Starbucks Drinks

I figure I'd start off with a staple in the life of all American's, Starbucks. I know that going to Starbucks, or really any cafe for that matter, is hard when you have restrictions. You can't get your old favorite drink anymore or try that new supposedly fabulous drink that everyone has been talking about. And if you've heard of Starbucks "secret" menu, you better believe it's off-limits to us. So what is safe at Starbucks and what isn't? You'd think it's as simple as ordering it with soy milk or almond milk but it's actually a bit more complicated than that. I have a friend who works at Starbucks and she let me in on a little secret. Even just asking for a drink with soy milk does not make it safe to drink. Apparently if you do not specifically state your allergy they sometimes will run out of one of the cartons of soy milk and instead of opening a new one they'll top off your drink with regular milk. And for someone who just prefers soy milk this is no problem. They go on their merry way not knowing the difference. But we end up with stomach aches or the runs or horrible gas and have no idea why. You think through what you ate that day and try to pinpoint it and nothing seems to add up, then you get to that Starbucks you splurged on. Are you now allergic to something else too? Nope. It's the dairy that was slipped into your drink without your knowledge thinking no harm would come. Now you can't blame these people. They don't know your issues. They're just trying to do their job and are taking a little short cut. Who hasn't done that? So my suggestion is to let them know of your allergy. If you're afraid to sound too demanding or to sound spoiled phrase it like this, "Hey, I'm lactose intolerant so I was wondering if (insert drink here) had any dairy in it if I use soy milk?" This is a good question to ask anyways as some of the drinks have a syrup in them that contains dairy. I always get a Soy Chai Tea Latte. This is a completely safe drink if you get it with soy milk and make sure to let them know you're lactose intolerant.

Just remember, it's okay to ask questions and to be a little difficult. This is your body, treat it right and don't put yourself through unnecessary pain due to your own over-politeness. Any more questions on Starbucks safety?