Starbucks makes me feel conflicted. The green logo and earth-friendly mission makes you think that everything there must be healthy – but it’s not! Even the “reduced fat” pastry items can weigh in at 6 and 7 WeightWatchers points – which is more of a meal than a snack. But nothing is off-limits with WW, and it’s impossible to avoid the ‘Bucks completely. Here are some tips for making good choices there:

First off, Starbucks’ new “however-you-want-it” Frappucino is a godsend. I used to love green tea frappucinos, but when I learned that even a whipped cream-less frap could have around 50 carbs and have a points value around 6 or 7, I banished them from my diet.  But now that you can choose the light base and nonfat milk, several tall-sized varieties come in at just 2 points. Completely doable! They’re not as sweet (obviously), but I tried a light coffee frap with some sugar free vanilla syrup, and it satisfied my craving for a frozen drink. The skinny lattes (or just coffee with skim milk, which is cheaper) are also good options, with a tall coming in at 2 points.

The pastries are harder.  Starbucks’ website does have a page of foods with 10g of fat or less, so that’s a good place to start. The low fat Red Raspberry Muffin and Reduced Fat Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake are both 7 points. It’s a lot for me to justify – but of course, nothing is off limits. Just track it! A Petite Vanilla Bean Scone is just 3 points – so that might be a good option for satisfying a sweet craving.

Overall tips: Always stick with the tall size for drinks, unless it’s plain coffee or tea. You’ll save some cash, and you’ll find it’s plenty big enough. Drink some water first so you won’t finish your beverage so quickly. And always say no to whipped cream!

Photo: Starbucks