Don’t-Wreck-All-Your-Hard-Work Pumpkin Spice Latte
It’s fall. Pumpkin is the new black. While I do love the delicious warming flavors of pumpkin spice, it’s time for a health coach smackdown on the world’s most popular fall beverage.
A 16-ounce Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has 49 grams of sugar – ouch! Even without the whip, it still contains 48 grams of sugar. That’s insane.
DRINKING A STARBUCKS PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE IS LIKE HAVING 2 FROSTED SUGAR COOKIES AND A BLUEBERRY SCONE FOR BREAKFAST.
Think ordering it “skinny” or with soy makes it better? It doesn’t. Beyond the sugar, there are also preservatives, artificial food colorings and other potentially harmful chemicals in the favorings of this drink, so it really is just something to avoid. It’s just not worth it! That amount of sugar will pack on some serious holiday pounds and make you feel like complete crap. It can also create mental fog and fatigue, not to mention a really cranky attitude. I know I can’t tell you to avoid something without giving you a delicious but healthy alternative, so try my Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte instead. The recipe below is vegan, contains less than 100 calories and is sweetened with stevia!
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 drops of liquid stevia (or sweetener of choice)
8 ounces brewed coffee (or 1-2 shots of espresso)
Sprinkle of cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
In a cup or saucepan, mix together almond milk and pumpkin. Cook on medium heat on the stovetop or microwave for 30-45 seconds.
Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, spices, and sweetener, place in a cup and use a frother to foam the milk. You can also use a blender — just process for 30 seconds or until foamy.
Pour coffee into a large mug; add the foamy milk mixture on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!
