Starbucks Introduces a New Line of 'Healthier' Breakfast Foods
Earlier this year, Starbucks pitched a new game plan: Focus more on coffee, less on noncoffee things. Get back in touch with their roots. But the breakfast sandwiches are still available (now in less-fragrant form), bottled juices still get stocked in the fridge, and yesterday, a "healthier" breakfast line-up with fewer calories and more protein settled in behind the glass counter. Here's our take on the new noncoffee products.
Power Protein Plate, $4.95
330 calories with peanut butter, 260 without (about one-third of your daily protein intake)
The plastic tray includes a hard-boiled egg, some apple slices, a tiny sprig of grapes, two squares of white cheddar, a mini wheat bagel, and a squeezable ketchuplike packet of peanut butter. If you fetish over mini things that get stuffed into a hot-dog-size home, this is all you. While the hard-boiled egg was bland—and served cold, instead of the warm, like Mama fed you—it's not green! So that's always good.
Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal, $2.45
140 calories for just oatmeal; 100 calories for nut medley; 100 calories for dried fruit; 50 calories for brown sugar
"Perfect" is a strong word. As a religious oatmeal eater, I rarely come across an imperfect bowl, but for perfect, the Quaker man himself would have to serve it to me. The small cup comes with two options of 100-calorie packets: mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, and pecans) or dried fruit, and a 50-calorie pack of brown sugar. I appreciate the purist approach to oatmeal and hands-on toppings. (No weird caramel syrups or Dinosaur eggs inside.) But north of $2 seems like too much.
Chewy Fruit & Nut Bar, $1.75
250 calories; 4 grams of fiber; 5 grams of protein
Pretty chewy, and it has both fruit and nuts. Mission accomplished. It's kind of beautiful too with those big seeds that birds eat and the chewy, bright orange gems found in fruit cakes. Not bad taste-wise, but basically just a fancy granola bar.
Apple Bran Muffin, $1.75
330 calories; 7 grams of fiber, 7 grams of protein
Muffins are very hard to criticize. They are happy creatures, even if just a euphemism for greasy, carby pockets of cake. Like most muffins, only the top hump here is worth your time. It contains all the moisture, some apple flecks, and oats. Even if they're just for decoration, oats are just so lovable. The bottom stump is dried blah.
Berry Stella, $1.75
280 calories
A star-shaped muffin-like base with a top layer of berries and dried oats. Who cares what it tastes like; it's star-shaped! And gets the fancy Italian word for star in the title. Stella actually isn't new; she's been around the Starbucks block before. This was my favorite of the "sweet things" category. Okay, I am just a sucker for twinkly star-shaped pastries.
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20 Comments:
But is the oatmeal instant?
lemons at 4:22PM on 09/04/08
The only thing more disgusting to me than a hardboiled egg, is a hardboiled egg that has been prepackaged and left in a cooler all day.
You got applaud Starbucks for trying... but that stinks.
jonny509 at 4:32PM on 09/04/08
I like the first one's apparent bento-kinship.
feistyfoodie at 4:42PM on 09/04/08
Ah! Star shaped so cute!
How big is it? I have a feeling it is over-priced, the Starbucks way.
Laurel E at 4:49PM on 09/04/08
I'm also a religious oatmeal eater, also had the "Perfect Oatmeal" for breakfast, and was severely underwhelmed. The oatmeal was instant, and they just added hot water instead of microwaving the whole thing, which, in my experience, never gets the oats hot enough to actually cook. Mine ended up being half-cooked oats floating in lukewarm water. Never again.
My favorite fast food oatmeal is at Au Bon Pain, where they pre-cook the oats and dish it out hot. Oatmeal, in my opinion, is better when NOT made to order.
Carey Jones at 4:57PM on 09/04/08
i can understand that some folks need to grab breakfast on occasion, but i find it's best to just eat at home if at all possible. i'm not likely to get breakfast at starbucks, in a pinch i end up at my local deli for an egg sandwich. probably not the healthiest, but it's a rare occasion.
j at 5:21PM on 09/04/08
I actually had the oatmeal this morning and it was very good. I went for the dried fruit option. I thought it was better that most instant oatmeals I have tried. I'll probably order it again.
