Break the Fast at the Bucks with Christine Avanti

Oh sweet nectar of the gods.

Waking up in the morning is hard.

Throw in thoughts about another monotonous day at the office, and I don't know about you, but I'd rather hit the snooze button a couple (hundred) more times. But never fear, that's why there's Starbucks. Yes, caffeine is just what the doctor ordered for times precisely like these. 

But, as you probably already know, these coffee calories can really add up. And after a week of gulping hot, whipped beverages left and right like it's your job, you might feel like your jeans are a little (or a lot) snugger and all those muffins that went in your mouth are now conveniently (or not) hanging around your midsection.

Good news - this doesn’t have to happen. There are plenty of weight-friendly options at the ol' S. Bucks and they're just waiting for you to scoop up and be on your merry way.

Good thing we have Celeb nutritionist Christine Avanti to guide us through the pastry case and long list of frapped, whipped, and caffeinated beverages.

Read on to get Christine's low-cal low-down on all the items just waiting to be munched at your local coffee house.

Superb Drink Options:
1. Tall Espresso Light Frappuccino (no whip, of course ) 80 calories, 4g protein, 10g sugar
2. Grande Nonfat Sugar Free Vanilla Hazelnut Latte (No whip. Don't pout about it, there's foam.) 90 calories, 11g protein, 12g sugar
3. Grande Nonfat Cappuccino 60 calories, 6g protein, 8g sugar

Hungry? Try these:
1. Black Forest Ham Egg & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich, 360 calories, 15g fat, 20 g protein.
2. Chicken Tarragon Sandwich, 440 Calories, 9g fat, 31g protein

What to avoid?

Starbucks' newest addition, Perfect Oatmeal. Although it sounds calorie friendly and deceptively healthy, this 140 calorie breakfast is a blood sugar spike just waiting to happen.

Instead, choose an option with more protein, like the Protein Plate (sans egg yolks), to give you the energy you need to power through your day, not the candy bowl at 4pm.

**Christine Avanti is a LA based nutritionist and author of Skinny Chicks Don't Eat Salads (Rodale 2009). She has worked with Samantha Harris, Guliana Rancic, Jemery Piven and Steven Seagal.

For more infomation, check out her website! christineavanti.com