Tis the season for pumpkin spice lattes, caramel macchiatos and peppermint hot chocolate, but most people don’t realize just how much sugar, fat and calories these fancy barista-brewed beverages contain. Did you know that a grande pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream at Starbucks weighs in at almost 400 calories and contains a whopping ten teaspoons of sugar, mostly in the form of high fructose corn syrup? Yes I know you can order them “skinny”, but unfortunately there is nothing skinny about artificial sweeteners as they actually increase appetite and carb cravings and do not prevent weight gain. Cutting out one of these drinks a day will save you nearly 2,800 calories a week- which is almost a pound of body fat!
And no, I am not hating on Starbucks. I actually pick up my green tea there all the time.
This is a serious problem, especially since so many of us start our day with one of these drinks along with a muffin, bagel or pastry (more sugar) and repeating the process at 3:00 when their energy crash invariably hits. But there is a better way!
My favorite way of making an alternative naturally low calorie hot drink with all of the spicy coziness is to brew a strong cup of pumpkin spice or chai tea. Not chai tea syrup or mix, but chai tea; either loose or in a teabag. Herbal chai spice (without any actual black tea) is an excellent alternative for those sensitive to caffeine and tea, (like those with IC). You may even want to use two tea bags if you like it extra strong. Add a few drops of vanilla stevia and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice to taste and a splash of unsweetened almond or coconut milk (warmed and frothed, if you like) and you have a delicious, creamy, spicy, cozy and 100% guilt-free fall drink for just a very small fraction of the calories, fat and sugar.
Do you have a favorite healthy fall drink tip? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below and on Facebook!
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