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What is the healthiest thing you can get at Dunkin'?

4 min read

Over 9 million people visit Dunkin' daily, highlighting the need for smarter fast-food choices. This guide explores the menu to determine what is the healthiest thing you can get at Dunkin', focusing on customizable drinks and nutrient-rich food items that support a balanced diet.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines the best healthy food and drink options available at Dunkin'. It covers low-calorie coffee choices, protein-packed breakfast wraps, and smart customization tips to reduce sugar and fat, helping you make informed decisions while on the go.

Key Points

  • Black Coffee and Tea: Plain black coffee, cold brew, and unsweetened green tea are the most low-calorie and sugar-free beverage options.

  • Flavor Shots Over Swirls: Use unsweetened flavor 'shots' instead of sugary flavor 'swirls' to add flavor to your coffee without the extra calories and sugar.

  • Wake-Up Wraps are a Smart Choice: The Egg & Cheese and Veggie Egg White Wake-Up Wraps are portable, protein-rich, and relatively low-calorie meal options.

  • Avocado Toast Offers Healthy Fats: Dunkin's Avocado Toast provides healthy fats and fiber for a nutritious, lower-calorie food choice.

  • Customize Your Milk: Choosing skim milk, almond milk, or oat milk for your lattes and cappuccinos is a simple way to reduce fat and calories.

  • Avoid Sugary Add-Ins: Items like sweetened swirls and whipped cream significantly increase the calorie and sugar content of drinks and should be avoided for healthier options.

In This Article

Navigating the Dunkin' Menu for Health

While Dunkin' is famous for its classic donuts and sugary coffee concoctions, its menu also offers a variety of healthier alternatives for those conscious of their diet. Making the right choices can transform a typical fast-food run into a more balanced, guilt-free experience. The secret lies in focusing on customization and choosing menu items that are lower in calories, sugar, and saturated fat while providing essential nutrients like protein and fiber.

Healthier Drink Options

Most of the sugary calories at Dunkin' are found in the drinks. Fortunately, there are many ways to get your caffeine fix without the sugar overload. Black coffee and tea are your best bet, but even lattes can be made healthier with a few simple tweaks.

The Simplest and Healthiest Choices

  • Black Coffee and Cold Brew: A medium black coffee or cold brew contains just 5-15 calories and provides a pure, unadulterated caffeine boost.
  • Iced Green or Herbal Tea: Unsweetened iced green tea is virtually calorie-free and packed with antioxidants. Herbal teas also offer a calorie-free, hydrating option.

Customizing Your Coffee Order

To add flavor without adding sugar, remember the 'shot vs. swirl' rule. Flavor shots are sugar-free, while flavor swirls are sugary syrups.

Healthy Coffee Customization Options:

  • Start with a base of black coffee, cold brew, or espresso.
  • Add a sugar-free flavor shot like vanilla, hazelnut, or coconut for a calorie-free flavor boost.
  • Choose skim milk, almond milk, or oat milk instead of cream or whole milk to reduce calories and fat.
  • Opt for an Americano, which is just espresso and water, or a cappuccino or latte with skim milk and no added sugar or flavor swirls.

Nutritious Food Choices

When hunger strikes, Dunkin' offers several food items that provide a better nutritional profile than the typical doughnut or croissant sandwich.

Protein-Packed Breakfast

  • Egg & Cheese Wake-Up Wrap: A great option for a quick, protein-rich breakfast, this wrap offers around 180 calories and 7 grams of protein.
  • Veggie Egg White Wake-Up Wrap: For an even lighter version, the veggie option provides an excellent source of protein and is lower in saturated fat.
  • Egg White Omelet Bites: These offer a solid protein punch with 13 grams and only 180 calories, making them a great snack or mini-meal.

Other Smart Options

  • Avocado Toast: This menu item provides healthy fats, fiber, and some protein, coming in at about 240 calories.
  • Hash Browns: In moderation, hash browns are a decent snack. A serving of six pieces contains only 110 calories.
  • Multigrain Bagel: While still high in carbs, opting for the multigrain bagel over a white bagel provides a better source of fiber.

Healthy Choices Comparison Table

For a clear contrast, let's compare some common Dunkin' orders.

Item Calories Protein Sugar Fat Notes
Egg & Cheese Wake-Up Wrap ~180 7g 1g 10g A balanced, low-calorie choice.
Sausage, Egg & Cheese Croissant ~720 21g N/A 52g Significantly higher in calories and saturated fat.
Medium Black Coffee ~15 1g 0g 0g The absolute lowest calorie drink.
Medium Caramel Craze Latte ~410 11g 57g 14g High in sugar and calories due to swirls and milk.
Avocado Toast ~240 6g 1g 11g Good source of healthy fats and fiber.
Glazed Donut ~240 ~4g ~15g ~15g Higher in sugar and refined carbs.

Strategic Ordering for a Healthier Experience

To ensure your Dunkin' order aligns with your health goals, follow these strategic ordering tips:

  • Use the App: The Dunkin' app is an excellent tool for checking nutritional information before you order, allowing for informed decisions. You can access their official nutrition guide for details on every item.
  • Opt for Flavor Shots: To get a flavored coffee without the sugar, ask for flavor shots instead of the sweetened flavor swirls.
  • Substitute Your Milk: Request skim, almond, or oat milk in your lattes and cappuccinos instead of whole milk or cream.
  • Split the Swirl: If you really need a sweetened drink, ask for half the standard number of flavor swirls to cut the sugar in half.
  • Ask for 'Protein Style': While not officially on the menu, you can often order breakfast sandwiches without the bread to make them low-carb or keto-friendly.
  • Choose the Smallest Size: Opting for a small size, especially for higher-calorie items, is an easy way to practice moderation.

Conclusion

While a fast-food chain like Dunkin' isn't known for being a health food haven, it's possible to make smarter and more nutritious choices. The key is to be a savvy consumer by choosing beverages like black coffee or unsweetened green tea, and opting for protein-rich food items such as the Egg & Cheese Wake-Up Wrap or Avocado Toast. By understanding the difference between flavor shots and swirls and substituting higher-calorie ingredients, you can enjoy a quick and tasty meal that better fits your dietary goals. For an in-depth look at menu details, Dunkin' provides an official nutrition PDF on their website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flavor shots are the healthier option at Dunkin' as they are unsweetened and contain no calories. Flavor swirls, on the other hand, are sugary syrups that significantly increase the calorie and sugar content of a drink.

The Veggie Egg White Wake-Up Wrap is one of the lowest-calorie food items, offering around 150 calories. Another great low-calorie option is the Egg White Omelet Bites at 180 calories.

Yes, Dunkin's Avocado Toast is a relatively healthy option, providing healthy fats and fiber for about 240 calories per serving. It's a much better choice than sugary pastries.

For a healthier coffee, you should choose skim milk or plant-based alternatives like almond or oat milk instead of whole milk or cream, as they contain fewer calories and less fat.

Yes, you can order a sugar-free latte by asking for an espresso with skim, almond, or oat milk and adding a sugar-free flavor shot instead of a swirl. The matcha latte powder, however, already contains sugar.

To reduce sugar in a flavored drink, order a latte or macchiato with fewer pumps of a flavor swirl, or swap the swirl entirely for a sugar-free flavor shot.

Compared to most other menu items, donuts are high in sugar and refined carbs. While the French Cruller and Cinnamon Munchkin are lower in calories than other donuts, a better choice for a balanced meal is a protein-based breakfast item or a wrap.

References

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.