Food Trends – FoodWatcher

Things To Expect If You Try A Vegan Diet

So curiosity has hit its peak, and maybe you’ve decided that you just might try that vegan diet, but…what should you expect when you do? With almost any adjustments to your diet (especially if it’s a drastic one) you will likely experience some crazy side effects, good and bad, amongst some other rather interesting surprises […]

The post Things To Expect If You Try A Vegan Diet appeared first on Forkly.

So curiosity has hit its peak, and maybe you’ve decided that you just might try that vegan diet, but…what should you expect when you do? With almost any adjustments to your diet (especially if it’s a drastic one) you will likely experience some crazy side effects, good and bad, amongst some other rather interesting surprises along the way.

I myself went through the transition – and LIVED TO TELL! Now, I’m sharing what exactly you should be expecting on a vegan diet.

Keep in mind that truly everyone is different and while I can speak from experience, each body is unique and may respond entirely differently.

Before we begin I would like to clarify what a vegan diet really is. I’m not talking about veganism as a whole (because truly it is a whole lifestyle) but rather just the diet itself. Over time (or right now) you may find the desire to go completely vegan in not only what you eat, but what you wear, and what products you use at home…but today the focus is on just the diet portion, just what you EAT.

A vegan diet consists of nourishing foods in which none come from animals or animal byproducts. There is no dairy, no eggs, no meats (and a few more that we will dive into as we go). The biggest key here is to not get overwhelmed or intimidated by the process. Learning is the key to success. New habits will form, new foods will arise. So let’s dive right in and discover exactly what to expect when going vegan. Trust me, it’s not all that scary.

1. Your Gut Bacteria Will Change

I’m starting off with this one because I just frankly want to get it out of the way so we can focus on other things. So listen, when you starting eating only vegan foods, your body will adjust by changing your gut bacteria (gut flora) and there may be some…side effects of that.

YES, you’re going to fart, and bloat…like, a lot. It’s gonna smell, your relationships are going to be tested. However, it’s all for good reason. It’s happening because the body is cleansing itself of dioxins, hormones, bacteria, antibiotics, and more all coming from your former animal-based diet. Here’s the good news – it goes away. Yes, you transition and studies have shown that those on a vegan diet have overall better gut bacteria than other diets. Okay. We talked about farts. We can move on now.

studioloco / Shutterstock

2. You’re Going To Read More Labels

Maybe a given, but worth talking about. When you switch to a vegan diet, labels are your best friend. Thankfully these days – most foods are labeled “vegan” which usually means they are processed in a facility that does not process any animal products whatsoever.

Now, that said…depending on your moral lines here, often if you read the label you’ll discover that a product is non-containing of any animal byproducts, it’s just not made in a facility cleared for that “vegan” stamp. Up to you if you make the call. Most times labels clearly define the use of dairy and eggs, and you’ll be surprised at how often they show up…like in many forms of potato chips.

Arthur Balitskii / Shutterstock

3. You’ll Learn The Difference Between Vegan & Plant-Based

Vegan diets, like we discussed, contains no animal meats or byproducts. That word “byproducts” though, you may be thinking just means eggs and dairy. Oh, gosh no. The list is LONG. Animal byproducts of the vegan diet include insects as well, and things like gelatin that you may not have know come from the skin and bones of animals. So, say goodbye to honey, and gummy bears, and a lot of types of sprinkles. Don’t fret because where there’s a will there’s a way and you’ll find vegan replacements in no time (almost all of these foods come in the vegan form as well).

A Plant-Based diet is a little different. While incredibly similar, plant-based dieting focuses more on a whole food diet. So, where a vegan can easily enjoy Oreos and french fries and sweets, that’s a no-go on a plant-based diet, but…honey is seemingly ok. Feel free to be your own compass on this one, and find out where you land.

zi3000 / Shutterstock

4. Your Skin May Clear Up

This was a surprise bonus of a lifetime, let me tell you. Suffering on average with 1-2 pimples at any given time, it wasn’t until several months into the vegan diet that I realized it and thought, “huh…where’d all the acne go?”.

Turns out, since your skin acts as a vehicle for eliminating toxins, that often means it’s trying to rid them of your body through things like acne. Since meat and dairy are also known for disrupting the body’s hormones, it’s no wonder you also have a hormonal reaction with some zits on your face. So, yeah. BONUS!

