The Skinny on Starbucks – Low Calorie Coffee Ordering Tips

It’s fall, which means Daylight Savings has come to an end, the holidays are just around the corner and Starbucks holiday drinks are finally out. I’m sure most of us can’t wait to get our hands on a delicious pumpkin spice latte! However, it shouldn’t be too surprising to learn that these beloved drinks are major calorie bombs.

With their festive looking takeaway cups and a Starbucks on every corner, they’re pretty hard to resist. So what’s a coffee lover to do? Well, if you’re trying to lose weight, then you can save yourself close to 1,200 calories a week if you make some tiny tweaks to your daily coffee order. That equates to 1/2 a lb of body fat a week without having to make any major sacrifices in your life. We’re all about making small and progressive lifestyle changes at Own Your Eating, because ultimately we know that sustainability is what leads to success.

So we’ve compiled a list of Starbucks drinks so you can make progress on your weight loss journey without depriving yourself of a tasty cup of Joe.

Top 5 Macro-Friendly Starbucks Drinks

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte

If sacrificing 50 carbs on a cup of coffee isn’t your thing, then this Pumpkin Spice Latte alternative is perfect for you. This cup is full of delicious fall flavors, so give this a try:

Order: Grande Nonfat Americano Misto with one pump sugar-free vanilla
Add in cinnamon, nutmeg, and one Splenda if you need a little more of sugar fix.

Nutrition info: (Grande 16 oz.) – 0g Fat; 10g Carbs; 7g Protein

2. Creamy Iced Coffee

Whether it’s hot or cold, raining or snowing, iced coffee is the go-t0 for many coffee lovers – especially for those of us living in warmer climes all year round! This drink can easily be overloaded with sugars and syrups unless you ask for it unsweetened and black, which can be a little too bitter for some. Try this satisfying substitute instead:

Order: Iced Coffee with nonfat milk

Customize with sugar-free syrups of choice. For something different, try cinnamon dolce!

Nutrition info: (Venti 20 oz.) – 0g Fat; 6g Carbs; 4g Protein

3. Iced Mini Mocha

If you’re craving the chocolatey taste of a mocha, but don’t want to ruin your macros then this option is perfect for you! Hard to believe it’s only 60 calories!!!

Order: Iced Caffe Latte with nonfat milk and ask for six pumps of sugar-free mocha.

Nutrition info: (Venti 20 oz.) – 0g Fat; 13g Carbs; 8g Protein

4. Nonfat Americano Misto

If you’re a latte lover, a Nonfat Americano Misto is your new best friend. It’s the best of both worlds — fewer calories, without having to give up the creamy texture that a splash of milk just won’t cover.

Order: Nonfat Americano Misto

Customize with any sugar-free syrup or sweetener of your choice!

Nutrition info: (Grande 16 oz.) – 0g Fat; 10g Carbs; 7g Protein

5. Hazelnut Latte

If you’re in the mood for something with a nutty flavor and a smooth foam topping, then this espresso based coffee with steamed non-fa ilk is the perfect option for you. It’s a tasty way to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Order: Grande Nonfat Americano Misto with one pump sugar-free hazelnut syrup.

Nutrition info: ( Grande 16 oz.) – 0g Fat; 10g Carbs; 7g Protein

5 Starbucks Ordering Tips

We’ve given you some of our go-to orders at Starbucks. But in case we didn’t give you any options to satisfy your taste buds, here’s are some of our top macro-hacks so you can figure out how to save calories on your Starbucks favorites.

1. Go Short

Like most of us, you probably think that there’s only 4 sizes available at Starbucks; Tall, Grande, Venti & Trenta. Well it’s not listed, but the option to order a Short is also available. Not only will you save a few bucks on this 8 oz. beverage but you’ll save 4 oz. worth of calories too! Use this for when you want to splurge on those holiday favorites like a gingerbread or eggnog latte!

2. Got Milk?

Whatever your dietary requirements, non-fat, 2% or dairy-free, Starbucks has you covered! If you want to save your fat, then go for either 2% or non-fat. For a low-fat plant based option go for soy or almond milk over coconut milk.

3. Watch the Syrup

Make sure you’re specific about your syrups! You can save BIG on calories by choosing unsweetened syrup flavors. A sweetened Tall order is made with three pumps of syrup, while a Grande is made with four pumps, and a hot or iced Venti beverage has five or six pumps, respectively. Each flavored pump packs in about 20 calories and five grams of sugar. So if you opt for a Grande Vanilla Latte with two pumps of vanilla syrup instead of four, you’ll be sparing your waistline of 40 calories and 10 grams of sugar!

4. Spice it up

I you’re trying to avoid artificial sweeteners and flavorings then why not try adding a little spice to your hot brew instead? My go-to is an americano with a good dash of cinnamon and shake of vanilla. The counter is always topped with cinnamon, chocolate, vanilla and nutmeg so why not experiment and see if you like the flavor of your coffee with a hint of spice instead.

5. Go skinny

You can save some serious calories on your favorites by requesting a “skinny” version. A skinny Frappuccino for example, is made with non-fat milk, sugar-free syrup and skips the whipped cream topping. Beware of consuming sugar-free syrups in abundance. The jury’s still out as to what kinds of effects these calorie-free sweeteners have on our bodies.

We hope you found this article helpful! If you did then chances are someone else will too! For the love of coffee, please share this article with your java-loving friends and colleagues. ☺️