Stare into a Starbucks pastry window, and it’s hard to believe Starbucks offers food options other than baked goods. After all, the buttery croissants and indulgent muffins look like they’re made especially to eat with a latte. Why not have a cookie or two? You might want to reconsider your choice.
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Healthy Snacks to Munch On from Starbucks
As delicious as they are, these pastries aren’t the best for your waistline or health. For example, a chocolate chip cookie clocks in at 360 calories and 31 grams of sugar. Not exactly a diet-friendly treat. So, are there healthy snack options to be had at Starbucks? Yes!
Kale and Mushroom Egg Bites
If you are looking for a healthy breakfast at Starbucks, their egg bites also make for a health-conscious snack at any time of the day. The Kale and Mushroom Egg Bites are made with kale, portabella mushrooms, real cheese, and cage-free egg whites. With only 230 calories for two egg bites, this snack offers 15 grams of protein to keep you full until your next meal.
Eggs sometimes get a bad rap health-wise; depending on how they’re cooked, they can be a healthy option. According to Harvard Health, boiled or steamed eggs are heart-healthy protein-packed snacks. Fried in butter and laden with salt, however – not so much. Starbucks Kale and Mushroom Egg Bites are cooked “sous-vide” style, which means cooking the eggs in a pouch at low temperature – no oil or butter necessary! But still delicious.
Cheese & Fruit Protein Box
The Starbucks Cheese & Fruit Protein Box logs in at 470 calories, but the contents can be split into two or three snacks throughout the day. Everything within the box can be considered healthy food choices, from apple slices to the Brie and Gouda cheese. The National Library of Medicine states that apples are an excellent source of antioxidants.
Antioxidants are plant-based compounds that counter the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that injure healthy cells. Because of the high antioxidant content in fruits, the fresh fruits included in the Starbucks Fruit & Protein Box can keep you in good health. In addition, the entire box can be served as a lunch or breakfast or split into snacks.
Apple and Blueberry Bar (Brand: That’s It)
Starbucks carries That’s It snack bars, a line of snacks that are 100% natural, vegan, and gluten-free. Also, despite being laden with sugary fruit, most of these snack bars are low in carbohydrates because they have no added sugar! One example is the Apple and Blueberry Bar, which is a Starbucks staple.
The Apple and Blueberry Bar has 100 calories, 19 grams of sugar, and 0 grams of fat. Moreover, the bar also contains 4 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein, giving you fullness that lasts until lunch or dinner. The fruit in the bars also provides antioxidants, helping to fight those pesky free radicals. Research on blueberries indicates that they reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Dark Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans
If you’re looking for a coffee-flavored snack to accompany your coffee drink, then Starbucks’ Dark Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans is calling out to you. Perhaps the most decadent snack on this list, the pack of espresso beans comes in at 260 calories, 22 grams of sugar, and 15 grams of fat. Surprisingly, however, these Dark Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans offer a caffeine kick and an abundance of nutrients.
Unlike milk chocolate, dark chocolate is low in sugar and saturated fat, which makes dark chocolate a better alternative. In moderation, dark chocolate is high in disease-fighting antioxidants. Furthermore, dark chocolate helps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Snacking Healthy at Starbucks
If you’re searching for healthy food at Starbucks, don’t worry. You need to know where to look – and it’s not in the pastry window. Stay away from high-calorie and high-carbohydrate options like the Starbucks Cake Pops. Instead, move on over to the snack counter and look for a That’s It bar or Cheese & Fruit Box. You won’t regret it.
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