8 Popular Items You Should Avoid Ordering At Starbucks In Canada
Fancy doesn't always mean healthy.
The Starbucks brand, in general, is not often associated with traditional high calorie "fast-food" type of item. In fact, because of it's high-end appeal, we often associate the Starbucks brand with the opposite more refined type of experience.
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The truth is: many items from Starbucks are "healthy", meaning low calories, sodium, and sugar. However, Starbucks does have its fair share of items that are packing not only serious caloric bombs but are insanely high in sugar, fat, and sodium.
In addition, many of these drinks are made with pre-packaged syrups and powders that are filled with stabilizers and preservatives. By being a little cautious, you can avoid these drinks and food items, though. Here are the food items to avoid at all costs at Starbucks.
1. Pumpkin Spice Latte
Calories per serving: 380 cal
Why you should avoid it: Although this latte might look pretty on your Instagram page, it's loaded with as much sugar as two full Hershey's chocolate bars. To make things worse, it also has unhealthy preservatives in it as well. Switch to a regular latte instead.
2. Spicy Chorizo Breakfast Sandwich
Calories per serving: 500 cal
Why you should avoid it: First off, Starbucks "egg" sandwiches aren't really made with a freshly cracked egg. It's chock full of hard-to-pronounce fillers or stabilizers, which are not great for you to begin with. This sandwich is extra bad, though, because of it's through the roof sodium content and high-calorie count. Opt for the lighter egg-white feta spinach wrap instead.
3. Java Chip Frappuccino
Calories per serving: 460 cal
Why you should avoid it: It's a no-brainer that Frappucinos are not the best choice if you're looking to cut down on sugar and make healthier choices overall. But this Frapp is the worst of the worst. With a whopping 66g of sugar, you will hit your quota of sweets for the month by drinking one of these frozen treats.
4. Chocolate chunk muffin
Calories per serving: 440 cal
Why you should avoid it: Starbucks has pretty decent baked goods - meaning, they taste pretty awesome, but doesn't mean they are good for you. This muffin, in particular, is one baked good to avoid. With almost the level of calories, you should consume for a full meal, this thing is packed with sugar and soybean oil. Avoid at all costs.
5. Salted Caramel Mocha
Calories per serving: 450 cal
Why you should avoid it: This drink might sound all cute and fun, but trust me, it's not. Filled with 55g of sugar, this is just as bad as a Frappuccino. If you love having a coffee coupled with caramel flavor, order a simple skinny latte and ask for a half sweet pump of caramel syrup instead.
6. Blueberry Scone
Calories per serving: 420 cal
Why you should avoid it: Yes - blueberries are a superfood. But when you stuff them into a baked pastry that packs a whopping 510mg of sodium, suddenly this doesn't sound so healthy anymore.
7. Chicken Artichoke on Ancient Grain Flatbread
Calories per serving: 510 cal
Why you should avoid it: Everything about the name of this sandwich SOUNDS healthy, but that's when you know it's not. Although this does have lean chicken and artichokes in it, the bun is slathered in sodium-dense toppings giving it a whopping 1,120 mg per serving.
8. White Chocolate Mocha + Whip Cream
Calories per serving: 430 cal
@snelling_1988
Why you should avoid it: I must admit, as a lover of white chocolate, this drink is delicious. However, it's not a great choice if you're looking for healthy drink options. With 53 g of sugar, this drink has as much sugar as a 16 oz bottle of soda.