I love coffee.
I love coffee a lot.
In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s my blood type.
Over the years my coffee style has evolved. Back in the day I actually hated it….yes, you heard right. I hated it. If I needed a boost I opted for pop instead of coffee. The taste of coffee was just….ugh! I’m not sure when I actually decided I liked coffee, but I can’t believe I used to choose that carbonated nastiness over my now favorite beverage!
In the beginning I would load my coffee up with flavored creamer and sugar to disguise the taste, then slowly started to cut back on all of those “add ins” I put into my cup. When I became a health and fitness coach, I started to pay more attention to how I was fueling my body. The creamers I loved….I was sad to find out how bad they were for me, but I knew that I couldn’t drink my coffee black. What in the world could I substitute for the fabulosity I had been using?
Here are some healthier alternatives to keep your coffee flavored and tasting great without loading it with unnecessary calories:
–Coconut Oil and Extract: Coconut Oil has about a million uses, so I was excited when I added it to my coffee! Besides smelling like a beach, coconut oil is great for boosting your immune system, increasing energy, and speeding up your metabolism! All you do is add one teaspoon of coconut oil, a splash of extract if you prefer (I love hazelnut), and blend in a blender or with an immersion blender. It makes it nice and frothy with a kick of extra flavor!
–Coconut Oil and Unsalted Grassfed Butter: Also known as Bulletproof Coffee, I wasn’t sure how I felt about putting butter on anything besides toast, especially because I had read many articles sharing reasons NOT to drink bulletproof coffee. However, I had read articles that shared how having your healthy fat early in the morning helped with focus and mental clarity, so I figured I would see for myself what the fuss was about. Blending the ingredients in with your coffee created a delicious latte , but I wasn’t a fan of cutting out other areas of my breakfast due to the nutritional content of the butter. Some people love this and drink it daily; my only recommendation is to do your research to see if it aligns with your current meal plan/diet.
–Almond Milk/ Coconut Milk Creamer: I always have these on hand for my shakes so from a cost effective standpoint, I don’t need to purchase anything additional to flavor my coffee. Using a splash in your coffee with a bit of Stevia is a great way to add a little sweetness without the calorie overload (Sidenote: Stevia is all natural and a better alternative to sugar, but don’t use much…it is much sweeter than sugar).
–Cinnamon: Replace your creamer with a teaspoon of cinnamon. This is my new favorite recipe, and it has a bunch of health benefits! Not only does it save you over 75 calories a cup, but adding cinnamon can help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar. Pay attention next time you are at Starbucks….you’ll see a cinnamon shaker at the coffee stand!
–Make your own creamer: I used to follow the recipes for homemade creamer from Deliciously Organic, only I would use almond milk in place of the heavy cream. Making your own allows you to control everything that is in your creamer and the recipes make a ton!
Remember, everything is okay in moderation. Sometimes I indulge in regular coffee creamer (I love the Nestle Coffeemate Samoa flavor), but I don’t go overboard. Make smart choices…you don’t want to drink all of your calories!
All this coffee talk has me needing to brew another cup……or hit the coffee shop!
Happy Caffeinating!
Life is Katetastic 