{"id":32350,"date":"2022-11-15T00:04:25","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T00:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=32350"},"modified":"2022-12-20T20:07:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T20:07:23","slug":"healthy-starbucks-holiday-drinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/healthy-starbucks-holiday-drinks\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Starbucks Holidays Drinks to Celebrate the Season, Ranked by Dietitians"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starbucks\u2019 holiday drinks<\/em> are here!<\/em> We asked nutrition experts to highlight the <\/em>Starbucks holiday drinks<\/em> that are tastiest and totally worthy of the buzz\u2014and won\u2019t lead to a big blood sugar crash.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

Just like the pumpkin spice latte<\/a>\u2019s launch is a harbinger of fall, red, to-go coffee cups have been ubiquitous between Halloween and the new year. It\u2019s not just the Starbucks cups that have a cult following, though. Each year ushers in a new limited-edition menu featuring seasonal sips that are sure to make the season even sweeter.<\/p>\n\n\n

While no December will ever feel complete without a glass of my friend\u2019s homemade eggnog or my mom\u2019s mulled wine, the Starbucks holiday drink menu is something I look forward to every year to help energize me through the party-filled, shopping spree-packed season.<\/p>\n\n\n

I\u2019m not alone: These festive beverages are a crowd favorite. \u201cThe holidays are filled with traditions and for many people enjoying a seasonal beverage from their favorite coffee shop like Starbucks is part of getting into the holiday spirit,\u201d says Mary Stewart<\/a>, RD, LD, a registered dietitian and the founder of Cultivate Nutrition in Dallas.<\/p>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re among the crowd who looks forward to tasting your way through the minty, cookie-inspired, or other cozy coffee drinks, big news: the 2022 Starbucks holiday line-up of drinks<\/a> has been revealed. It\u2019s no secret that the bevvies may not be the most nutritious picks. So we tapped Stewart, Lauren Manaker, MS, RD, LD<\/a>, a registered dietitian and owner of Nutrition Now Counseling in Charleston, South Carolina, and Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN<\/a>, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, founder of NutritionStarringYOU.com<\/a>, and author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook <\/em><\/a>to help guide us through the most (and least) recommended Starbucks sips. Plus, get their tips for hacking a healthier Starbucks holiday drink.<\/p>\n\n\n

The Best Starbucks Holidays Drinks, Ranked by Dietitians<\/h2>\n\n\n

These drinks can be a fantastic addition to commemorating the holiday season, true. \u201cBut some of these choices can be loaded with sugar and unhealthy fats,\u201d Manaker explains. \u201cThey can certainly be enjoyed as a once-in-a-while treat, but drinking them every day may not be your best option.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t mean you need to skip them altogether, though.\u201cAll foods can fit into an overall healthy diet<\/a>, unless there is a specific medical need or allergy that would cause someone to cut out a food or beverage entirely,\u201d Harris-Pincus explains. \u201cMost specialty Starbucks beverages, though delicious, are high in added sugars without much nutritional benefit except some protein<\/a>, calcium, and vitamin D<\/a> in the milk-based options.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

If you prefer to enjoy these seasonal beverages without modifications (we\u2019re spilling dietitian tricks to give them a feel-good glow-up below), Stewart says her best advice is to order a small size like a Short (eight ounces) or a Tall (12 ounces).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

That said, all of the nutrition information below is based on a grande (16 ounces) order, since that is often the default \u201cmedium.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

On the days you score your Starbucks holiday drink\u2014regardless of the size or if you make any of the modifications below\u2014it doesn\u2019t mean you need to focus on restricting calories before or \u201cworking off\u201d calories after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t
Related Stories<\/div>\n\t\n
\n
\n\t\"healthy<\/div>\n
\n
How to Eat Like a Dietitian at Starbucks<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/article>\n\n
\n
\n\t\"Healthy<\/div>\n
\n
Cozy Up with This Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cFocus on eating balanced meals<\/a> throughout the day, and try to avoid the mindset of \u2018saving calories\u2019 in order to have a treat,\u201d Stewart says. \u201cThis approach will help balance your blood sugar<\/a>, give you steady energy and put yourself in a position to make healthier choices throughout the day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Ranked from least- to most- healthy by dietitians, we\u2019re counting down and dishing up the facts about the latest crop of Starbucks holiday drinks. (Psst: If you\u2019re planning to pair your drink with a snack, don\u2019t miss our guide for how to eat like a dietitian at Starbucks<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n

#6: Toasted White Chocolate Mocha<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"starbucks<\/figure>\n\n\n\n