With Fall upon us, this uber famous drink is baaaaaack: the Pumpkin Spice Latte, obviously. However with the re-introduction of everyone’s favorite sugar loaded drink, there are a few healthy hacks you can incorporate ASAP for a better balanced drink.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
We might as well officially make pumpkin spice latte and fall synonymous. Why? Well first of all, it’s a darn delicious drink with a touch of cinnamon and a chunk of whipped cream on top. If that’s not enough, well all we can say, your taste buds are seriously lacking. Anyways, pumpkin alone is jam-packed with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. However the Pumpkin Spice Latte is seriously lacking in the health arena.
This is precisely why your diet takes a hit and your blood sugar and digestive system is thrown out of wack. Which is why we decided to round up some quick, healthy tips to transform your favorite drink without sacrificing any of the taste.
Quantity Matters.
Sounds so simple that it almost doesn’t deserve a spot in this list but alas, here we are. When heading to your coffee shop, opt for a smaller cup size as it’ll reduce calorie count.
Small Doses of Syrup.
Request one pump of the pumpkin spice syrup and not the usual three that comes with a Tall drink. Speaking of Starbucks sizes, a Grande gets four and Venti gets five pumps! With just one pump, you’ll still get a hit of pumpkin flavor without going overboard. If you want something more natural then add a bit of cinnamon on top and mix into the drink.
Switch Milk.
Try switching to a skin milk in order to save calories! Also, you can use nut milks, such as coconut or almond. However using a sweetened variety of of nut milk, like vanilla almond, is used most commonly but has extra sugar.
Think Basic.
Opt for a cappuccino as it uses less milk than a latte does. Furthermore a cappuccino has half the calorie count than a latte without altering the taste so much. Or you go for a radical change and get a black coffee with just one pump of the beloved pumpkin spice syrup. Fret not, you can even add your own cinnamon and milk to the cup of Joe.
Skip the Whip.
Yes, really. Not getting the whip immediately cuts out 70 calories!! And if that’s not a good enough reason to skip the whip then we don’t what is.
Create Your Own.
Why not create your own Pumpkin Spice Latte? It’s rather simple and there are tons of recipes floating around the web! Some of our favorites are on Greatist, The Kitchn, and FoodNetwork.
In Conclusion:
Start sipping your Pumpkin Spice Latte all year round but use any of the seven hacks we’ve dished out for the added health benefits. You’re welcome.
