The most iconic symbol of fall is officially here. No, not sweater weather or Halloween decor\u2014we’re talking about pumpkin spice lattes.\n<\/p>\n
Coffee chains across the country\u2014namely Starbucks and Dunkin’\u2014have reintroduced fall-inspired drinks on their menus. But while PSLs and other seasonal favorites are a defining part of autumn for many people, they’re not exactly the most nutritious choices (they’re often high in added sugar, saturated fat, and calories).\n<\/p>\n
But that doesn’t mean you have to swear off your favorite seasonal beverage. Here, seven registered dietitians (including myself) share our favorite fall coffee shop orders, which include some better-for-you alternatives to your classic pumpkin spice latte.\n<\/p>\n
This is my go-to autumnal drink oder, though it’s not necessarily overtly fall-inspired. The nutty flavor of matcha offers the same warm, fuzzy feelings that a pumpkin spice latte would.\n<\/p>\n
Plus, oat milk helps me avoid any stomach discomfort from dairy, and matcha green tea<\/a> is packed with antioxidants that can help reduce bodily inflammation while providing a boost of energy.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not a fan of highly sweetened coffee drinks like pumpkin spice lattes or mochas, but prefer a basic latte,\u201d Roxana Ehsani, RD, LDN<\/a>, a sports dietetics specialist based in Miami, Florida, told Health. \u201cIn the fall it\u2019s nice to add a sprinkle of fall flavors, so I opt for a dash of cinnamon if it\u2019s available.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Ehsani chooses dairy milk since it\u2019s a source of complete protein<\/a>, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids.\n<\/p>\n \u201cMany non-dairy milks alternatives provide little protein and fall short on the essential nutrients dairy milk provides, like vitamin B12<\/a>, iodine, and choline<\/a>,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n When it comes to fall drinks, Kristen Carli, RD<\/a>, registered dietitian and owner of Camelback Nutrition and Wellness in Arizona, is a fan of a hot chai latte with soy milk.\n<\/p>\n \u201cChai lattes are fairly high in sugar, but I love them so much that I don\u2019t sweat it,\u201d she told Health.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Carli said she embraces this beverage in moderation, but she does opt for soy milk in her chai lattes since it’s a better source of protein as compared to other plant-based milks.<\/p>\n For Brianna Wieser, RDN, LD<\/a>, a senior program specialist at health company MOBE in Minnesota, a double espresso with steamed oat milk and a little cinnamon is her favorite fall pick-me-up.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of sweetness from the oat milk and it\u2019s a comforting treat as the weather begins to cool,\u201d she told Health.<\/p>\n Wieser opts for oat milk to avoid the bloating<\/a> she sometimes experiences from cow\u2019s milk, as well as to lower her intake of saturated fats. Plus, she loves the taste, and it pairs nicely with a sprinkle of cinnamon to embrace the season.<\/p>\n As a lover of warm fall spices, Meggie Connelly, RDN, LDN<\/a>, a polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) dietitian and owner of Be Balanced Nutrition Services in Florida, usually orders a Starbucks iced coffee with two pumps of Cinnamon Dolce syrup, a splash of cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.\n<\/p>\n \u201cUsually a grande iced coffee is sweetened with four pumps of syrup, but I find that reducing the pumps of syrup by half stills provides the perfect amount of sweetness,\u201d Connelly told Health.\n<\/p>\n