Lighter lattes

Love your morning cuppa? Can’t get through the morning without a caffeine hit? Careful, those shop-bought coffees could be piling on the pounds! Keep your energy boost lean and mean with our top tips for lighter lattes.

Skimmed milk or soya
Don’t just accept the milk you’re given! If you want to lighten the load opt for a semi-skimmed milk. And if you struggle with dairy, opt for soya milk instead. Some coffee shops will even offer a wider range of milk from almond milk to oat milk. It’s always worth asking. Starbucks use semi-skimmed milk as standard in its drinks, but many coffee shops will automatically plump for full fat.

Hold the whip
Ok, we love a frothy coffee as much as the next girl – and big dollop of whipped cream certainly makes us a feel a little bit special, but it’s definitely a no-no for your daily caffeine hit. Asking for less or no whipped cream can cut up to 110 calories from your drink!

Go light
If you must have a sweeter treat like a flavoured iced coffee or chocolate mocha at least ask if there’s a lighter version. Lots of coffee shops can offer just one shot of syrup, semi-skimmed milk and less cream. Choosing a light option for your Starbucks Frappuccino, cuts calories by at least a third.

Be size wise
Do you really need a grande, large or venti? Nah, we thought not. In most cases, the bigger the drink, the bigger the calorie hit. So forget super-sizing and go for aregular or small coffee to kick-start your day.

Go left field
Coffee’s not the only drink that will pick you up on a Monday morning. Plenty of coffee shops offer a range of herbal teas, and a good green tea (which also contains caffeine) will certainly give you the buzz you need to power through the day.