Making smart choices when you stop at your local Starbucks for a caffeine fix can help to keep your weight under control and let you track your calories accurately. Some coffee drinks and snacks are healthy and can easily fit into any diet plan, while others may pack on as many calories as your lunch in a single delicious drink.
Types
You can get a regular cup of coffee at your local Starbucks franchise, but many people opt for a higher calorie coffee drink. Coffees come in three sizes. A tall is the smallest size at 12 oz. A grande is a 16 oz.drink, and a venti is a full 20 oz. Hot or iced coffee drinks contain brewed espresso, flavor syrups, milk and optional whipped cream. Lattes have more milk than cappucinos, but the ingredients remain the same.
Function
The calories and nutrients in a drink at Starbucks come primarily from the milk. You can opt for whole milk, low-fat milk, skim milk or soy milk. A grande caramel macchiato contains 190 calories and less than one gram of fat if you opt for nonfat milk. If you choose whole milk, the same drink contains 254 calories and 8.6 grams of fat, according to ShapeFit.com.
Considerations
While skim milk and coffee can fit into any well balanced diet, Starbucks flavor syrups add sugar, carbohydrates and calories to your diet. Adding flavor to your latte comes with 60 calories and 18 grams of carbohydrates, according to Starbucks.com. You can have the sweet flavor without the calories by choosing a sugar free flavor syrup or simply ordering one of the skinny selections on the Starbucks menu.
Features
Your coffee drink isn't just empty calories. Depending upon the drink and size you choose, you've consumed between six grams and 22 grams of protein. According to WhyMilk.com, a grande caffe latte at Starbucks provides 415 mg of calcium, or 40 percent of the recommended daily allowance. You'll also get 35 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin D and a decent dose of potassium, magnesium and vitamin A in your latte.
Warning
A latte can be a healthy and delicious way to add calcium, protein and vitamin D to your diet, but you do need to choose smart. A venti peppermint white chocolate mocha with whole milk packs 700 calories, according to Starbucks.com, if you add the whipped cream on top. Make drinks like this a rare, special treat to avoid adding pounds along with your caffeine buzz.
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