Craving Starbucks but worried about the calories? Not a problem! This post will teach you how you can fit your favorite Starbucks drinks into your healthy lifestyle plus 10 go-to Starbucks drinks to look for.
Let’s admit it, we all love Starbucks.
When you’ve decided to get healthy or to lose some weight, they say there are certain habits that you need to give up. And sometimes giving those up drastically will set you up to fail.
Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, there are many ways to live a healthy lifestyle without necessarily making you feel miserable.
But make sure that you do your research! I’ve seen so many people fooled by false advertising “low” nutritional claims, like “low fat” despite being super high in sugar.
In this post, I will show you some surprising ways to indulge in tasty Starbucks drinks without blowing your diet.
Tips On How To Order Healthy At Starbucks
- Ditch the sweeteners: Yes I know you love that caramel in your macchiato but if you wanna drink healthy skip the sweeteners. Instead of adding syrup or white sugar to your drink, replace it with stevia or sprinkle some cinnamon for added flavor. Both are easily available at the milk station, but if you’re grabbing some coffee on-the-go, you can always bring your own packet of stevia.
- Replace your dairy: Starbucks almost always uses whole milk unless you’ve requested otherwise. So if you want to order healthy the next time you pop by their cafe sub your milk with healthier alternatives. Starbucks carries a pretty wide option of milk that you can choose from such as 2% fat milk, nonfat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and almond milk. While whole milk isn’t a horrible option for a healthy lifestyle, requesting a lower fat content will make the entire treat a little easier to fit into your macros.
- Skip the whipped cream: Tragic, I know! But did you know that a whipped cream serving for a grande-sized drink has around 110 calories and 2 grams of sugar? I’m telling you it’s now worth it. But if you’re really craving for some, you can request the barista to prepare a light version for you.
- Get extra foam: You can trick the mind into thinking that you actually have whipped cream, just order some extra foam! The foamier your drink is the healthier it has, which is why cappuccinos have fewer calories than a latte.
- Order tall: If you’re the type of person that orders coffee like there’s no tomorrow (ahem, me!), then this one is for you. Order a tall-sized coffee if you don’t want to substitute any low cal alternatives and sip slowly! That way you can still enjoy your favorite drink with lesser calories.
- Ask the bartender for the nutritional information: I’ve randomly asked the bartender for the calories of my muffin and boy was I surprised when he whipped out a thick book with the entire Starbucks menu. So apparently all Starbucks stores are now required to have the complete nutritional menu for the standard version of their drinks and food staples. But in case you bartender doesn’t know they have such a book, you can always check out the nutritional info in the Starbucks app.
Which Drink Has Zero Calories at Starbucks?
Two words: black coffee.
Start simple. These two beverages are as simple as coffee gets. They have 0-5 calories and zero sugar, fat, or carbs. If you need some milk and sugar, add your milk of choice and try to stick to one packet of sugar. Here is some great info for options to grab for added sweetener.
On the days you enjoy having your black coffee at home, I recommend my 100% organic blend.
What Does “Skinny” Mean When Ordering At Starbucks?
When ordering a “skinny” version at Starbucks if means they would like their drinks to be made with nonfat milk, sugar-free syrup, and no whipped cream. So instead of trying to memorize which specific substitutes you need, you can just say want the skinny version of your drink.
Here are some “skinny drinks” you can order:
- Iced Skinny Mocha
- Iced Skinny Latte
- Skinny Vanilla Latte
- Iced Skinny Caramel Macchiato
Also, you can order “light” as well. This usually refers to frappuccinos and implies that you would like your frap to be made with a light base that is sugar-free and make it with skim milk. However, keep in mind that you still have to request for no whip cream, since ordering “light” does not automatically skip it.
Healthy Starbucks Drinks
So without further ado, here are some of my go-to healthy Starbucks drinks that are just as good as the full-fat versions!
Healthy Hot Starbucks Drink Options
- Flat White With Almond Milk
- Size: Short
- Calories: 50
- Fat: 3g
- Sugar: 2g
- Who doesn’t love a flat white especially on a rainy morning? If you’re craving for this creamy hot drink but without the extra sugar, ask for almond milk instead for a lighter version.