Africa Studio / Shutterstock

5. You’ll Probably Actually Save Money

This one is a bit of a shocker, for sure. Mostly because vegan foods (the pre-packaged kinds at least) are often found in specialty markets or sections at your grocer that tend to upsell on your dietary needs/choices.

However, meat and animal byproducts aren’t all that inexpensive…and eliminating meats especially can be helping you save some serious cash. By comparison, a protein source like a can of beans may be $1 while a chicken breast will run you $5 a piece. The only major price influx will often come in things like vegan yogurts, cheeses and the like.

NDAB Creativity / Shutterstock

6. You Can Still Fall Into Junk Food Pits

Since we equate those who eat a vegan diet immediately with a healthy lifestyle, we forget that the following foods are vegan: Sour Patch Kids, Oreos, French Fries, Potato Chips, Nutter Butters & more.

While everything can be enjoyed in moderation, try and focus on foods that aren’t so processed, fried and the like, because the positive results may be amazing.

successo images / Shutterstock

7. You May Just Lose That Extra Weight

Yeah, if you don’t eat all the vegan junk foods! All jokes aside, this is a real thing. You can absolutely eat fruits and veggies and carbs and LOSE WEIGHT. Remember that each body is unique and some may do well on a higher-carb diet, some on a low-carb diet.

There’s proof, too. Studies show that veganism ranked highest for weight loss. This is still greatly up to the dieter themselves with what they choose to eat and drink. Regardless, it’s certainly a bonus worth noting for those who are interested in shedding some pounds.

Stock-Asso / Shutterstock

8. You’ll Probably Smell Better

Thank you, vegetables. Soon after you’ve gone to a vegan diet, within a couple weeks actually, you might notice something missing…body odor.

While it won’t be totally gone, it’s likely to dissipate. Due to the fact that red meat causes toxins to be released into the bloodstream and intestines, which make their way through the pores of your skin. So, studies show that eliminating that and other meats should lead you to a more pleasant smell.

aslysun / Shutterstock

9. You’ll Need More Vitamins

When you cut out meats, dairy, and eggs from your diet, you’ll also be cutting out the vitamins that they formerly provided you. In most cases, you can find natural vegan food sources to replenish them. However, there’s a few you may want to pick up if you’re not sure you’re going to be taking them enough.

Thankfully, there are many multivitamins available exactly for this. Designed towards meeting the needs of those adhering to a vegan diet, it balances you out with b12, Vitamin D, Iron and so much more. Makes life so much easier!

mushegovdima / Shutterstock

10. Your Heart Health Will Probably Improve

Since you’re eating foods with way less saturated fat, your heart is going to be happy for it!

With every rule, there are always exceptions and for this one, it’s all about your food choices. Making good choices with your food options at each meal includes being mindful of saturated fats, which do still exist on a vegan diet. Just not as much so as one with meats, cheese, dairy and animal fats.

Jaxja / Shutterstock

11. You Won’t Need To Constantly Supplement Your Protein

There is so much protein in plant-based foods, that it’s truly incredible how locked into the notion that we need animals for protein we tend to be.

Early stages of my own vegan diet, I felt I had to constantly supplement proteins into it with shakes and vegan protein bars. That was until I discovered my meals were already FULL of protein, and I just didn’t even recognize it! Beans, legumes, tofu, nuts, quinoa, and vegetables amongst many others are some examples.

nadianb / Shutterstock

12. Baking Won’t Be Impossible

How can you bake without butter, milk, and eggs? Aren’t those kind-of KEY ingredients? Well, sure they are, but we’ve come a long way with substitutions. Thank you, food bloggers.

Beyond store-bought egg replacers, there are many ways to supplement the key binding ingredient in baking, and typically, that’s flaxseeds (I know, shocking right?). Additionally, there are several healthy dairy-free kinds of butter and milk that are perfect substitutes for the animal-derived sources for your baking.

Elisabeth Coelfen / Shutterstock

13. Dining Out Isn’t That Hard

This one may shock you because immediately after going on a vegan diet the first thing you’re likely doing is sourcing vegan restaurants to eat at. Turns out, you likely don’t have to.

While plant-based only restaurants are amazing, with the increased demand for vegan food in mainstream restaurants, it’s projected that dining out will include a 300% increase in vegan foods on the menu! Don’t expect half the menu to be vegan, but expect to see some new menu items like black bean burgers, cauliflower steaks and much more popping up on your favorite menus.

