“I travel a lot for work, and Starbucks is the common meeting place to start the day,” says Lisa Botts, Paul Mitchell business development coordinator. “Four years ago, before choosing to eat plant-based foods for the health benefits, I would have walked in and ordered a spinach-and-cheese croissant. Now, it's different. It’s not hard, just different.”

 

As a hairdresser, Botts understands that traveling is not the only reason salon pros find themselves at Starbucks. It’s quick and convenient, the food is tasty and, most of all, there’s coffee—the perfect storm!

 

“Leading a life with many demands causes us to reach for quick pick-me-ups to get us through the next task or few hours,” observes Botts, who shares her tips for enjoying plant-based eating even at Starbucks:

  • Switch dairy milk to soy milk. (You can still have your Skinny Latte.) If you’re a Frappuccino fan, be sure to ask if the blend has dairy milk in the mix, since most of them do.
  • Breakfast? Get the oatmeal with all the fixings and a banana. Most Starbucks have single-serve packets of Justin’s peanut butter. Add this to your oatmeal for a punch of protein.
  • For lunch, try a cold-pressed juice and the new brown rice and veggie salad.
  • For snacking, the Squirrel brand nuts are, hands-down, the crunchiest almonds you will ever eat. 
  • If you have a sweet tooth, grab the Justin’s Dark Chocolate peanut butter cups or the 100% fruit bars.

“It’s easy once you know what to look for and how to ask for it,” Botts notes. “Enjoy your joe!”

 

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