Starbucks is the first coffee shop that comes to mind when you picture a variety of caffeine-filled drinks (with lots of syrups and sugar no less). The Seattle-based chain has taken over the world with its wide selection of coffee drinks, including a number of healthy choices that are less than 200 calories.
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As wonderful as it is to indulge yourself with a delicious Strawberry Crème Frappuccino or a Salted Caramel Mocha, these menu items have more sugar and calories than many coffee drinkers bargained for. Drinking too much sugar at once can cause a crash later in the morning (like right in the middle of a meeting), making high-sugar caffeinated drinks like these less than ideal for a morning pick-me-up.
One easy way to make your Starbucks order healthier is to minimize the number pumps of syrup and sweeteners in your drink. Skim milk or plant-based milk are great alternatives as well as ordering a smaller size.
Along with this, there are plenty of options for healthy Starbucks drinks that can provide a delicious taste and an energizing caffeine burst without all the sugar. Here are 9 healthy Starbucks drinks that taste amazing and will give you the energy you need without an overwhelming amount of sugar and calories.
1. Brewed Coffee or Americano
The most obvious choice for a healthy Starbucks drink is regular old brewed coffee. Plain black coffee is the healthiest choice there is, and a cafe Americano, which is espresso mixed in with hot water, is a great option to get your caffeine fix without adding sweeteners.
Clocking in at 5 and 10 calories, fresh brewed coffee or an Americano is a basic choice when it comes to ordering from Starbucks. Black coffee not your thing? Try a sugar-free sweetener.
2. Chai Latte
Another healthy low-calorie Starbucks drink is the Chai Latte, a warming, spicy tea mixed in with frothed milk . Chai might be an autumnal flavor, but it's easy to enjoy year-round, espically if you order it iced. This drink is under 200 calories, and you can stay under this amount with soy milk, nonfat milk or even 2%.
3. Skinny Vanilla Latte
?It's all in the name with this one! Even if you're on a diet or trying to prioritize healthy eating and drinking, you can still enjoy tasty vanilla flavor in your Starbucks drink. This drink is made with two shots of espresso, steamed skim milk and a bit of frothed milk, along with the best part: sugar-free vanilla syrup.
This tastes like a sweet treat but doesn't stack up on the sugar and calories like many other Starbucks drinks do. Get a tall for 100 calories.
4. Nonfat Cafe Mocha
The Nonfat Cafe Mocha is made with mocha sauce, steamed nonfat milk and espresso. A tall is 190 calories, not bad for a indulgent mocha-flavored beverage.
5. Nonfat Iced Caramel Macchiato
Caramel macchiato is one of the most popular Starbucks drinks, providing a boost of energy and sweetness with its caramel and vanilla syrup. This will make you feel like you're having dessert, but it won't cause an energy crash or ruin your calorie count for the day. A tall is 140 calories and contains 7 grams of protein.
6. Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher
If you want a Starbucks drink but are feeling like something more fruity than a coffee-based beverage, the Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher is the way to go. It combines Teavana iced tea with berry fruit juice, whole blackberries, and green coffee extract for a boost of natural energy. Coming in at only 50 calories, Starbuck's Refreshers are the perfect healthy alternative.
7. Caramel Frappuccino Light Blended Beverage
Another caramel option, the Caramel Frappuccino Light Blended Beverage has everything a caramel lover needs. This Starbucks drink contains nonfat milk, coffee, and caramel syrup, all blended together with ice. To make it light, ask for no whip and sugar-free syrup along with the nonfat milk. A tall is only 100 calories and is completely fat-free!
8. Shaken Iced Green Tea
Another tea option for a healthy Starbucks drink is the unsweetened Shaken Iced Green Tea, which contains lemongrass, mint, and lemon verbena. This one is especially good for your wellness, since green tea has a number of health benefits that support brain function and fat burning. This tasty refresher has zero calories.
9. Nitro Cold Brew
Cold brew is a tasty go-to for those looking for an extra strong coffee drink that's also cooling and refreshing. To make it even better, get Nitro Cold Brew, which is infused with nitrogen as it's poured. This gives the drink a creaminess that makes it even more delicious! It has 0 grams of sugar and 5 calories with no milk or syrup.
10. Blonde Flat White
Stronger than a latte, flat whites are a creamy combination of espresso and steamed milk without the milk foam usually served with lattes. The tall drink Comes in at 170 calories, but you can order it with nonfat milk to lower the calorie count.
