By: Julie Heidbreder

Jun 30, 2009

If you walked into your local Starbucks this morning and felt confused, your sleepy eyes did not deceive you. Today they have introduced an easy-to-read menu and two new salads. Back in May, Starbucks began adding healthier dessert items to their menu in a bid to please customers who flooded MyStarbucksIdea.com with requests for foods with less artificial ingredients.

They’ve ditched the bad ingredients, like high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors and dyes, and their new items incorporate better ingredients, such as whole servings of fruit in the Vivanno Smoothies. The ingredients are more natural, and though they still wouldn't be considered low-cal treats, the calorie counts have dropped with the changes. 

For healthy snacking or a light meal, what I’m most excited about is the protein plate which packs 17 grams of protein. At 370 calories, it has a hardboiled egg, a whole-wheat bagel and peanut butter, cheese, grapes, and apple slices. 

But sometimes, a girl’s gotta splurge a little. Here’s my take on splurge-worthy occasions and the corresponding Starbucks dessert for each one.

Meeting a Friend
Gluten-free Valencia Orange Cake: Sweeten up your mid-day coffee break/gossip session. 290 calories.

Post-Workout
Outrageous Oatmeal Cookie: Reload after your workout with this cookie. It's substantial with 370 calories and three grams of fiber and a distinct fruit-flavor from its heavy mix of raisins and cranberries.

Man Trouble
Marshmallow Dream Bar: Having guy issues? Treat yourself to this sticky goodness. It tastes like a splurge and looks like one too, with its mini marshmallows, but this treat has only 210 calories. Because after all, you want to look your best, right? 

That Time of the Month
Chocolate Chunk Cookie: No explanation needed. No excuses necessary. 380 calories.

The Promotion
Indulgent Chocolate Cookie: The sweet smell of success. Definitely splurge-worthy, think of it as a rich, dark chocolate brownie-cookie. You are rich now, right? You totally deserve it. 320 calories.