Saying Goodbye to Starbucks

I love designer coffees. Nothing makes me happier than a warm, cinnamon-y Pumpkin Spice Latte (nonfat, no whip) on a crisp autumn day.

Or it can be 110 degrees outside. Doesn’t matter – make my mocha hot and grande.

But that happiness drifts into depression as soon as I take that last sip, and I feel as empty inside as the cup I’ve been drinking from.

Talk about an unhealthy relationship – no other food product makes me feel quite like a Starbucks craft beverage. But after researching the carbs and sugar that are in some of my favorites, I think I need to kick the latte-a-day habit. My waistline – and wallet – will probably thank me.

My favorite flavors make an appearance this time of year, making it truly a test in willpower to avoid going into the Starbucks drive-thru. I thought maybe I’d allow myself one last cup of each of my favorites, starting with a Salted Caramel Mocha yesterday. Here’s the “skinny” on my seasonal favorites (nutrition info is for Grande size, skim milk, no whipped cream):

- Salted Caramel Mocha: 61g Carbs, 52g Sugar
- Eggnog Latte: 52g Carbs, 48g Sugar
- Pumpkin Spice Latte: 50g Carbs, 48g Sugar
- Gingerbread Latte: 38g Carbs, 36g Sugar
- Skinny Peppermint Mocha: 17g Carbs, 13g Sugar

Sigh. Why does something so bad for me have to taste so darn good?

They say the average woman should have no more than 24g of sugar in a day ( www.doctoroz.com/blog/kr
istin-kirkpatrick-ms-rd-ld
/spoonful-sugar-how-many-calories ) – and most of these contain twice that amount or more. Men can at least have a little more at 36g – but one drink doesn’t allow for much else during real meals. I also had trouble determining whether these drinks are gluten free or not – Starbucks doesn’t share much info other than the fact that all items may not be safe for those with celiac disease due to cross contamination.

So long, salted caramel mocha. Maybe we’ll meet again one day when I can call you an infrequent indulgence instead of a daily staple…