Starbucks Healthiest Holiday Drinks
It's that time of year again... The season for the red exterior Starbucks coffee cup! Unfortunately, more times than not, coffee becomes overtaken with sugar and fat. But with these healthy Starbucks drinks, you can remain in the holiday spirit without the worry of packing on unwanted calories!
It's that time of year again... The season for the red exterior Starbucks coffee cup! While the cups are nothing short of eye appealing, it is on the interior that generally counts. But more times than not, coffee becomes overtaken with sugar and fat. But with these healthy Starbucks drinks, you can remain in the holiday spirit without the worry of packing on unwanted calories!
Starbucks Healthy Holiday Drink List
Gingerbread Latte
It is hard to exit the holiday season without coming across those notorious gingerbread men. And by opting for a nonfat milk without whipped cream (or even a reduction in), enjoying a Grande Gingerbread Latte comes with a 200 calorie cost while offering 12 grams of protein.
Holiday Spice Flat White
This holiday spiced coffee drink builds flavors with Starbucks' own Christmas Blend, perfectly steamed micro-foam, and warm holiday spices, composed of cane sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Guiltlessly indulge on the warm spices by dismissing whipped cream and swapping out whole milk with a nonfat or almond milk, saving you about 100 calories and at least 5 grams of fat.
Spiced Sweet Cream Cold Brew
Despite its cool temperature, this spiced sweet cream cold brew is nothing shy of comforting. And for only 120-calories (for a Grande), innocently sip on a smooth cold brew dressed with a dash of spice and a float of house-made sweet cream!
Christmas Blend
Starbuck's annual Christmas Blend is back! Like all plain coffees, this Sumatra, dark roasted blend provides a mere five calories per 16-ounces, making it a superior healthy holiday drink! If desired, personally dress up the coffee with nonfat milk and a dash of cinnamon often provided in-store.
"Skinny" Peppermint Mocha
Peppermint mocha screams out holiday season! And by "skinny-ing" up the original peppermint mocha drink (nonfat milk and sugar-free peppermint and mocha syrups), you can save hundreds of calories while minimizing the sugar content.
Teavana Joy Brewed Tea
Not a coffee drinker? This festive blend of black, green jasmine, and oolong teas hinted with apricot stimulates the holiday season for an absent (yes, only zero!) calorie load.
Skinny Peppermint Hot Chocolate
And if not a coffee or tea fan, this healthy Starbucks drink still offers a taste of the holidays. Though hot chocolate is generally loaded with sugar and calories, choosing the sugar-free peppermint and mocha syrups (as mentioned in the "Skinny" Peppermint Mocha) can dramatically cut down sugar content, ultimately containing a small 120 calories.
Healthy Starbucks Drink Tips
Swap Out Milks
Simply swapping out whole or two percent milks with nonfat milk naturally cuts fat and calorie content without compromising calcium content, even obtaining at least 30 percent of total daily calcium needs!
Limit Syrup Pumps
Syrups are essentially nothing more than pure sugar, easily piling up unnecessary calories. In fact, dismissing even one pump of syrup can trim off approximately 20 calories and five grams of sugar! If tolerable, switch to a sugar-free syrup, as it offers the same sweet taste without the calories and sugar. Offered flavors include cinnamon dolce, vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, mocha, and peppermint.
Downsize
Especially considering the limited edition of these holiday drinks, they can certainly be enjoyed in their untouched form. But instead of consuming the largest cup offered, downsize the volume and truly relish the flavors without the full guilt!
Ask for Extra Foam
Asking for extra foam to top your beverage naturally cuts down on calories, as the foam is lighter in volume and calories compared to milk straight from the carton or jug.
Add Espresso
An espresso shot provides only five calories while adding a little more pep in your step! Adding espresso can naturally displace or reduce milk capacity and room for whipped cream.
