This afternoon’s treat is short and sweet! 
From Starbucks, I ordered a “Short Skinny Vanilla Steamer.” Translation: small non-fat steamed milk with sugar-free vanilla syrup. A skinny steamer is the perfect treat to satisfy my sweet tooth, but doesn’t have a ton of extra calories and sugar. Unfortunately, Starbucks doesn’t give nutritional information for their Short size, but I estimate that it is 100 calories or less.
Side note: Did you know that Starbucks has an 8 oz. cup that is smaller than the Tall? I was a Starbucks Barista back in the late 90′s, and I remember the day that the Venti was introduced. The Short was phased out soon after that. But, prior to the Venti, the Short was small, Tall was medium, and Grande was large.
Lunch
Today’s lunch was a big ol’ homemade salad topped with Kashi Pilaf and black beans. In the salad was romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and bean sprouts. No dressing today; the Kashi Pilaf and black beans provided enough flavor for me.
Other lunch components: fresh strawberries, dark chocolate Adora disk, and a GNU banana walnut bar.
Together with keyboard…
Me and Goji Review
Custom cereals and granola are becoming quite the hot item now-a-days! Of course, they’re fun to create, but I also love the variety of nutritious ingredients from which to chose.
The Me and Goji brand, in particular, has so many unique options to add to your cereal mix. In fact, when you start to create your mix on their website, a message pops up on the screen to tell you to click on the little green leaves above the ingredient for more information, including its health benefits. This small thing made me feel well-informed about what I was putting into my mix. I also learned a few interesting tidbits from the descriptions!
Me and Goji is the first company offering organic custom cereal and granola online. Create and make your own mix choosing from 50+ organic ingredients.
Ingredients in my Carrots ‘N’ Cake Cereal:
- Flaxed and flaked: Cereal flakes and seeds, gluten-free, delicious
- Choco granola: Organic granola with chocolate covered mulberries and gojis
- Goldenberries: Aka gooseberries, superfood with a tarty, zesty, sweet and sour kick
- Pecans: #1 antioxidant nut, rich in protein and unsaturated fats
- Goji: Packed with nutrients and phytochemicals, tangy taste that is slightly sweet and sour
- Choco cranberry: Tangy cranberries wrapped in chocolate
- Amaranth: Energizing health benefits, nutty, subtly spicy flavor.
Me and Goji makes reordering mixes easy, too. Just enter the Recipe ID and go! My Carrots ‘N’ Cake Cereal Recipe ID is 109173, in case you want to try it!
Inside my cereal was a little prize of sorts: dried cranberries with a message about their health benefits, signed by the owners. I liked this personal touch. Very cute.
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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I knew Starbucks has a “short” but I have yet to order it, I always forget! Yummy cereal
I am loving the make your own mix stuff.
Hi Tina,
First of all, I want to tell you that I love your blog! Second (and to those who live in the Boston area as well) I was wondering if you had any ideas of places to go. My boyfriend and I are going from June 24-28 (so excited- I’ve always wanted to visit) and we are both 25 and love to enjoy good food and drinks and outdoor exercize. I think we are pretty similar in our daily lives, so any suggestions would be great! Also, if anyone is looking for something to do June 20th, I see Brett Dennen is playing at the “Life is Good” festival- wish I was going to be there a few days earlier- HE IS AMAZING!!
Thanks again!
Your lunch looks delicious. I wish there were a better adjective for me to describe it – maybe wholesome? Like something I would most definitely eat
I used to work at Starbucks too! I think the short size nutritional info is on their website, but if not it’s easy to do the math! A tall is 12 oz and a short is 8 oz, so you just figure the number of kcals, etc per ounce and then multiply by 8!!! I also do that if I’m changing the number of pumps of syrup — since the pumps are 3/4/5 I just figure out the number of calories per pump (i do this by comparing the vanilla latte info on their site to the plain latte) and then multiply by the number of pumps I want. Yes, I realize this is tedious and I’m probably crazy. But still good to know, right?
love the little note they included. small tokens like that really make companies great.
In high school I went through a phase where I LIVED off sugar free vanilla steamers
@Karen: Check out my restaurant reviews for some ideas: http://carrotsncake.com/reviews/restaurant-reviews Personally, I love Back Bay, the South End, and Cambridge (Harvard Square). If you have any questions about specific restaurants, please let me know. As for fitness, running along the Charles or near Boston Common is always nice.
I always get the short – it’s the perfect amount for me
Really interesting about the size of the Starbucks cups. I was watching Super Size Me yesterday (an oldie but goodie) & remembered the woman from France talking about the size of the American McDonald’s cups. In France, their large is our small. All fascinating in terms of what we eat drink & how American food really is somewhat gluttonous if you think about it. I’m rambling…lol
i LOVE steamers
they’re the perfect thing when I don’t want caffeine.
We were baristas at the same time!! I started in 1996 and worked there on and off until 2001!
I ALWAYS order a short latte. Perfect size!!
Hey Tina! I hope your day is going well
I just wanted to thank you… I tried Larabars for the first time a few weeks ago (cashew cookie, pecan pie) and I was totally like “hmmmm not as good as I thought they would be”.
But then I checked out your review page and bought the coconut cream pie, lemon, and gingersnap, and I loved them! OMG coconut cream pie is sooooo good.
I’m curious what your thoughts are about the whole “saturated fats from coconut oil aren’t bad for you” claim.
Thanks a bunch!
@Katy: I think in moderation they’re probably fine. In general, coconut is a healthy option, but I wouldn’t over-do-it. Hope this helps!
everything looks great…i love pilaf!
Katy—I’ve been hearing that about coconut oil more and more lately. There are different types of saturated fats, just as there are different types of trans fats, mono’s, and poly’s too. I would still take it easy on the coconut oils and eat in moderation, since saturated fats are still frowned upon in the nutrition world. I’m excited to see what more research will eventually tell us about it though…
Tina—The cereal looks sooo good. I’m going to have to try that eventually.
I LOVE Skinny SF Vanilla Steamers!! That’s my drink (I don’t care for coffee!) haha awesome!!
I love the steamers so good!
Awesome looking cereal….. and I love the little treat bag of cranberries!! How cute!
-A
I love your little cereal prize! How cool!! I’ve never heard of steamers before, good to know
I read about Me & Goji a few months ago and thought the site was so cool – great mix!
So, that salad looks incredibly tasty.
Whenever I go to starbucks, I always get a double espresso and seem to disappoint the baristas because they don’t get to do their thang with syrups and whipped cream. It’s so funny!
That cereal sounds great! Thanks for the product review!
How would you compare Me & Goji to MixMyGranola?
Do you have any suggestions of places to eat in Boston? I’m heading up there tomorrow =]
@Jordan @ Salt Sweat Sugar: Check out my restaurant reviews: http://carrotsncake.com/reviews/restaurant-reviews What part of Boston are you visiting?
Do they sell “short” at all starbucks locations? lol. I asked them for a short and they were like “we don’t HAVE THAT anymore” with a really bad attitude… ummmm…
thanks for the awesome review Tina! I’m a big fan of the gooseberries myself, they add that extra sweet and sour kick.
should anyone have any questions about [me] & goji or designing a mix that suits your taste or nutritional needs don’t hesitate to contact me directly at carl@meandgoji.com
sin-cereal-y,
carl
founder [me] & goji