What's in the Popular Pumpkin Spice Latte?

What’s in your coffee drink? Maybe you like it black. Maybe you’re a cream-and-sugar kind of coffee drinker. Or maybe you’re one of those coffee aficionados who can’t resist the seasonal pumpkin spice latte.

If you’re a member of the pumpkin spice fan-club, or you’ve been thinking about giving the popular drink a try, there’s a few things you should know.

First, the bad news. If you’re going to load your pumpkin spice latte with sugar, cream, and whole milk, it isn’t all that healthy. Depending on how it’s made, the typical pumpkin spice latte contains about 300 to 400 calories. That’s a lot of extra calories, fat, and sugar, that can tip the scale in the wrong direction. To put this in perspective, a 20-ounce bottle of soda contains about 250 calories. Gulp!

Now, the good news. Fortunately, if you’re going to drink a pumpkin spice latte, it’s not all bad. In fact, this popular drink is made with spices that are good for your health. Pumpkin spice is typically made with a combination of spices such as: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, all spice, and cloves.

Research shows these spices can help reduce inflammation, improve digestion, protect against certain types of cancer, reduce hunger, and provide other health benefits. However, if you’re drinking a pumpkin spice latte with 300 to 400 calories a day, you might not tap into these health benefits.

Bottom line. The pumpkin spice latte probably shouldn’t be a daily indulgence. But if you’re serious about eating better to improve your health, eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds. These are nutrient-dense foods that are lower in calories than the pumpkin spice latte.

Need a little help planning healthy meals? Our team of professional chefs have created hundreds of easy-to-make meals from fresh ingredients that only take minutes to prepare in the microwave. Check out the complete menu and pick your favorites to spice up your diet.