You Call it Starbucks … But I call it LOVE.
Sometimes you just need the cup with the little green straw. Know what I mean?
I wanted to piggyback off last week’s post which focused on strategies to avoid empty, useless, goal killing calories and get really specific on how to carry this over into one of my favorite places: STARBUCKS. Those dreamy frappuccinos with swirled whipped cream and drizzles of chocolate and caramel have created an entire counter culture for coffee lovers. If you’re not careful, it’s a bakery, and the dessert BE in YO’ cup.
A recent report concluded that the average American spends a little over $1,100 a year on coffee. Ready for some more? The average worker in the US spends $20 a week on coffee and one-third of Americans spend more money on coffee then they do on investing. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/american-coffee-habits-spend-coffee/story?id=16923079
Interesting stats, right? Maybe a little scary but coffee has clearly become a staple in our everyday lives. So how can you and I manage our coffee house cravings and still stay on track with a healthy lifestyle that allows us to achieve our weight loss and fitness goals? Don’t worry boo, I GOT U.
In the next installment of my #truthbomb series, we’re going to crack the code on how to avoid the coffee house curse.
Have no fear … BC is here (cue theme music).
Your Daily Coffee:
I don’t know many people who actually go to Starbucks for the coffee. If you’re like me it’s all the fancy named, tasty beverages that keep me coming back. It’s the White Chocolate Caramel Macchiato, the Peppermint Mocha, the Pumpkin Spice Latte, the Unicorn Frappuccino, and those caramel dreamy drizzles. However, I must remember, when placing my order for my morning coffee that this choice will have an impact on all the choices I make the rest of the day. This moment can, for many of us, set the tone. My go to is a Grande Soy Latte (170 cal). Because of the extra calories, I only have 1 coffee on my Starbucks days which keeps both my calories and my guilt meter as low as possible. Another great choice that it is even lower in calories is their Nitro Cold Brew (5 cal). It’s bold yet smooth and yes that’s right only FIVE calories. You can even have them add sweet cream, soy milk or half and half and you’re out the door for under 70 calories with a yummy boost to your morning. And just keep in mind, it’s your morning coffee, you do this every day SO KEEP IT SIMPLE. Avoid the flavors, added sugar, whipped cream, and drizzles and save them for a special occasion.
An Afternoon Pick Me Up:
Making a cup of tea is super easy and for some a very calming, relaxing experience. So sure, I can make myself green tea at home and pour it over ice but why would I want to do that when I can go in and enjoy the ambiance of Starbucks and their fabulous baristas and of course get my tea in an awesome Starbucks cup with that beloved green straw. There’s just something about it that I love so much. So, my go to now is unsweetened tea. I usually get their green tea because I know there are tons of health benefits like improved brain function, increased fat burning, and it is
full of antioxidants that may help reduce certain types of cancer. Feel free to choose white tea, black tea, even passion fruit tea. Just skip the added sugar! In my experience, it totally hits the spot and gives me the coffee house experience I crave minus the added calories.
Snack Attack:
It’s pretty hard to avoid all the tasty breakfast pastries and snacks that are displayed in such a pretty, appetizing way when placing my coffee order. If I could order what I wanted every single time I would add a piece of coffee cake for sure or a lemon pound cake or a bacon and gouda breakfast sandwich. OH, I could go on but it’s all just sugar on carbs on sugar. Being that I’m calorie conscious and trying to lose weight I still want to be able to enjoy Starbucks without falling victim to their sweet pastries, so I have found a few options that keep me on track and keep me from going hungry. Whether I need a meal or a snack these options are great on the go too. A few delicious breakfast options that fill me up and help me start my day off right are the Roasted Red Pepper Egg White Bites (170 cal) or the Starbucks Oatmeal with Fresh Blueberries only (160 cal). I choose to leave the brown sugar and dried fruit with the barista to save myself the added calories, which are mostly sugar. Other great snack options would be fresh fruit like apples and bananas, Kind Bars, That’s It Bars, Almonds, Trail Mix, Yogurt if you can do dairy or one of their many varieties of protein.
Take home lesson? Find a way to create a daily routine that works for you. We tend to think our small choices aren’t high risk but it’s the combination of our small choices that prevent us from achieving our big goals. Whether it’s Starbucks or your local coffee shop, search the menu for simple ways to reduce the empty calories and feed your body right.
What is your go-to trick for coffee and snacks? Share below!
Love, Lashes, and Lipstick,
xoxo,
BC
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