Nemanja Novakovic / Shutterstock

14. You’ll Want Community

It’s tough doing anything alone. Diet restrictions can often be embarrassing at restaurants when you have to ask about specific ingredients or allergens. Or maybe you’re filled with cringe-worthy moments when you pass on the meat and cheeses at your next family function and someone asks why. Saying “I’m vegan” might be opening a can of opinion worms.

So, find your community. There are a ton online and perhaps some locally in your area. Having someone to talk with, share with and maybe even meal plan alongside is often the point of success when making such a diet change. Having a steady flow of recipe ideas is also really helpful. You can find all ours on our VEGAN Pinterest board.

Sky Motion / Shutterstock

15. You May Get A Natural Glowing Tan

I remember when my daughter was about 8 months old and skin started to appear rather tanned. I freaked out, obviously concerned by what was happening. Well, as it turns out there was no reason for concern, she’d just been eating a lot of carrots that week.

Beta-carotene found in vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and cantaloupe can actually create a change in the skin’s pigmentation. Studies have proven it. So you can skip the spray tans and sun altogether and opt for more of these foods for that perfect glow. If you’re not a fan of the tan, just simply stop eating so much of those beta-carotene veggies.

Nadya Korobkova / Shutterstock

The post Things To Expect If You Try A Vegan Diet appeared first on Forkly.

Reasons Why You Should Be Eating Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional Yeast is this odd flake-like substance that you hear about and see in recipes a lot (especially dairy free & vegan ones) and sure, it definitely does the trick on making a meal have an amazing cheesy flavor and texture. It’s inexpensive, takes very little to use in a recipe effectively, but also has […]

The post Reasons Why You Should Be Eating Nutritional Yeast appeared first on Forkly.

What is nutritional yeast?? It’s actually a single-cell organism that is grown on molasses and harvested, washed, dried and heated up to “deactivate” it. It’s not like regular yeast which is active, meaning it has the ability to grow in baked goods, it’s what makes bread rise! Often nicknamed “nooch”, nutritional yeast is the answer to many problems in a vegan diet, such as a lack of b12, iron or perhaps even protein. In some countries, nutritional yeast is called “savory yeast flakes” but they are all the same, and you will definitely be wanting to add it to more meals after you read this list of benefits.

If you’re seeking ways to use nutritional yeast (or “nooch”) in your diet more, check out THIS article for recipes you can create with it!

1. It’s High In Protein

When you think of protein, you’d rarely imagine that you can get so much from so little, unless you’re having a concentrated amount of it, like with a protein powder. However, nutritional yeast has a shockingly large amount of protein in it, up to 8 grams of protein actually…in just 2 tablespoons. Not to mention, for only 60 calories.

Add this to your meals and you’ll be easily upping your daily protein intake! WebMD says adult men need about 56 grams per day and adult women need about 46 grams per day. Protein is an import to keep your muscles healthy and can help you feel full for longer periods of time.

Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock

2. It’s Rich In B12

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in keeping your nervous system healthy, energy metabolism, and other functions. This vitamin is especially key for those on a vegan diet, or someone deficient in B12. Healthline says that nutritional yeast contains 5 mcg of vitamin B12 per tablespoon.

If you are eating nutritional yeast regularly (adding to salads and pasta is especially amazing) you may not even need to supplement with B12 vitamins! Just make sure to check the label of the nutritional yeast to see if is fortified in order. That way, you can reap the benefits of B12 that come from it.

SUPERGAL / Shutterstock

3. It Contains Iron

Iron deficiency and anemia are incredibly common around the world, regardless of diet. However, for many their diet without meat can also mean a diet with less iron. In addition to the many plant-based foods that can assist with that, there’s also nutritional yeast.

In one serving of nutritional yeast, you can get about 5% of your daily intake of iron. While it’s not a ton, depending on your meal and how much nutritional yeast you’re using – this can easily help supplement your body’s need for iron! Simply add some nutritional yeast to your meals to help boost your daily intake.

Benjamin Scribe / Shutterstock

4. It’s High In Fiber

When you think of fiber you often think of fruits and vegetables, beans, flax, and bran. So it may come as a surprise that nutritional yeast is actually a great source of fiber, too. Considering it comes off as more of a seasoning, nutritional yeast in just 2 tablespoons packs about 5 grams of fiber! Healthline says that’s around 20% of your daily intake.

