Tip of the Day...What to Order at Starbucks

Starbucks drinks can definitely add up in calories! 

Over at the "Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans" they have put together 

"10 Starbucks Drinks that Won't Blow Your Diet"

The Skinny Vanilla Latte is usually what I order.

Over at "Mom.me" she has some great ideas on what to order your kids at Starbucks!

First up...she says...

Kids' Hot Chocolate

The old standby comes kid-sized (8 ounces) and kid-temperature (130 degrees). The littlest ones might like it even cooler—100 degrees is lukewarm. It comes with 2 percent milk, but nonfat, whole and soy are also available. Whip cream is optional ... but yummy!

Passion Iced Tea

This fruity, decaffeinated drink is totally kid-friendly. It's hibiscus flavored, which is a fancy way of saying red and berryish. The barista will ask if you want it sweetened. This means adding three pumps (assuming you're getting a tall, which is the smallest iced size—12 ounces) of a simple sugar syrup. Adding raspberry syrup or lemonade also tastes good. Green tea and black iced tea—your other options—have caffeine, so aren't good for kids.

Vanilla Steamer

Also available in kid's size and temperature and with a variety of milks, a vanilla steamer is simply steamed milk with vanilla syrup. You will see sugar-free vanilla on the menu, but know it's made with sucralose—the sweetener used in Splenda.

Smoothie

Little known fact: Starbucks has smoothies ... and they're good! Flavors are orange mango, strawberry and chocolate. All the smoothies come with a banana (though you can't really taste it), 2 percent milk, and whey protein and fiber (is derived from cow's milk). Strawberry and orange mango smoothies are also made with fruit purees, while chocolate smoothies contain mocha syrup. Since they come in one size only—grande (medium), which is 16 ounces—you might want to share

Babyccino

This is simply extra-foamy milk—like a cappuccino, but without the espresso. (Cappuccinos are about half foam and half steamed milk, while lattes have about 1/4 foam and 3/4 milk.) Little kids especially love the light, bubbly nature of foam. Ask for it bone-dry if you want the drink to be all foam.

Click HERE to see the other drinks she recommends for kids.

Go check out the other great articles she has! 

GREAT WEBSITE!