How Many Calories Does Mr. Coconut Contain?

Credits: Mr Coconut

For a country like Singapore, where the weather tends to be hot and humid, people are searching for that ‘it’ drink that can quench their thirst. Everything from milk tea to bubble tea has become a popular option for those looking for a new drink option. However, nowadays, more people are becoming conscious about their health, how many calories they’re consuming and how much sugar is in their food. As a result, coconut shakes are the choice for health-conscious foodies.

Credits: IMoney

Coconut shakes are considered by many as a healthy alternative to bubble tea, which contains high sugar and calories. Pearls used in bubble teas are also found to cause kidney damage due to the level of maleic acid in them. The logic is that coconut shakes give you the delicious sensation of other sweet beverages but without any guilt.

Credits: Mr Coconut

Various chains offer coconut shakes in Singapore, but one of the most popular is Mr. Coconut. Since its opening in 2016, the business has grown a cult following, with people waiting for a long time in a queue just to get their hands on the drink, especially their signature Coconut Shake. Inspired by the local coconut drink from Malacca in Malaysia, Mr. Coconut now offers a wide range of coconut shake flavours with various toppings. With that in mind, is it still healthy?

In this article, let us dissect the contents of the popular beverage and how you can still eat healthy while satisfying your cravings.

Content of Mr. Coconut

As established, Mr. Coconut grew in popularity due to their signature Coconut Shake. The foundation of many coconut shake recipes includes coconut ice cream, coconut water, and coconut meat. Because it uses minimal ingredients, they are considered more healthy as the calorie count can be traced to only at least three ingredients. With that said, how many calories are there in a cup of Mr. Coconut?

Credits: Mr Coconut

Mr. Coconut’s Coconut Shake usually comes in 500ml cups, though you can upgrade to a 700ml cup. Let us focus on the number of calories in a 500ml cup of Mr. Coconut. To measure the calorie count, let’s dissect the contents of this coconut shake. A homemade recipe of a Mr. Coconut shake (for one 500ml serving) includes the following:

  • 1/2 cup coconut water
  • 1/2 cup coconut flesh
  • 2 to 3 scoops of coconut ice cream
  • About 7 ice cubes

First, let’s break down the calorie content of coconut ice cream by adding up the calories of its ingredients. Usually, two to three scoops of ice cream contain the following ingredients (with their corresponding calorie count): *Disclaimer: Contents might not be accurate as we took this off a homemade recipe & not Mr. Coconut's recipe.

1/3 cup coconut milk 105 cal
1 and 1/4 tablespoon coconut meat 8 cal
1 tablespoon sugar 60 cal
1/3 tablespoon cornflour 17 cal
1 Tablespoon fresh cream 36 cal
TOTAL 226 calories

In addition, two cups of coconut water generally contain 88 cal.

Overall, the standard Mr. Coconut shake recipe (for a 500ml cup) would probably contain the following calorie content:

½ C Coconut Water 22 cal
½ C Coconut Flesh 42 cal
2-3 Scoops Coconut Ice cream 226 cal
7 Ice Cubes 0 cal
TOTAL 290 calories

So, is Mr. Coconut’s signature drink a better option for health-conscious drinkers? If we compare the coconut shake to other sweet beverages, you can get more or less the same calorie count within similar portions. A bubble tea (green or black tea, with fructose) can contain 231.5 calories, while a boba milk tea may contain up to 317.5 calories. A boba fruit-flavoured slushy may contain 264 calories. In that sense, drinking Mr. Coconut is not that different from drinking other sweet beverages available out there.

Credits: Adobe Stock

Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, Mr. Coconut has ventured to more flavours and desserts from their signature coconut shake. Their drinks now also come in fruit flavours like banana, mango, avocado, and strawberry, as well as sweeter variants such as oreo, chocolate, and cappuccino. You also have a wide range of additional toppings including sago, nata de coco, pearls, coconut noodles, and even more coconut ice cream. Their coconut ice cream dessert also comes with a menu of toppings like peanuts, oreo, sago, and coconut meat. Remember that the more flavours and toppings you pack into your Mr. Coconut drink, the more calories you’re consuming.

