A Healthier Alternative to that Mocha Latte

On a budget?.. Watching calories?.. and missing that Mocha Latte? :flowerforyou: Yeah me too. Starbucks misses my money I'm sure, but here is my homemade alternative that has actually met the craving urge, costs WAY less, has WAY less calories, and even throws in a vitamin/mineral boost.

For the comparison, I'm using the Starbucks website stats for a Tall 12oz Mocha Latte, with 2% milk, no whip BECAUSE.. That is the FLAVOR I am tryping to replicate. The change up of ingredients are of course what is going to bring that cost and calories down, WITHOUT compromising that FLAVOR you are going for.

Statistically.. that lucious Starbucks Tall Mocha Latte with 2% milk and no whip, torques your calorie consumption up by 200 notches, 60 of those calories are fat (6g fat), 20mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 32g carbs, 1g fiber, 26g sugars, 10g protein, 10% Vitamin A, 30% Calcium, 15% Iron, 95mg caffeine (their disclaimer that percentages are estimates due to customization)

NOW - let us customize ourselves!!

My coffee mug vs theirs... Mine is a 10oz mug, vs their 12oz cup.. but I do like to go back for 2nds and even 3rds..:blushing: So for this example I'm just showing it as one serving size. Coffee in itself, is allegedly no calories. Woo-hoo!

I love to grind my own coffee beans, and have experimented with both "regular" beans and decaf. Both are good, so if you need to nix the caffeine because of blood pressure issues or drinking after 5pm - go decaf. The "regular" beans I lean toward are either Espresso or Sumatra.. but again, customize to your flavor preference. Yer werkin' with no calories here.

For the milk issue... what do you do to match that FLAVOR? Of the various milk liquids I've tried (2% milk, Coffee-mate liquid and powder, dairy and non dairy products, regular, reduced fat, no fat, etc etc..) The winner for the FLAVOR and calorie considerations is: Nestle Coffee-mate powder (the original). This little baby boasts 10 calories per tsp.. so how many does it take to replicate the 2% milk in a latte? My personal FLAVOR vote is one Tbsp - so 30 calories as opposed to 150 (ish) calories in 10oz of 2% milk. (For my blood pressure buddies.. there is also no sodium in Coffee-mate like there is with milk)

NOW for the mocha flavor... and omg this does make a HUGE amount of difference what you use. I have mixed combinations of real Hershey's powderd cocoa and sugar (which btw is yummy).. I've tried numerous hot chocolate/cocoa powdered drinks, both regular and reduced sugar.. numerous syrups (and any fake sugar substitues are NASTY NASTY NASTY :noway: per my own preference and how it makes my body feel)... and the WINNER IS... for Taste, Calories, Sodium and Nutrition = OVALTINE!! Yeah, who knew.

Perks for Ovaltine are that you can use it hot or cold, so just in case you want that iced coffee thing going. Just TWO Tbsp of Ovaltine boast 40 calories, no fat, and 70mg of sodium.. but do you need all two Tbsp? No. If your Mocha latte preference is 1 pump of Mocha.. you can go as low as 1 tsp of Ovaltine - which is like zippo on the calories and sodium! So start out with a low amount, and work your way up to where your sweet tooth tells you "Ahhhh". Ovaltine boasts no artifical flavors, 12 Vitamins and Minerals, and is 99.9% caffeine free.. so definitely helpful for those needing a low blood pressure alternative.

The Bottom Line... :drinker:

Starbucks 12oz Tall Mocha Latte - 200 calories, 115mg sodium

Homemade 10oz Mocha Alternative - 37 calories, 11mg sodium (to more based on your craving preference)
made with 10oz Coffee
1 Tbsp Coffee-mate powdered creamer (30 calories)
1 tsp Ovaltine (7 calories, 11mg sodium)

*my own disclaimer* I am a nerd, not a math wiz, so if you find my calculations off from your opinion... I have slept in a Holiday Inn Express before, so I could potentially be a brain surgeon, but in actuality I'm not. I just love food. :flowerforyou: