Healthier Options at Starbucks - Lower Fat, Lower Calories

Wondering what to order at Starbucks that won't cause you to gain five pounds immediately? Take heart! There are some healthier options that still taste delicious. Here are a few of Starbucks drinks to try if you're being more health conscious:

• Decaf options - Trying to stay away from dreaded caffeine? Ask for decaf in any of your favorite drinks. There are a number of delicious iced or hot herbal teas that taste amazing, but are naturally caffeine free.
• Less sugar at Starbucks - Definitely order a latte, but a plain one minus the sugar-spiked flavored syrups. Order a regular caffe latte (or fat free, if you like) and then doctor it up yourself by sprinkling on some cinnamon and nutmeg. I usually also add a little drizzle of honey to sweeten, but you don't need to if you're staying away from all types of sugar. In fact, a tall regular latte (with no sugary syrups added) packs a protein punch - 10 grams of protein! Plus, lots of vitamins and calcium to build up bones.
• Vivanno smoothies - These ones also provide a wallop of protein, and include fresh fruit. Be careful if you're eating gluten free, for these ones are not!

Starbucks has also come out with a new line of healthier snack items, including gluten and dairy free cookies and healthier chips. I tried the Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato chips - they're divine! Absolutely a healthier treat option you can indulge in once in a while, and provides an impressive 30% of your daily Vitamin A.

:) So, go grab a latte -- and don't feel guilty one little bit.

How to Make Latte Foam without an Espresso Machine

Need some froth to make a proper caffe latte? You don't even need a special machine (aka: espresso machine) to get the job done right. Here's the options you have, coffee lover, to great frothy amounts of delicious milky foam:

1. Use a good quality whisk! Heat milk slowly in a pot on top of the stove, and whisk away - increasing the amount you whisk as the heat slowly heats. Don't let the milk boil, or you'll have a mess on your hands. You just want heated frothy milk. And remember to only fill the pot about one third to one half full, as the volume of the frothy milk will need room to expand.

2. Use a French press! Grab your Bodum and use it in a whole new way...heat milk first in a pot on the stovetop until very hot, but not boiling. Pour carefully into your Bodum container and pump the plunger until the steamed milk is nice and frothy. Again, allow plenty of room for the froth to expand.

Voila, delicious steamed milk foam -- perfect as a basis for all sorts of decadent latte creations. Next lesson? How to use this steamed milk foam to make a latte at home. Stay tuned!