seeds or almonds, and sugar, Horchata is a traditional Spanish beverage that's also served in Mexico. Horchata pairs well with spicy cuisine, and is sweet and rich enough for a dessert.
Though this creamy beverage goes down easy on a hot day, it can be very high in calories. If horchata is on the menu, have no more than one glass to help maintain your weight.
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Calories
Many authentic recipes for horchata exist, each with varying nutrition levels. Almonds are a calorically dense food, so these versions are typically the most fattening. According to LIVESTRONG's food database MyPlate, a one cup serving of horchata can contain anywhere from 135 to 680 calories.
Fat and Carbohydrates
Along with a potentially high calorie content, horchata also has anywhere from two to five grams of fat per cup (and one to five grams of saturated fat); and 26 to 29 grams of carbohydrates per cup.
Sugar
Much of the calories in this drink come from sugar. If you're watching your sugar intake and overall calorie count, this may not be the drink for you — or you may choose to indulge on occasion.
A one cup serving can contain anywhere from 22 to 26 grams of sugar. According to the American Heart Association, that is either just under or just over the recommended daily sugar intake for women (25 grams) and not far from that for men (36 grams).
More About MyPlate
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