Home & Garden Home Sugar-Free Slurpees: Fewer Calories Doesn’t Equal Healthier By Robin Shreeves Writer Cairn University Rowan University Wine School of Philadelphia Robin Shreeves is a freelance writer who focuses on sustainability, wine, travel, food, parenting, and spirituality. our editorial process Robin Shreeves Updated June 05, 2017 Photo: Robert Neff/Flickr. Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home & Garden Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Green Living Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating The way I see it, it’s all about selling more Slurpees and not about better health or even helping people lose weight. 7-Eleven is now selling Slurpee Lite, sugar-free versions (made with Splenda) of the artificially flavored and colored brain freezers. Slurpee Lite will have 20 calories per 8-ounce serving. A regular Slurpee of the same size has about 66 calories. The company is hoping that this change will sell Slurpees “to a group who said they would drink Slurpees more often if we take out the sugar and reduce the calories.” That group, apparently, is females in their 20s. Despite evidence that shows that drinking diet beverages can actually lead to weight gain, sugar cravings, and some serious health problems, many people still think that diet beverages are “free” foods they can have in unlimited quantities with no consequences. Are there really no health consequences of drinking a beverage made with artificial sweeteners, food colorings, and flavorings? All of those artificial ingredients have their health risks. Fortunately, Slurpees, sugar-free or sugar-full, don’t need to be a part of anyone’s diet. If you do want to enjoy an icy, fruity beverage, making your own is easy.