Get the Dairyspot eNewsletter   
Dairy Spot: The Mid-Atlantic Spot for Dairy

Ask the Dietitian Archives:

  • December 2009:
    Should I eliminate saturated fats from my diet?
  • November 2009:
    What's a good way to gain weight if you're underweight? Should I switch from lowfat dairy to whole milk products?
  • October 2009:
    Recently the American Heart Association stated that Americans are eating too much sugar and recommended that people cut down. Does that include dairy products, too?
  • September 2009:
    How can I, as a parent, be involved in this movement to help kids in her school eat better?
  • August 2009:
    Is frozen yogurt healthier than ice cream?
  • July 2009:
    What are sterols and what do they do?
  • June 2009:
    Is it safe to feed your family raw milk?
  • May 2009:
    What is the dairy industry doing to help support Mrs. Obama’s agenda for a more nutritious and sustainable food supply?
  • April 2009:
    Can eating at home also contribute to weight gain?
  • March 2009:
    Are natural trans-fats as unhealthy as man-made trans-fats?
  • Febraury 2009:
    Contaminated milk and milk formulas
  • January 2009:
    Is Greek yogurt nutritionally different from regular yogurt?
  • December 2008:
    Kids and vitamin D
  • November 2008:
    Where can I find kid-friendly, healthy snacks in my rush between work and sports practice?
  • October 2008:
    What does the Daily Value represent on my yogurt’s nutrition label?
  • September 2008:
    Isn’t diet and exercise the best way to promote heart health?
  • August 2008:
    Healthy choices from fast-food menus?
  • July 2008:
    Body detoxification
  • June 2008:
    Is it possible to eat well without breaking the bank?
  • May 2008:
    "Downed" cows
  • April 2008:
    Are there healthier espresso options?
  • March 2008:
    “Deceptively Delicious”
  • February 2008:
    What does "nutrient-rich" mean?
  • January 2008:
    Raw milk vs. pasteurized milk
  • December 2007:
    The dairy industry’s involvement in eating “local”
  • November 2007:
    E. coli and dairy foods
  • October 2007:
    School lunches vs. packed lunches
  • September 2007:
    Fat-free half-and-half
  • August 2007:
    Milk’s impact on teeth
  • July 2007:
    Dealing with lactose intolerance
  • June 2007:
    The relationship between calcium and heart disease
  • May 2007:
    Mothers’ influences on daughter’s eating habits
  • April 2007:
    “Extreme eating” at restaurants
  • March 2007:
    The validity of industry-sponsored dairy studies
  • February 2007:
    What is cloned milk and is it safe?
  • January 2007:
    Cholesterol guidelines for children



  • Do you have a dairy-related question for “Ask the Dietitian?”

  • If so, please submit your question to dairyspot.com. We will try our best to answer your question in an upcoming “Ask the Dietitian” column. We cannot guarantee that all questions will be answered.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    By Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN
    Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association





    April 2008


    Q: Fancy coffee shop offerings like lattes and mochas can be high in fat and calories.  Are there healthier espresso options?

    A: There’s good news for coffee shop devotees! Following the restaurant trend of meeting customers’ desires for healthier grab-and-go options, Starbucks recently introduced new “Skinny” versions of favorite items.  Made with fat-free milk and sugar-free syrup, a “Skinny” Starbucks Caffè Latte or Caffè Mocha will help coffee lovers satisfy their sweet cravings while reducing calories and fat.

    Made with espresso coffee, a 12-ounce (tall) Caffè Latte or Caffè Mocha ordered with sugar-free syrup, steamed fat-free milk, and signature foam contains just 90 calories. Replacing a daily tall Starbucks Vanilla Latte with Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Latte saves 700 calories and 35 grams of fat per week. Swapping a daily tall Caffè Mocha (made with reduced-fat milk and no whip) for a Skinny Mocha saves 550 calories and 30 grams of fat each week.

    Lattes and Mochas — skinny and regular — provide a delicious, sweet coffee taste while supplying the natural goodness of milk.  All 12-ounce espresso drinks naturally contain 9 grams of protein and 30 percent of recommended daily calcium. With two out of three Americans failing to meet their daily calcium intake as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, ordering a “Skinny” Caffè Latte or Caffè Mocha helps save about 100 calories while getting one of the recommended three servings of dairy daily.

    Here are some other ways to make your milk-based espresso drinks healthier:

    • Skip the whip. If you typically ask for whipped cream on your beverage, request extra foam instead. It tastes just as good and saves anywhere from 60 to 110 calories and 6 to 11 grams of fat. 
    • Satisfy a sweet tooth. Feel free to ask your barista to add a sugar substitute like Splenda or Equal® to your favorite beverage.
    • Lighten up. Make your next Frappuccino blended beverage a Frappuccino Light blended coffee or crème and save up to 250 calories and 4 grams of fat.

    More coffee nutrition information: