Lisa Nelson

A Heart Friendly Starbucks?



Posted: Thursday, August 28, 2008

by
Be Heart Healthy and Lose Weight

I may have some good news for Starbucks lovers. 

Normally, the high sugar, high fat, high calorie beverage and menu items offered by Starbucks were reasons to steer clear if you struggle to lower triglycerides, lower cholesterol, or shed extra pounds.  Starbucks is typically not the best place to grab a quick breakfast with a Frappuccinno, while scanning the daily paper. 

Simply selecting a Grande Frappuccino and Cranberry Orange Muffin would start your day with a whopping 850 calories and 30 grams of fat!

In the past Starbucks has not embraced the idea of offering more nutritious items.  They did remove trans fats and started offering nonfat milk this past year, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

The good news is Starbucks has decided to revamp their breakfast menu to offer six heart friendly breakfast options.  The goal was a menu with fewer calories, more protein, more fiber, and more fruit.

New menu selections include:

Apple bran muffin – 330 calories, 8 grams of fat, 7 grams fiber

Baked berry stella – 280 calories, 9 grams of fat, 6 grams fiber

Power Protein plate with peanut butter – 330 calories, 16 grams fat, 5 grams fiber

Chewy fruit and nut bar – 250 calories, 10 grams fat, 4 grams fiber

Perfect oatmeal – 140 calories, 2.5 grams fat, 4 grams fiber
 


These new options provide reduced calories and fat grams, while boosting dietary fiber content.  All good moves if you are looking to be heart friendly.

You still need to use your head when choosing a beverage.  Starbucks is not removing its' high calorie, fat, and sugar beverage options.  One of the best choices is a simple Caffe Americano (15 calories, 0 grams fat). 

So, if you enjoy the Starbucks ambiance, you'll now be able to enjoy a heart healthy breakfast, too.  Hopefully, the taste of the new menu items lives up to the flavor of their coffee!

To receive regular heart health and weight loss tips from dietitian Lisa Nelson, subscribe to The Heart of Health ezine.
Lisa Nelson RD is the founder and owner of Health Practices Online and Heart Health Made Easy.

Health Practices Online provides online business management services for busy health professionals who are overwhelmed by everything involved with establishing an online presence.

Receive regular tips and the free report "7 Steps to Starting an Online Health Practice" at http://www.healthpracticesonline.com.

Heart Health Made Easy provides clients step-by-step guidance to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and weight loss, so they can live life and enjoy their family for years to come. Lisa will make it truly possible for you to see dramatic changes in your health, without crazy fads or impossibly difficult techniques.

Receive regular tips and the free report "How to Make Heart Healthy Changes into Lifelong Habits" at http://www.hearthealthmadeeasy.com.

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