Nutrition Nugget! Bite-sized bonus episodes offer tips, tricks and approachable science. This week, Jenn is talking about Starbucks Protein Drinks and whether they're really worth the hype. Have you seen these new protein-packed options popping up on the menu? After encountering difficulty accessing ingredient information on Starbucks' website and app, Jenn took a hands-on investigative approach, visiting a local Starbucks location to seek out the composition of these protein-enhanced beverages. What she uncovered reveals essential distinctions between how customers might expect these drinks to work versus how they're actually prepared. Jenn also addresses the broader question of whether adding protein to coffee drinks is a necessary trend or simply effective marketing. For anyone considering these new options or curious about optimizing their Starbucks order for nutritional value, this episode offers practical insights and transparent nutritional data. Like what you're hearing? Be sure to check out the full-length episodes of new releases every Wednesday. Have an idea for a nutrition nugget? Submit it here: https://asaladwithasideoffries.com/index.php/contact/       

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KEYWORDS: Jenn Trepeck, Nutrition Nugget, Salad With A Side Of Fries, Health Tips, Wellness Tips, Starbucks Protein Drinks, Protein Powder, Whey Protein, Coffee Protein, Protein Coffee, Protein Milk, Sweet Cream Foam, Matcha Latte, Nutrition Facts, Protein Content, Caffeine Content, 2% Milk, Protein Packed, Health Coach, Starbucks Menu, Protein Options, Iced Matcha, Grande Size, Saturated Fat, Carbohydrates, Sugar Content, Calorie Count, Vanilla Latte, Protein Supplement, Milk Alternatives, Almond Milk, Unsweetened Drinks, Beverage Nutrition, Coffee Additives, Protein Craze, Morning Fuel, Nutrition Information, Ingredient List, Whey Protein Isolate, Protein Concentrate, Sweet Cream, Iced Vanilla Latte, Blonde Vanilla Latte, Protein Foam, Starbucks App, Drink Modifications, How Much Protein In Starbucks Protein Drinks, Can You Add Protein Powder To Starbucks Coffee

[00:00:27] Christine, have you seen them? No, I haven't. Tell me about it. Okay, so Starbucks just started promoting that they now offer protein and you can put protein into your coffee. And I think a lot of this is part of the protein packed craze where everyone's trying to put protein in things. I think it's also part of, and I admit I've contributed to this, I think it's part of people being aware that we maybe don't necessarily want caffeine before fuel in the morning.

[00:01:27] It's not a brand that we know anyway, online, on their website. I couldn't get to the information. I was sort of clicking around in circles, so I just decided I had to go into the Starbucks and ask some questions. So shout out to the location near Union Square in New York City. I went into Starbucks and.

[00:02:09] Why do you need to know? And I'm like, I'm a health coach. My clients are asking me, I'm trying to find information out for them. I've tried looking online, I'm sort of going in circles. And he was like, hang on, let me get the manager for you. So then I'm talking to the manager who then said, look at the website.

[00:02:49] And admittedly, I thought I took a picture of it, but now I can't find the picture. So maybe I didn't take it, but it just said like, whey protein on it or whey protein, I [00:03:00] can't remember if it's. Isolate or concentrate or whatever. But it was basic, like it didn't have a whole long list of ingredients. So I'm talking to the district manager now and I'm like, here's what I'm trying to understand, right?

[00:03:43] So they take the bag of protein powder and mix it with either 2% milk or the sweet cream. So it's a pre-made mixture. Then if you order your drink in the protein version, [00:04:00] that's what it's made with. So to make the protein milk, it's 2% milk blended with the whole bag of the protein powder. The protein foams are three scoops of the protein powder mixed with their traditional sweet cream.

[00:04:45] Then to really understand the difference or what you're getting, you then have to compare your typical drink made with 0.2% milk versus their protein version of the same drink. [00:05:00] So my drink, if I order something, is a matcha with almond milk unsweetened. I cannot order that with protein. Instead, I have to order the protein matcha.

[00:05:36] I'm not the biggest fan of milk, nor does milk really like me. Which means before we even get to comparing the nutrition facts, this may not be your choice beverage. It's not my choice beverage. So then in order to understand the nutrition facts of how much that one bag of protein ends up being or ends up creating, you know, once they [00:06:00] mix it with the milk or the sweet cream and then it gets divided into each drink, it's kind of a bit of a crapshoot of how much each drink is actually getting.

[00:06:36] Now again, when you make modifications that doesn't adjust their nutrition facts, so I just looked for an iced matcha made with 2% milk. So iced macha latte grande is 16 ounces made with 2% milk is 190 calories, five grams of fat, of which it's three grams of saturated fat, zero grams of trans fat, 27 grams of [00:07:00] carbohydrates with one gram of fiber, and 25 grams of sugar, then nine grams of protein.

[00:07:44] Now the other thing that's interesting that I noted is that it says 75 milligrams of caffeine. The other one without the protein was like 65 milligrams of caffeine. So I'm not really sure what's happening there, but I noticed it so I'm sharing it. So if [00:08:00] we focus on the protein, there's a big difference between the regular version with 2% milk and their protein version.

[00:08:33] It ranged from 19 to 26 grams of protein in the grande size, the 16 ounce drink. So super quick grande iced vanilla cream protein latte. It's 26 grams of protein, and I couldn't totally find the iced vanilla cream latte. But I was able to compare it to the iced blonde vanilla latte that grande was seven [00:09:00] grams of protein.

[00:09:23] Please tell me what you find. I am very curious. Frankly, I am impressed that their protein powder is actually very simple and not a whole long list of ingredients. And there's also the drawback to me that if you want protein in your drink. From Starbucks, you have to use either 2% milk or sweet cream, which to me is not really that appealing.

[00:10:10] You know, I get why Starbucks wants to jump on the bandwagon and just because they are, I don't think it means that you have to. Christine, what do you think? Questions? Anything you wanna add?

[00:10:30] So I feel like I'm being forced to do something I don't wanna do. And also, you know, whey protein is what it is. But I'm a little bit like, I don't know, skeptical, but I'm a little bit curious about what really is it like to have something so simple like that. Is it really that simple? That's what I would wanna know.

[00:10:59] Jenn Trepeck: a [00:11:00] 16 ounce drink.

[00:11:02] Jenn Trepeck: 16 ounces of 2% milk. So they take this giant thing of protein powder. Yeah.

[00:11:32] You know, it takes some extra effort to find those answers and, or you don't need to put in the extra effort. Just stick to your usual, go-to black coffee or you know, espresso or Americano or whatever it is and call it a day. But I get why they would jump in on that. Alright, friends, well, there you have it.

[00:12:14] Also my book, uncomplicating Wellness, is there for you to pick up or just send a message and No, just in that, send a message. I love hearing from you, your ideas, your takeaways, your questions. Christine, thank you again for joining me. A pleasure. Always. I always love hearing your take on things. And of course everybody, if you are not already a member, I invite you to the Happy Healthy Hub.

[00:13:03] Well, friends, that's it for today's episode of Salad with a Side of Fries. Congratulations for making yourself and your health a priority. Thanks so much for joining us. Be sure to click subscribe or follow on your favorite podcast platform. Share us with a friend and we'll be back next week. Always remember you deserve it and you are worth it.