The DD's Best Picks @ Starbucks
Let's get coffee out of the way, since that's simple (and Starbucks may or may not be known for it). Your best bet is plain coffee (iced or hot) or a plain coffee drink (latte, cappuccino, etc.) with skim milk. Skip the flavoring, skip the sugar, and get used to savoring the goodness of an old fashioned cup of joy, I mean joe. It's much better for you than the sweetened kind and contains less calories! Now on to the side of the menu that may have your brain boggled a bit more - the food. That tempting glass case full of muffins, bagels, cakes, and 'bistro boxes' can be disastrous if you don't choose carefully. Follow these tips to make some health conscious decisions:
- Breakfast: stick to bagels or oatmeal rather than breakfast sandwiches.
- Best Bagels: Chonga, Multigrain, and Asiago
- Best Oatmeal: Perfect Oatmeal with Skim Milk and Nut Medley (add your own fresh fruit if possible)
- Sweet Treats: If you HAVE to indulge, stick to the mini/petite options. This way, you keep portions in control and eliminate the possibility of overindulging.
- Best Coffee Cake: Reduced-Fat Very Berry Coffee Cake
- Best Bistro Boxes: Protein, Chicken & Hummus, and Goat Cheese & Garden Veggies
- Sandwiches: the less the toppings (unless veggies) and sauces the better - keep it simple!
- Fresh Fruit or Veggies: always a great option!
- Beware of yogurt cups - usually a significant amount of sugar is added.
*Best options are based on an analysis of the nutritional content and ingredients in each dish. Keep in mind that it is always better, and cheaper, to make your own snacks at home, rather than eating out.
Sources: Starbucks Website and Nutrition by the Plate Pamphlet
Payphone - Maroon 5
Hi miss Ann! I am an avid traveler and therefore pretty familiar with all the options Starbucks has to offer. One of the breakfast options I frequently enjoy is the Spinach Feta Wrap. For only 290 calories, 19 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and only 4 grams of sugar.. it surprisingly has a lot of flavor that keeps me satisfied and full!! The only down side is that it's loaded with salt. What do you think about this option?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.starbucks.com/menu/food/hot-breakfast/spinach-feta-and-cage-free-egg-white-breakfast-wrap
-Your traveling consultant friend
Hello! I actually had a bit of an internal debate with that wrap and its nutritional content. Here's what I've decided: I tend to stay away from the breakfast sandwiches just because the more ingredients they contain, the more that is out of my control (in terms of salt, sugar, preservatives, etc.) The wrap contains 900 mg of sodium, which is about half of what you're allotted a day. That being said, if you choose to have the wrap every now & then (I wouldn't make it an everyday thing), keep the sodium content of everything else you eat that day in check and you should be okay. Hope that helps...happy travels!
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