Starbucks’ iced coffee and tea beverages.Alex Wong / Getty Images A daily stop at Starbucks can give you the extra pep in your step you need to get through the day. Not only does the popular coffee chain have a wide array of caffeinated beverages, but it’s also home to many high-calorie and sugary drinks. Some of the drinks at Starbucks have as many calories as a snack or meal. That’s why it’s important to enter the coffee shop armed with the knowledge of how to choose the healthiest Starbucks drinks.
We asked two registered dietitians to choose their favorite healthy drinks at Starbucks. And don’t worry — you can order more than just black coffee . Their responses spanned from teas to espresso drinks and even included a sweet treat or two. What to look for in a healthy Starbucks drink
Dietitians agree that certain elements determine the nutritional value of a drink at Starbucks.
“I tend to choose those that include a greater portion of black coffee versus creamers, milks and syrups,” says registered dietitian and author Elizabeth Shaw . She adds that these drinks supply a caffeine fix without overdoing it on calories, saturated fat or sugar. (Examples of drinks that have more calories and sugar include Frappucinos and lattes with syrups or whipped cream.)
Registered dietitian Mandy Enright agrees, adding, “Anything that comes in a ready-to-mix powder, such as the matcha or chai, is also one to watch out for because these tend to have sugar mixed into the powders, making it much harder to customize and remove those sweeteners.” Enright also points out that the Starbucks website and app are transparent with their ingredients and nutrition info, so use these tools to assess your favorite drink. In addition, look for opportunities to make customizations that can reduce calories, saturated fat and added sugars. 5 healthy drinks at Starbucks
It’s safe to have up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day (or about 4-cups of coffee daily). As a matter of fact, drinking coffee can be beneficial for your heart, brain and waist. So feel free to stop […]
What’s the healthiest Starbucks drink? Dietitians share their top 5 picks
