Starbucks is following in the footsteps of big brand names like Snapple and Lays Potato Chips, as they go natural. Starbucks' new food campaign:
"Real food. Simply Delicious."
But to me, it's still simply not vegan. And is it really healthier? Frustration ensues, as I contemplate Starbucks' 'healthier food' branding twist. Starbucks: always dodging the vegan ball, but with so many Soy beverage fans, are they playing a smart game?....
Starbucks Has Real Food Now. So what does 'real food' mean to Starbucks?
* No artificial flavors
* No artificial trans fats
* No artificial dyes
* No high-fructose corn syrup
Starbucks' New Campaign. This new campaign even includes at-home, do-it-yourself recipes inspired the new Starbucks menu item creations. Huh? Weird. Starbucks now wants their customers to whip out an apron and bake their own banana bread? I don't think so. When I am running to catch an uptown subway on my lunch hour and I need to speed into Starbucks for a quick Starbucks soy chai, the last thing on my mind is picking up a recipe for baking my own oatmeal cookies. Starbucks oatmeal cookie recipe here. And the Banana bread recipe here. And while I personally am an avid chef, baker and foodie, most busy Starbucks lovers probably don't bake their own breakfast banana bread or oatmeal cookies. So yes, I find this new branding twist and turn a bit odd.
Is Natural Better in Fast Food? I love baking my own vegan recipes with all natural healthy ingredients, but that does not always match up with the needs of fast food. And yes, Starbucks is not baking their bread in-store each morning. It's still 'fast-food'. So I have to wonder: will these new food recipes hold up to travel, storage, re-heating and shelf-life-ing-it in a Starbucks store? I know my made-at-home banana bread would be inedible in a week and in a few days, not as good as day one. So if Starbucks is really going home-style. I just hope the food shelf-life doesn't suffer.
Still Not Vegan. But all in all, the news about new food makes me frustrated because none of the new items are vegan. none. So really, until a vegan banana bread hits the Starbucks baked goodies window, I'm just sitting in the corner twiddling my fingers drinking a soy chai and my pack of Starbucks almonds. Those are vegan.
Read all about the Starbucks "Real Food. Simply Delicious." campaign here.
Tracy Warner says
They have vegan items. When I lived it Berkeley I got some a couple times. If you encourage your local Starbucks enough and get other people to express a demand as well, they will probably start ordering them at that store.
Check them out: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/896845/starbucks_vegan_menu_your_best_picks.html?cat=5
Brooke says
I completely understand. In addition to the non-vegan choices we are in the middle of an obesity epidemic and Starbucks choices aren't helping that. This is what I do/did: Perfect oatmeal and one dried fruit and a grande soy latte. They did let me combo this and since I paid with a Starbucks card the use of soy was free. I also add flax seeds (from a carrington farms flax paks brought from home). Sometimes I would add the packet of Justin's nut butter to the oatmeal instead of the fruit.
Anonymous says
I've never supported Starbucks and I'll continue to boycott them. I like supporting my local cafe, which just so happens to occasionally have vegan treats. Not to mention I can get my coffee or tea in a ceramic cup, rather than a landfill-bound plastic one.
Vegan options or not, my money will never find itself in the cash register of a Starbucks!
MikeyPod says
HAHAHAHA! Damn those almonds..... the only thing they have for us to eat. I love almonds, but somhow I hate them at Starbucks.
I can't believe they have a gluten free choices and can't come up with anything vegan!