How to Order a Diet-Friendly Coffee Drink

If you're not careful, you can consume one-third of your recommended daily calorie intake with your morning coffee alone. Avoid this common diet trap with these tips.

Step 1: Arm yourself with the facts
Go to the web sites of your favorite coffee places; most post calorie counts and nutrition information. Print out a copy to keep on hand so you know exactly what you're getting.

Step 2: Order plain coffee
Order a black coffee or an Americano, which is an espresso diluted with water. If you take yours with milk or sweetener, add your own so you can control the type and the amounts.

Step 3: Cut the fat
When ordering a specialty drink, request that it be made with fat-free milk, rather than whole or 2 percent.

Tip
"Fat free," "nonfat" and "skim" all mean the same thing.

Step 4: Reduce the sugar
Use sugar substitutes, and if you must have syrup, request sugar-free. A single pump of full-sugar flavored syrup contains about 20 calories, and the baristas usually don't stop at one. Also, need we say it? Skip the whipped cream.

Step 5: Order the small
If you're ordering what amounts to a sundae in a cup, ask for the smallest size.

Tip
Small coffees are 10 to 12 ounces, medium are 14 to 16, and the largest sizes range from 20 to 28.

Step 6: Don't abandon your grande caramel frappe
Don't abandon your grande caramel frappe for life; just think of it as a dessert and treat it accordingly.

Did You Know?
Some coffee drinks have more than 600 calories.