- Matcha Green Tea Latte
- Size: Short
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 3.5g
- Sugar: 14g
- This crowd-favorite is one of the healthiest drinks in Starbucks. A short-sized cup of the Matcha Green Tea Latte without altering anything only has 110 calories. But if you’re watching your sugar intake this beverage might not be your cup of tea.
- Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea
- Size: Tall
- Calories: 0g
- Fat: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- Now if you’re looking for a drink that won’t tip with zero chances of tipping the scale, you might want to try the Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea. You can even order a venti because this tea has zero calories no matter the size you order. Not only does it have a refreshing taste but it also helps settle an uneasy stomach.
- Caffe Misto
- Size: Tall
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 3g
- Sugar: 8g
- First time to hear about this drink? If you aren’t familiar with this hot beverage, a misto is a one-to-one mix of half freshly brewed coffee and half steamed milk of your choice. By default, they would usually use 2%, so if you want to lessen the calories further you can replace it with almond milk, which cuts the calorie content in half.
- Blonde Caffe Americano
- Size: Tall
- Calories: 10
- Fat: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- If you’re a black coffee drinker then you’re going to love this! A blonde Caffe americano is basically made by pouring hot water over espresso shots to create a light layer of cream on top of the drink.
Healthy Cold Starbucks Drink Options
- Nitro Cold Brew
- Size: Grande
- Calories: 5
- Fat: 0g
- Sugar: 0g
- There’s just something about this smooth and silky drink that keeps people like me coming back for more! But if you have a sweet tooth, order the nitro cold brew with sweet cream for just 70 calories and 4 grams of sugar.
- Iced Blonde Vanilla Bean Coconut Latte
- Size: Tall
- Calories: 90
- Fat: 4g
- Sugar: 12g
- This perfect pick-me-upper has just the perfect amount of calories that you can easily burn with a quick workout. It is a non-dairy beverage with a coconut milk base mixed with vanilla bean powder and a shot of blonde espresso.
- Starbucks Double Shot On Ice
- Size: Tall
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 1g
- Sugar: 13g
- Looking for a caffeine buzz? Grab a Starbucks Double Shot On Ice, this low-calorie drink is made of chilled espresso mixed with 2 percent milk, and is lightly sweetened.
- Iced Skinny Mocha With Nonfat Milk
- Size: Tall
- Calories: 90
- Fat: 1.1g
- Sugar: 6g
- This 90-calorie drink is ideal for those who enjoy some mocha sauce in their coffee. It is a lightly sweetened drink served with a mocha sauce, of course, espresso and nonfat milk! What else could you ask for?
- Teavana Shaken Strawberry Green Tea Infusion
- Size: Tall
- Calories: 30
- Fat: 0g
- Sugar: 8g
- You won’t believe that this drink has only 30 calories! If you’re watching your macros the Teavana Shaken Strawberry Green Tea Infusion is the perfect hot weather drink. This cold tea is made from Teavana Green Tea and sweetened with liquid cane sugar.
See? Say goodbye to avoiding that corner Starbucks store. You can still enjoy a Starbucks drink without any regrets or worry about tipping the scale.
Surprise your go-to Starbucks bartender and switch up your orders with these healthier drinks!
And keep in mind, a full fat, full sugar is always okay in intentional moderation, but leave them for a cheat meal to make sure they don’t become a habit!
Having Your Coffee At Home? (My Recommended Coffee Beans)
It’s definitely possible to have your fave Starbucks drink while keeping mindful of the calories and switching to healthier ingredients. But on the days you’d rather make your own, or have no time for a coffee run… If you’re a coffee-lover like me, you’ll still want quality coffee from the comfort of home.
I’m proud to recommend my very own Better Than Yesterday Blend. It’s a smooth and absolutely delicious blend of lightly roasted, naturally processed coffee beans. Plus, they’re 100% organic and fair-trade. Available now at cleanish.com.
More Healthy Drinks
Check out more healthy drinks I have in the blog for you, and start enjoying (healthy) drinks again!