Getting enough fiber is essential for your digestive health because it helps keep bowel movements regular. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that healthy adults eat 25 to 38 grams of fiber per day.

marekuliasz / Shutterstock

5. It’s No Sugar, Low-Carb

One of the toughest parts of consuming a healthy diet is keeping your added sugar intake in check. The CDC says that added sugars should account to less than 10 percent of your daily calories. Luckily, nutritional yeast contains no added sugars so it won’t have any negative impact on your blood sugar levels!

Another concern people on diets tend to track is their carbohydrate intake. WebMD says that nutritional yeast has only 5 grams of carbs per serving. But with all that fiber, it ends up being only 1g net carbs! This is great for those following along with a low-carb or ketogenic diet.

Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock

6. It Contains Folic Acid

Folic acid is another important form of a B-vitamin that’s essential to your diet, especially if you’re a woman who may become pregnant. Folic acid can prevent unborn babies from some pretty serious birth defects such as spina bifida. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you get enough of it during your reproductive years.

The CDC says women should get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. With a tablespoon of nutritional yeast, you’l be getting 40 percent of your daily folic acid requirements! Just make sure your doctor knows that you’re using nutritional yeast as a way to get this supplement.

Mila Naumova / Shutterstock

7. It Can Improve Digestion

Enjoying nutritional yeast in your foods can actually aid your digestive system. Since there are probiotics in nutritional yeast, it can have some really positive effects on your gut, especially if you’re dealing with diarrhea. Since it’s easy to add to your meals with a shake or mix in of the nutritional yeast flakes, it’s perfect for blending in some probiotics to your daily diet!

Keep in mind that too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. Medicine Net says that too much nutritional yeast can potentially cause digestion problems. Start with smaller amounts of yeast and increase the amount slowly over time to avoid an upset stomach.

SUPERGAL / Shutterstock

8. It’s Anti-Viral

Nutritional yeast is one of the world’s best anti-viral foods. Many are using nutritional yeast in their daily diets just for its ability to help combat even yeast infections, ironically enough. It’s actually been shown to have profound effects on even e.coli, salmonella in studies performed on pigs.

Medical News Today says there is research showing how nutritional yeast supports the immune system and even reduces inflammation from bacterial infection. Further, it may also be helpful in treating diarrhea. While more research need to be done to better understand the effects in humans, this information we have is promising.

SUPERGAL / Shutterstock

9. It Promotes Healthy Hair, Skin, Nails

Since nutritional yeast has a healthy serving of B-vitamins, you may discover a surprise impact of including more nutritional yeast into your diet — healthier hair, skin, and nails! Something called niacin can be found in nutritional yeast, which has been shown to help battle chronic acne and other common skin problems.

If you’re dealing with stubborn skin issues, implementing some nutritional yeast into your diet could be worth a shot. People suffering from brittle nails and hair loss may also see positive changes thanks to nutritional yeast. Start adding some nutritional yeast into your daily meals and be on the lookout for improvements.

Mila Naumova / Shutterstock

10. It’s Gluten-Free

We often think of yeast and immediately think of loaves of bread and beers and things that use yeast to make them, however, the yeast itself is gluten-free! This is great news for people living with food allergies or sensitivities, such as the two million people in the United States with celiac disease.

Since nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast, you cannot make gluten-free bread with it like regular yeast which helps the bread to rise. However, you can add it to gluten-free bread recipes for that nutty, cheesy flavor, or perhaps mix it into your gluten-free breading next time you’re baking something coated.

Yushchuk Myroslava / Shutterstock

11. It Can Aid In Weight Loss

Many people struggle with weight loss for a variety of reasons, but a big one being that they aren’t providing their bodies with enough protein and vitamins to successfully achieve their goals. Since nutritional yeast is a complete protein, but low in calories, it’s a perfect addition to your diet when you’re trying to shed some excess weight.

Plus, nutritional yeast can also support your protein, iron and B12 needs! B12 can help your metabolism break down carbs and turn it into energy. Plus, the protein aspect can help you feel fuller for longer periods of time and prevent you from overeating.

SUPERGAL / Shutterstock

12. It’s Cheesy, Yet Dairy-Free

The biggest and best bonus of nutritional yeast is arguably the fact that it mimics the flavor of cheese so well, yet remains completely dairy-free and vegan. You can reap the tasty benefits cheese has to offer without the excess calories or fats. Some people also say it has a nutty taste, which is another bonus if it’s something you’re into.

