If you are a caffeine addict like me, I am sure at one point in your life you have ordered a drink from Dunkin Donuts. On my days off, I usually immediately get out of bed, throw on my shoes, and drive to the nearest drive-thru I can find to get myself an iced caramel latte. Dunkin Donuts is convenient, has a wide-variety within its menu, and can easily cater to anyone's tastes and preferences. Though, with keeping up with the ideals of the New Year, I have often wondered if my drink choices are healthy. With the additions of flavored syrups, sweeteners, and other extra throw-ins, it is hard to believe that anything on their menu could be healthy. However, after doing some research and going through their extremely long nutrition guide, I have found the answers. Here are the top healthiest drinks to get at Dunkin Donuts.
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #1: Hot Tea
This is probably a dead giveaway, but hot tea is the healthiest drink to get at Dunkin Donuts. Not only does tea offer you a ton of health benefits such as improved immune-support and cancer-fighting anti-oxidants, but hot tea is also an instant comfort that can help soothe stress and anxiety. Their teas are usually inexpensive and come in a variety of flavors such as black tea, chamomile, mint or hibiscus. You won't feel guilty when you are drinking this zero-calorie drink.
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #2: Iced Green Tea - Unsweetened
The keyword here is unsweetened. Dunkin Donut's Iced Unsweetened Green Tea provides a little step up from their normal hot tea, being a refreshing and soothing alternative to other iced drinks. When you opt out for sweeteners, this green tea can be rather healthy, being a powerful ally in helping alleviate the risk of heart disease. Green tea can also help aid in decreasing plaque build-up in the arteries, making it a truly powerful drink.
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Drink):
- Calories: 5
- Sodium: 10mg
- Protein: 1g
- Potassium: 31mg
- Calcium: 6mg
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #3: Espresso
If you can handle the taste, espresso may be the best choice in getting in your daily caffeine intake. When ordering it plain, you are getting a quick and satisfying indulgence, giving you the much-needed jolt for your day.
Nutrition Facts (For A Single Shot):
- Calories: 5
- Sodium: 5mg
- Carbs: 1g
- Potassium: 46mg
- Calcium: 1mg
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #4: Cold Brew Coffee
Black Cold Brew is a great alternative to iced coffee if you want a much larger caffeine boost with a much more concentrated coffee taste. Be cautious though, if you are sensitive to coffee, this might give you the jitters!
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Cold Brew):
- Calories: 5
- Sodium: 15mg
- Potassium: 206mg
- Calcium: 21mg
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #5: Hot Black Coffee
Probably another obvious choice, a black hot coffee is another healthy option to your Dunkin Donuts morning run. Their coffee is smooth and rich and comes with two flavored roasts - French Vanilla and Hazelnut. Be cautious of ordering these though as you do not want a flavor shot added! If you cannot stand the taste of black coffee, you can add skim milk or almond milk for just an extra fifteen calories - which honestly, isn't bad at all if it means getting to drink coffee! Cream and whole milk is okay too, but just don't go crazy with it okay?
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Hot Black Coffee):
- Calories: 5
- Sodium: 10mg
- Protein: 1g
- Potassium: 207mg
- Calcium: 8mg
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #6: Hot or Iced Americano
Americanos are rich and dark, perfect for those who love espresso but also want their drink to last longer than just a few sips. Americanos are made with espresso and hot water, which definitely is not low in caffeine. You'll still feel satisfied after having one of these!
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Hot Americano):
- Calories: 10
- Sodium: 25mg
- Carbs: 2g
- Potassium: 118mg
- Calcium: 12mg
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Iced Americano):
- Calories: 10
- Sodium: 30mg
- Carbs: 2g
- Potassium: 116mg
- Calcium: 18mg
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #7: Iced Macchiato with Skim Milk
Want a little step up from the boring black coffee game? Try ordering an Iced Macchiato the next time you are at Dunkin Donuts. The drink consists of two shots of espresso topped with milk. If you want to cut back on fat and calories, we suggest getting it with skim milk. The only added sugars and fats that come with the drink come from the lactose in the milk, not from any added sweeteners.
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Iced Macchiato with Skim Milk):
- Calories: 70
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 100mg
- Carbs: 11g
- Sugar: 9g
- Protein: 6g
- Vitamin D: 2mcg
- Potassium: 400mg
- Calcium: 237mg
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #8: Hot Latte With Skim Milk
Treating yourself to an amazing latte shouldn't make you feel guilty! In fact, order a latte with foamed milk and all! The foamed milk will actually provide a sweetness to your coffee usually not found in regular coffee drinks, and it adds a subtle comfort that is missing from other drinks. Without all the added flavors or drinks, you can indulge all you want!
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Hot Latte with Skim Milk):
- Calories: 100
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 125mg
- Carbs: 15g
- Sugar: 14g
- Protein: 9g
- Vitamin D: 3mcg
- Potassium: 494mg
- Calcium: 337mg
Healthy Drinks at Dunkin Donuts #9: Iced Coffee With Caramel Flavor Shot and Whole Milk
Want to be a little more decadent with your iced coffee drink? Well, good news - you can be! Getting a little flavor to your healthy iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts isn't going to hurt you, and there is no reason to feel guilty about it either! This healthy iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts still provides you with the creaminess you may crave with a little extra kick from the caramel flavoring.
Nutrition Facts (For A Medium Iced Coffee with Whole Milk and Caramel Flavor Shot):
- Calories: 50
- Fat: 1.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Carbs: 6g
- Sugar: 2g
At the end of the day, making healthy choices at Dunkin Donuts goes into what you add to the cup. By cutting out unhealthier options such as added sweeteners, flavor swirls, and loads of creams can drastically help in getting rid of any guilty feelings that come from your caffeine addiction.
Share with us how you make healthy drink choices at Dunkin Donuts by tagging us on Instagram @itouchwearables and Facebook @itouchwearables. Also, be sure to check out our new articles published daily!
-Patrick
