Geez...It's Monday Already?

Happy Monday....or should I re-phrase that and say "what happened to the weekend?" If you're like me some people need coffee in the morning to start the day, especially a Monday. Do you think about the number of calories you consume when you order your morning coffee drink? If you are trying to lose weight, you probably should. Some popular drinks from Starbucks and other popular spots (7-11 or Dunkin Donuts) contain up to 700 calories. If you add a breakfast sandwich along with hash browns, you could easily consume an entire day's calories before you start your morning.

Here are some Low-Calorie Coffee Drinks (under 100 calories) 

* Tall Skinny Latte (100 calories, 0 grams fat, 15 grams of carbs)
* Skinny Cappuccino (60 calories, 0 grams, 9 grams carbs) The great thing about cappuccino is the foam. The light fluffy top of this drink makes you feel like you're drinking something more decadent and fattening.
* Iced Skinny Flavored Latte (60 calories, 0 grams, 9 grams carbs) Add your favorite sugar0free flavor syrup. Try vanilla, hazelnut, or almond.
* Brewed Coffee (Brewed coffee and espresso contain essentially no calories)

If you already have a coffee drink that you love, use these tips to lower the fat and calorie count of the drink. 

* Skip the whipped cream. Don't even bother adding the whipped cream It melts into the coffee anyway and you can barely taste it.

* Go nonfat. Always start your coffee drink order by stating you want nonfat milk. Some menu boards may advertise that a drink is low-calorie but the barista may use 2% milk, which has a higher fat and calorie content.

* Say yes to foam. If your drink is topped with foam, ask for extra foam. The foam takes up more space in the drink and you decrease the amount of milk used and the number of calories in the drink.

* Add ice (or extra ice). Any drink with ice will have less calories than its hot alternative because the ice has no calories. For a drink that is already iced, ask for extra ice and you'll get a drink that is less milky, cooler and more refreshing.

* Use sugar-free syrups. Flavor syrups are popular additions to coffee drinks, but they are almost pure sugar. Opt for the sugar-free version to cut calories.

* Smaller is better. By the time you get to the coffee counter in the morning, you might order the largest size available out of habit, exhaustion or desperation. For some of us, the need for a coffee fix in the morning is substantial. You might be surprised to find out that you need less caffeine than you think.

Now listen carefully, you don't have to give up the trip to Starbucks just because you're on a diet. If you love your morning java fix, keep it on the morning menu. But learn to order low-calorie coffee drinks instead. 

~Wendy