Is There Such a Thing as Healthy at the Coffee Shop?

A Starbucks coffee shop in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, not far from where I went to grad school.

In the four big cities I have lived and worked in - Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Boston – the coffee shop defines virtually every block. Usually, it's a Starbucks or a Dunkin Donuts (a staple in Boston). Not long after I was living on my own did I begin to see the coffee shop's reach extend beyond the city’s street corners. Coffee and the coffee shop trip organized my workday and almost everyone else’s. During weekdays, the lines ebb and flow, connoting the daily rhythms: coffee runs come in the morning around 9 and then again in midday for that pick-me-up. Then, there are the meetings over “coffee” where I network, discuss a work project, gather fodder for a story, conduct team meetings, etc. In the evening, it's a good place to chill with friends. Yes, connecting over coffee can be a great way to schmooze and get things done at the same time, and I am always about efficiency.

But is it a healthy hangout? It certainly sounds harmless enough if you aren’t tempted by a menu filled with calorie-killer Frappuccinos or Dunkaccinos. But even the calories and other unhealthy contents in cream and sugar add up after a while since I don’t drink coffee black. (Coffee by itself in moderation has proven health benefits, but most Americans don’t drink it straight). I had to wrinkle my nose after drinking coffee shop coffee because no matter the store or the brand, it was always too strong for my taste. But I could swallow lattes like Pumpkin Spice, Mocha just fine, which are particularly popular this time of year. Of course, they are prepared chock full of sugar.  So I must confess that I don't really ever drink coffee at these coffee meetings.

I started ordering tea (zero calories), and just sprinkle in a sugar substitute. I now find the Tazo teas at Starbucks flavorful and provide plenty of variety. Plus, I feel satisfied that I’m drinking the much-touted health benefits of green tea.

At times, I opt for skinny hot chocolate. Thank goodness there’s usually a skinny way for us singles who want to stay thin and attractive. Take Starbucks' grande skim latte that’s just 130 calories, with 19 grams carbohydrates and 13 grams of protein. Since a cup of coffee to start the day is deeply embedded in the American psyche, we want to offer some healthy choices from Starbucks to try. All are under 200 calories. http://www.starbucks.com/menu/nutrition/20-under-200

One caveat I've discovered after spending too much time drinking coffee shop coffee: No matter how healthy you strive to make your beverage, drinking a lot of tea and coffee stains your teeth – which, for sure, is not attractive. So if you’re a coffee shop regular, it’s probably best not to overindulge!