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!