Consumption of Mr. Coconut

Many believe that coconut shake is a healthier option in terms of sweet beverages. That may to some extent be true, especially if we compare it to more sugar-laden drinks like boba milk tea, we established that it’s not that different from other beverages out there.

Credits: AsiaOne

The rationale is that coconut shakes are healthier because of their use of coconut water and meat, which are known for their health benefits. However, coconut water still contains calories, compared to ordinary water which has zero calories. Also, most of the calorie count of the drink comes from its use of coconut ice cream in the recipe. So, controlled consumption of the drink still needs to be observed.

However, compared to other drinks, coconut shake is easier to make. As it only uses three ingredients, which are quite accessible, you can make your version of a Mr. Coconut. By making your own, you also have control of the number of calories you are putting into your glass.

Keep in mind that your goal in making your homemade version of coconut shake is to satisfy your craving without the guilt due to its calorie content. To avoid overloaded calorie consumption, minimizing the amount of sugar you put in your drink is key. So, fewer toppings and fewer syrups are better. You also can try out your own recipe. For example, minimize or remove the amount of ice cream, and substitute with a healthier ingredient. Moreover, remind yourself that you don’t need a full 500ml drink to satisfy your craving. A smaller portion size can still give you satisfaction with less calorie intake.

Mr. Coconut within your Diet

For people who are trying to lose weight, the general rule is to reduce 500 calories from what your body needs to maintain its current weight. Women need an average of 2,000 calories per day for energy consumption while still maintaining their weight. To lose at least one pound (045.kg) from their weight, they need to consume only 1,500 calories per day. On the other hand, men generally need to consume 2,600 calories to keep their current weight, and 2,100 calories if they want to lose at least one pound.

Of course, your total calorie intake needs to be broken down throughout all of your meals in a day. It is recommended to consume only 300 to 400 calories for breakfast, and 500 to 700 calories each for lunch and dinner. Snacks should be limited to 200 calories or less. Each meal should also be balanced to hit all of your daily nutritional requirements.

A 500ml Mr. Coconut shake may contain 290 calories. Let’s say you drink it as a snack; then, you already exceeded your daily limit. If you make it a part of either your lunch or dinner, the coconut shake already covers half of the minimum calorie intake you need for the meal. It may throw off the balance of the meals you are eating.

It is not to say that you have to deprive yourself of drinking the beverage. What it suggests is to have minimal consumption of the drink throughout fewer frequencies. Having a small portion of the drink once a week is enough to satisfy your craving. Unless you are balancing your eating habits with exercise, frequent consumption of coconut shakes may lead to weight gain rather than maintaining or losing weight.

Obesity and being overweight has become a common occurrence among Singaporeans. In general, 4.5 out of 10 Singaporeans are at risk of developing the condition. A part of it is the popularity of food crazes including sweet beverages and fast food. Most of these franchises, including Mr. Coconut also has delivery services that let people order their food from home. With the pandemic this past year, people have also decreased their physical activity. Without a nutritious diet and active lifestyle, more people are having problems with their weight, thus developing other health conditions.

Luckily, there are various solutions out there to manage your weight. Diet (with little to no sweet beverage) and exercise are still vital parts of weight loss and management. Though, it may not be enough for some people who are having troubles controlling their appetite. There are alternative solutions such as gastric balloons that help you lose weight and control your appetite by taking up space in the stomach that food normally would. Allurion Elipse Balloon offers a swallowable variant that doesn’t require surgery, endoscopy, or anaesthesia. So, if you’re already struggling with weight problems, you can find a solution suited for you.

Coconut shakes like Mr. Coconut are a great treat for yourself every once in a while. However, as the saying goes, too much of anything is bad. Make sure that it still fits within your daily total energy requirements and fitness goals. Control and moderation need to be observed so you can enjoy every sip of your drink without feeling guilty later on.