How to Stick to Your Diet at Starbucks
Starbucks is not just a coffee shop. It’s a hangout, an interview venue and, for some, a daily habit. Although we can’t help with Starbucks’ impact on your wallet, we can offer advice to make sure you minimize its effect on your waistline. Here’s how to enjoy a guiltless cup at Starbucks.
Drink Coffee
A venti size of Starbucks black coffee has zero grams of sugar and fat and only five calories. If you don’t like the aftertaste of coffee, an americano has the same taste without the lingering bitterness and only has 15 calories. Adding a bit of creamer or sugar can sweeten your drink without making it as fattening as a 190-calorie latte. For a sweeter-tasting coffee drink with no more calories or sugar, drink a double shot of espresso. Espresso, the coffee used in a latte, only has about 10-15 calories and will give you a caffeine buzz. Unsweetened iced coffee and iced americanos are also great low-calorie drinks.
Try TazoTea, Refreshers, or a Smoothie
Starbucks has three non-coffee options that are all healthy. Any Starbucks iced tea (green, black or passion) can come unsweetened. The green and black teas are naturally caffeinated, sugar-free, and calorie-free. Refreshers are light, fruit-based drinks that are made with green coffee extract. Starbucks also offers orange mango, strawberry, and chocolate smoothies that contain a banana and two scoops of protein powder.
Make It a Tall
Any drink ordered as a tall (12 ounces) holds 25 percent less than a grande (16 ounces), translating to less fat, sugar, calories, and carbohydrates in every cup. If you think the drink will go too quickly, order it extra hot.
Try It Skinny
Starbucks offers a skinny version of almost every drink on the menu. (Unfortunately, the white mocha and almost all of the holiday drinks are not available in skinny.) When you order skinny, the barista will make the drink with non-fat milk and sugar-free syrups.
Avoid Sugary Drinks
All Frappucinos are high in sugar and calories. The grande-sized caramel Frappucino has 410 calories, 15 grams of fat and 64 grams of sugar. Even the caramel light Frappucino has 140 calories, 29 grams of sugar and 20 grams of carbohydrates. Mochas and white mochas have 330 calories and 470 calories, respectively. Both have high calorie, fat, and sugar content.
If in doubt, ask a knowledgeable barista for a choice of healthy drink options. Going to Starbucks doesn’t have to mean breaking your diet. Make the drinks at Starbucks fit your lifestyle by remembering that many options are available for a great cup with fewer calories.
Stopping by Starbucks for breakfast? Learn how to order a healthy breakfast.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MOST POPULAR
How to Stick to Your Diet at Starbucks
Starbucks is not just a coffee shop. It’s a hangout, an interview venue and, for some, a daily habit. Although we can’t help with Starbucks’ impact on your wallet, we can offer advice to make sure you minimize its effect on your waistline. Here’s how to enjoy a guiltless cup at Starbucks.
Drink Coffee
A venti size of Starbucks black coffee has zero grams of sugar and fat and only five calories. If you don’t like the aftertaste of coffee, an americano has the same taste without the lingering bitterness and only has 15 calories. Adding a bit of creamer or sugar can sweeten your drink without making it as fattening as a 190-calorie latte. For a sweeter-tasting coffee drink with no more calories or sugar, drink a double shot of espresso. Espresso, the coffee used in a latte, only has about 10-15 calories and will give you a caffeine buzz. Unsweetened iced coffee and iced americanos are also great low-calorie drinks.
Try TazoTea, Refreshers, or a Smoothie
Starbucks has three non-coffee options that are all healthy. Any Starbucks iced tea (green, black or passion) can come unsweetened. The green and black teas are naturally caffeinated, sugar-free, and calorie-free. Refreshers are light, fruit-based drinks that are made with green coffee extract. Starbucks also offers orange mango, strawberry, and chocolate smoothies that contain a banana and two scoops of protein powder.
Make It a Tall
Any drink ordered as a tall (12 ounces) holds 25 percent less than a grande (16 ounces), translating to less fat, sugar, calories, and carbohydrates in every cup. If you think the drink will go too quickly, order it extra hot.
Try It Skinny
Starbucks offers a skinny version of almost every drink on the menu. (Unfortunately, the white mocha and almost all of the holiday drinks are not available in skinny.) When you order skinny, the barista will make the drink with non-fat milk and sugar-free syrups.
Avoid Sugary Drinks
All Frappucinos are high in sugar and calories. The grande-sized caramel Frappucino has 410 calories, 15 grams of fat and 64 grams of sugar. Even the caramel light Frappucino has 140 calories, 29 grams of sugar and 20 grams of carbohydrates. Mochas and white mochas have 330 calories and 470 calories, respectively. Both have high calorie, fat, and sugar content.
If in doubt, ask a knowledgeable barista for a choice of healthy drink options. Going to Starbucks doesn’t have to mean breaking your diet. Make the drinks at Starbucks fit your lifestyle by remembering that many options are available for a great cup with fewer calories.
Stopping by Starbucks for breakfast? Learn how to order a healthy breakfast.