Starbucks Muffin - How Many Calories?

I don't know about you, but more often than not, my mornings are spent rushing around -- to the train, the coffee shop and eventually work. I always seem to be a few minutes later than I should be, and though I usually manage to bolt into the office doors on time, I usually do so in a frazzled fashion, having run all the way across London Bridge to make my start time.

I usually try to grab a healthy breakfast before I leave the house, but you know as well as I do that sometimes, there's just not enough time. So I'm faced with choices -- a donut, a bagel or a muffin. Usually, I go for the muffin -- it seems to be the healthiest of the lot. You too?

But is a muffin really the best on-the-run morning meal?

A Cranberry Orange Muffin from Starbucks has 410 calories! That might not seem like much, but considering that's nearly the equivalent of two donuts, it would seem that you're not doing yourself a favor by going for the so-called 'healthy' choice. What's more, there's 31 g of sugar in this muffin -- enough to cause a mid-morning sugar crash that will leave you listless all day.

A better option? If you're the type who runs late in the morning, make sure you prepare your breakfast the night before to avoid being tempted by the quick selection of baked goods. If that's just not possible, Starbucks offers some much better options, like oatmeal, fresh fruit and even a protein plate.