When aiming for weight loss, small, thoughtful choices can make a significant difference. This is particularly relevant to your daily coffee order from Starbucks. Many popular coffee drinks are unfortunately filled with sugar and high-calorie syrups, hindering your weight loss efforts.
However, you don’t need to drink your coffee black or stop going to Starbucks altogether. There are numerous ways to customize your favorite beverages to keep them under 100 calories. Recently, Illa Garcia, MS, RD, and CEO of The Millennial Nutritionist, shared six Starbucks orders on Instagram, all under 230 calories, to assist you on your weight loss journey. We’ll outline her recommendations below.
Nutritionist Recommends 6 Low-Calorie Starbucks Drinks That Support Weight Loss
1. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Garcia's first recommendation for those looking to shed some pounds is the Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, clocking in at only 120 calories. This drink blends Starbucks espresso with brown sugar and cinnamon, topped off with a hint of oatmilk. The brown sugar syrup includes invert sugar, brown sugar, water, natural flavor, salt, and potassium sorbate. Oat milk consists of water, oats, canola oil, among other components. While Starbucks advises using light brown sugar, dark brown sugar is an acceptable alternative.
2. Iced Pistachio Coffee
Up next, Garcia recommended this Iced Pistachio Coffee order from the coffee giant. "Order grande coffee, 2 pumps pistachio, 1 pump sugar-free vanilla and a splash of cream." This, she explained, only comes to 70 calories and can give you an energy boost whenever needed.
3. Turkey, Bacon, Cheddar And Egg White Sandwich
This meal choice, suitable for breakfast or lunch, provides just 230 calories, according to Garcia, along with 17 grams of protein. The sandwich features crispy turkey bacon and cage-free egg whites combined with smooth, melted, reduced-fat white Cheddar cheese, all nestled in a wheat English muffin.
4. Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
Garcia pointed out that this latte from Starbucks is a wiser option at just 150 calories, compared to other, more sugary alternatives. The Starbucks Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte is a seasonal beverage featuring espresso, almond milk, sugar cookie syrup, and festive sprinkles. Typically offered during the winter months, it contains almond milk, blonde espresso, sugar cookie-flavored syrup, and red and green sprinkles.
5. Chestnut Praline Latte With Skim Milk
This latte is more weight loss-friendly when you "ask for 2 pumps of chestnut praline and 1 pump of sugar-free vanilla syrup," Garcia said. She added that it only contains 200 calories. This seasonal Starbucks beverage features chestnut flavor blended with praline, topped with whipped cream and praline crumbles. However, if you're watching your weight, it's advisable to skip the whipped cream.
6. Mushroom & Kale Egg Bites
This delicious snack or quick breakfast choice boasts just 230 calories and an impressive 15 grams of protein, according to Garcia. It features finely chopped kale and portabella mushrooms gently mixed into cage-free eggs, enhanced with Monterey Jack cheese, and prepared using the French sous vide method for a perfect result.
The Bottom Line
If you're on a mission to lose weight, you might be pondering how to continue enjoying your favorite treats—such as sweet, indulgent coffee beverages and breakfast items—without derailing your fitness efforts. Many specialty coffee drinks from popular spots like Starbucks are loaded with unhealthy ingredients that can negatively impact your health and hinder your weight loss goals.
However, there's no need to abandon your Starbucks visits to achieve your desired weight. Instead, you can consult this list of six Starbucks orders that are all under 230 calories.
