It's PSL Time! When Ordering From Starbucks, Here's How to Make the Fall Favorite Healthier (2024)
When cool breezes blow, you've probably got one thing on the brain: a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Before heading into your local Starbucks to wrap your hands around a warm cup of spiced goodness, here are some ways you can order to make it a little healthier.
A 16-ounce Grande made with two-percent milk and topped with whipped cream will run you 390 calories, which is fine if that's what you want! But there are some ways to save calories on that standard order:
Order a Short PSL instead of a Grande: saves 180 calories
Order a Tall PSL instead of a Grande: saves 80 calories
Order a Grande with almond milk: saves 80 calories
Order a Grande, skip the whipped cream: saves 70 calories
Order a Grande with nonfat milk: saves 50 calories
Order a Grande with coconut milk: saves 40 calories
You can also cut down on calories and sugar by ordering fewer pumps of pumpkin syrup. One pump of pumpkin spice syrup adds around 30 calories and 7.5 grams of sugar; a Grande drink has four pumps of pumpkin spice syrup, so the standard order has 120 calories and 30 grams of sugar in syrup alone. If you order half the number of pumps, you'll save 60 calories and 15 grams of sugar.
To make this drink healthier, Burrows advises cutting out the whipped cream, which adds to both the saturated fat and sugar content. “Another option is to reduce the amount of pumpkin spiced sauce added to the drink.
To make this drink healthier, Burrows advises cutting out the whipped cream, which adds to both the saturated fat and sugar content. “Another option is to reduce the amount of pumpkin spiced sauce added to the drink.
A hot venti PSL gets five pumps of syrup, which adds a whopping 165 calories to the drink on its own, even before milk and whipped cream are added. Ask your barista to dial it back to just two or three pumps to cut back on calories and sugar.
I use home-brewed espresso or add extra coffee grinds to my regular brew when making lattes. For even more pumpkin flavor (recipe update): If you want a more intense pumpkin flavor, try reducing the pumpkin puree before adding it to the milk mixture.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) was invented in April 2003 in the “Liquid Lab,” a secure research and development space on the 7th floor of Starbucks headquarters in Seattle.
How To Order: A grande cold brew with sugar free vanilla, cold foam (not vanilla sweet cream cold foam) with 2 pumps of pumpkin spice in the cold foam and pumpkin spice topping. Iced Coffee with Pumpkin Spice - Want to keep it simple and cool? Try adding a few pumps of pumpkin spice to your iced coffee!
Here's exactly how to order a healthier Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew: Order a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, no vanilla syrup, 1 pump of pumpkin in the cream. Normally there are 2 pumps of vanilla syrup in the coffee plus 2 pumps of pumpkin in the cream.
Unfortunately, whipped cream at Starbucks is made with vanilla syrup and heavy whipping cream, which together pack a pretty sugary punch at 80 calories. You can ask the barista to omit the whipped cream and the pumpkin spice topping and enjoy a healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte without extra sugar getting in the way.
Here's how a registered dietitian suggests making your next PSL order healthier. Go for the Tall (8 fl. oz): Just getting a smaller portion gives you the flavor you crave for 210 calories, 25g of sugar and 26g of carbs. That's almost half the calories of the Grande and 55 percent fewer calories than the Venti.
Ask for “less whip” or “no whip” • Make it “Skinny:” Most handcrafted espresso and Frappuccino® blended beverages can be requested “skinny,” which means the beverage is made with nonfat milk, no whipped cream and a sugar-free syrup if available.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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