Whether allergy or lifestyle choice, avoiding dairy is hard and cheese is proven to be one of the most addictive foods to give up. With nutritional yeast, you will be amazed at how you can replace that cheesy flavor in so many recipes while remaining dairy-free.

Yushchuk Myroslava / Shutterstock

The post Reasons Why You Should Be Eating Nutritional Yeast appeared first on Forkly.

Intermittent Fasting Diet: Tips For Success

Have you heard of the latest diet craze, the intermittent fasting diet? There is a reason why so many celebrities are doing it and why so many people have had success with it. This diet is actually not a diet at all, when implemented properly it should actually become a habit. Don’t be mistaken by […]

The post Intermittent Fasting Diet: Tips For Success appeared first on Forkly.

Have you heard of the latest diet craze, the intermittent fasting diet? There is a reason why so many celebrities are doing it and why so many people have had success with it. This diet is actually not a diet at all, when implemented properly it should actually become a habit. Don’t be mistaken by dated diets like skipping meals, we all know those diet taboo’s don’t work. Intermittent fasting doesn’t mean you are skipping meals, it doesn’t mean you are counting calories, it doesn’t mean you are tightly restricting what you eat (what a relief!) it simply means you are choosing to eat in a certain time frame while making sure you are fasting for the other periods of time. It’s crucial to understand it is not about deprivation but more about divvying up your calories in a different way.

By following intermittent fasting, it can help lower your blood pressure, improve glucose levels, or even slow down the aging process (yes, this is a thing) as well as help you eat fewer calories. When we eat food our insulin is increased and then that turns into stored sugar in the liver and produces fat in the liver. Whereas when we fast our insulin decreases and then we burn out stored sugar. So let’s put that into perspective, if you are constantly eating, your body will use the incoming food as energy which means your body will never burn the body fat you have stored.

Diets can complicate and take time out of your life, they can limit you and can also be very expensive. In contrast, fasting helps simplify your life and it’s free to do. It helps you save time because you need to prepare fewer meals and its available to you anytime, anywhere. There are so many great reasons to start this diet and turn it into a habit. Of course, with any major lifestyle change, it’s recommended to chat with your doctor about it first! When you’re ready to dive into trying intermittent fasting, here are 10 tips to help you succeed!

1. Pick The Fasting Time For You

Considering the intermittent fast is so adaptable to have great success with it, you must choose a style that will fit well with you. There are few different ways to follow it. You can choose the 16:8 method or 20:4. The 16:8 method includes daily fasting for 16 hours of the day (keep in mind a big part of that will be during sleeping hours) and then you have an 8-hour window to eat. The 20:4 method involves a 20 hour fast followed by a 4-hour eating window. Both of these methods you have the flexibility of starting and finishing them when you please. Such as you could break your fast at 12 pm and eat up until 8 pm. However, if breakfast is more important to you and you have the willpower to say no to evening snacking then a 10 am to 6 pm window might work better for you.

Or, you can choose a longer fasting period. This can include the 5:2 method, which means you eat 5 days of the week with 2 days being full fasting days. The great thing about this diet is it is so customizable that you can choose whatever appeals to you or is more practical for you and get the same results.

2. Start Gradual

When starting a new lifestyle or diet such as intermittent fasting its is recommended to start at a gradual pace. This will help your body adapt to a smoother transition. If fasting through your normal breakfast time until 12 pm just does not work for you try bumping up your normal breakfast time by one hour the first day then 2 hours the next day until you can make it until lunchtime without food.

Some people are capable to jump right into something new and push through the hard times and cravings but if you are not one of those people if you want to see success try starting gradually.

3. Ride Out The Hunger Waves

Hunger doesn’t last forever, it comes in waves. The next time it seems like it’s unbearable try riding out the hunger wave. Contrary to belief once you get hungry it doesn’t keep building up and up until you feel like you might explode, it will eventually subside and you just have to make it through.

Hydration is often key when hunger strikes. Your body may be reacting to being dehydrated by showing signs of hunger when really you just need some H20!

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Like mentioned above, when fasting it is so important to drink plenty of water. This helps you stay hydrated but also helps your stomach feel full. You can drink as much water as you want.

Even try drinking coffee or tea (but make sure it’s black, cream and sugar will break your fast) to help subside any cravings you may get during the times of fasting.

