Stopping at Starbucks doesn't require a complete surrender of your health goals. Even Atlanta dietitians say they savor Starbucks without remorse by selecting their indulgences carefully.
Registered dietitian Juliana Nagy, for example, is also a foodie who spent nine months studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. When she takes a break from her private practice in Sandy Springs and heads for Starbucks, she makes sensible choices that still are flavor rich.
"When it is warm outside, I usually order an unsweetened, shaken Green Tea Lemonade," she said. "It is refreshing and tastes great."
When temperatures start to plummet, Nagy opts for sugar-free Hazelnut Cappuccino with coconut milk at Starbucks. "I just love the taste," she said.
Page Love, a registered dietitian with expertise in sports nutrition and eating disorders, says she is careful never to tell clients that they can't have a specific food, meal or restaurant, including Starbucks. "That is part of the non-diet, intuitive eating approach I recommend," she said.
Love likes vanilla-flavored brews and also notes that decaffeinated beverages from Starbucks or other coffee shops help you stay hydrated.
"I may choose decaf coffee or teas myself in the afternoon hours to help with hydration. Any decaffeinated fluid can count towards your intake," she said.