I've also tried the berry strata (the star shaped tart) it was ok I wish there were more berries on it and it wasn't so dry. It made me order a venti instead of a grande latte.
senorita mandita at 5:29PM on 09/04/08
the protein plate looks like airplane food
z911empire at 5:51PM on 09/04/08
Way to go Starbucks - Great idea kill 2 birds with one stone in the am - coffee and food all in the same place.
Wheresmydamnanswer at 6:15PM on 09/04/08
Wow, how original. That food looks like it stinks (not literally of course, since they de-smell all their food, ha!)
Maybe it is a good idea though. I'm still surprised by how much guidance people need to eat. If you buy your own fruit and granola bars you save a ton of money, and you get to pick exactly what you want.
Sakura at 6:53PM on 09/04/08
$ 1.75 granola bar - Ha! Can't you get a whole box of Kashi bars (similar nutr profile) for 2 - 3 bucks...?
Love the airplane, plastic, takes a millennia to rot in a landfill, plate!
GingerSnap at 7:24PM on 09/04/08
That Power Protein Plate features the same "cheese cube plus sad grapes" combo Starbucks has been shifting from item to item in black plastic trays for years. I feel like coughing thinking about how dry that bagel probably is...and is the egg unwrapped?
All that said, the next time I'm a starving vegetarian at the airport, I will undoubtedly thank my lucky star(-shaped muffin cookie)s if the Sbux has that protein platter.
producestories at 7:45PM on 09/04/08
You know, I tried the berry Stella a few weeks ago and thought it was a pretty tasty accompaniment to my latte. A bit dry, but they were real berries, and it was comparable in price to what I'd pay for an individual muffin anywhere. Not perfect, but I'd pick it again next time I need breakfast on the go - too bad I can't say that for most of the Starbucks menu.
jessie at 8:09PM on 09/04/08
Oh that berry stella...so very delicious.
Smoosh at 9:52AM on 09/05/08
I'd rather blow my calories for the day on a grande Pumpkin Spice latte!!
suthungirl at 12:33PM on 09/05/08
I agree with the airplane food comment. My airplane breakfast looked similar to that, but without the egg. It's a better deal to keep the grapes, apples and cheese stashed in your fridge! I agree with the pumpkin spice latte too (except, make that a mocha!).
misseditor at 7:55PM on 09/05/08
I can't understand why it's taken so long for Starbucks to follow a trend which has long existed on the West coast. Peet's Coffee (now that's real coffee) and Tully's, have always used artisan bakeries for super delicious and healthy low fat and vegan alternatives. Starbucks' offerings are mass produced and taste artificial. It's all about quality, not quantity, especially with regards to coffee cup sizes.
Since I've moved to the East coast, from the Bay Area, I've searched high and low for a Peet's alternative, to no avail. That is, a coffee place that serves a potent dark roast, with tasty low fat muffins. I'm getting close..
Pintchow at 9:26AM on 09/06/08
I tried the Perfect Oatmeal and I give it a 3 out of 5 stars. The taste wasn't special. I have had better instant oatmeal from prepackaged at the local grocery store. However, it needs a different container since you can't use it to reheat. In cold weather one block and it will be cold. It was lukewarm by the time I had walked 2 blocks in 70 degree weather.
Snackwells90 at 10:08AM on 09/06/08
My local coffee shop has *the* Perfect Oatmeal, and I wish I could replicate it at home. It's a hot brick of Irish (whole) oats, inside of which are concealed piping hot fresh berries and nuts. You get it to go with a little container of cold milk to pour on top, and it stays warm for at least 20 minutes due to it's contained nature. Starbucks should replicate that... heck, I wish I could replicate it at home!
sofeasible at 1:33PM on 09/10/08
I order the perfect oatmeal with no water. When I am ready to eat it, I add the water and pop it into the microwave - that way it isn't cold and disgusting by the time I get to work.
patsy at 9:12AM on 01/24/09