5. Don’t Binge

This is so very important when fasting. Do your best not to break your fast by binge eating. Especially in the beginning, it can feel really hard to not jump on the biggest meal you can get your hands on when breaking your fast. If you do, you may eat way too quickly, too much and also make poor food choices that your body will hate you for later.

The best thing to do when breaking your fasting period is to plan out good foods to eat and eat slowly. Start with a light meal, and if you’re hungry again soon after, try another snack.

6. Eat Wholesome Meals

This seems like a no-brainer but make sure in between the non-fasting periods you are fueling your body with wholesome meals. Some studies recommend that you follow a low-carb diet while intermittent fasting to help reduce hunger when you are fasting.

Not to mention eating wholesome food makes your body feel good and powers your mind so you can think properly. We all know what it feels like to eat a fast food meal, although satisfying you develop a sense of brain fog and can make your body feel heavy and de-motivated for the rest of the day.

7. Stay Busy

One of the best ways to distract yourself from what might feel like hunger is to keep busy. How many of you, like myself find yourself unnecessarily eating when you’re bored. This happens because you have nothing to keep your mind moving, so in the result, you think “oh, I’m hungry” when in reality you might actually not be.

Try picking up a new hobby to keep yourself busy. It can be as simple as reading a book, listening to a podcast, or even cleaning the house. Even better yet get your booty moving and keep yourself busy with a workout. There’s nothing better than promoting a healthy lifestyle than incorporating at least 30 minutes of activity into your day and not to mention will you distract you from food all the while making you feel good. If you find you can’t stop thinking about food at work re-asses your task at hand. Maybe you need to take a 5-minute mental break and change up your task, the key point here always stays busy so that the thoughts of food don’t linger in your mind and put you off track.

8. Journal

This is a great and very important tip, journal! Track everything right from the beginning. You can use your phone if you love technology but if you’re more of a traditional person like myself, record in a journal.

It’s a good idea to keep track of your daily food intake during your non-fasting hours and also important to track your moods, good and bad through the whole process. This way you can see if you’re progressing. If you were in an angry mood Monday afternoon it could have been from your body getting used to the new fasting you have been trying or maybe it was from that giant bun you ate at lunch. It’s hard to tell if there are any patterns in a weight loss or healthy lifestyle journey if you don’t track it. Along with tracking moods and food intake make sure to take lots of photos. The easiest way to believe is to see. Make sure to take well before photo’s and progress photos so you have something to reflect on to see if you are indeed making any progress.

9. Ditch The Unsupportive People

When trying a new diet or trying anything you’re really excited about for that matter it’s important to inform the right people. If you have a lot of negative people or you know off hand which people have negative thoughts, in particular, do not include them in on your new journey.

It is so important to have the right support system when starting a new diet or lifestyle. You need people to help you, encourage you and promote your new journey to help your success.

10. Give It A Month

Like starting any new regime or task, the most important thing is to always give it time. The saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” holds incredible meaning. You can’t try intermittent fasting for a couple days and expect extreme weight loss.

Your body takes time to adjust, and your mental states take time to make something into a habit. If you’re going to give intermittent fasting a try make sure to give it a full month before deciding if it is or isn’t for you.

The post Intermittent Fasting Diet: Tips For Success appeared first on Forkly.

Starbucks Secret Menu: Try The Grinch Frappuccino

The post Starbucks Secret Menu: Try The Grinch Frappuccino appeared first on Forkly.

Do you need a break from your eggnog lattes? While you deck the halls sip on the most festive Starbucks secret menu items yet. The Starbucks holiday menu is delicious but it’s always fun to try new things! This holiday season, head to your local Starbucks and try one of these Christmas-themed Frappuccinos such as the Grinch Frappuccino, Santa Clause Frappucino, the Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer Frappuccino, Elf On The Shelf Frappuccino, or Buddy The Elf Frappuccino. But there’s a catch! These special drinks are a secret menu item which means if you order a “Rudolph Frappe” your barista won’t know what you’re talking about. That said, the team at Totally The Bomb, came up with a recipe so you can order these festive drinks with ease! Let’s take a closer look at the fun and festive Starbucks drinks.

Grinch Frappuccino

Your heart will grow three sizes once you take a sip of this drink! The Grinch-inspired Frappuccino features a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with matcha powder — this is how you’ll get that perfect green Grinch color. Top the frappuccino with whipped cream and a sprinkle of matcha powder. Finally, ask for freeze-dried strawberries that will look like the Grinch’s heart!