I did not grow up in a coffee creamer household. When I started drinking coffee around the age of 14, I simply enjoyed it black! On occasion, I would add a little sugar but, even that was rare. It wasn’t until 2011 when my then-boyfriend (now husband) and I started dating. His family were big fans of French Vanilla creamer, and still are. I would soon find myself becoming a happy member of that club.
Lately, I find myself trying to let go of the coffee creamer cult. I think by revealing the truth behind it, I may be able to go back to black!
So, what is coffee creamer?
Coffee creamer is an artificial sweetener that can be added to coffee to manipulate the flavor. Some creamers are powdered and do n’t require refrigeration. Others are liquid and they most certainly need to be refrigerated. Creamer can come in a variety of flavors from French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Cinnamon Bun, Pumpkin Spice, and even Reese’s peanut butter cups. These coffee additives may be tasty, but they are undoubtedly full of sugar and fat…and, not the good kind.
If you can’t stand the thought of taking hour coffee black but, you want a healthier option to typical coffee creamer then maybe you could consider almond milk, coconut milk, butter, or even sticking with the standard sugar and milk. According to www.weightandwellness.com, there are even a few recipes for creamer alternatives that are healthy and tasty!
- 1-2 tablespoons of cream, 1-2 drops of stevia, and a dash of cinnamon
Or, you could try…
- 2 teaspoons-1 tablespoon of unsalted butter and a drizzle of maple syrup
Or, you could even try…
- 1-2 tablespoons of coconut milk, a drizzle of honey, and a dash of nutmeg or pumpkin spice
These three options offer flavors that are complementary to coffee without adding too many calories and less fat content than typical coffee creamer. They are also cheaper than buying coffee creamer already made. To prove my point, the following ingredients are found in the creamers currently in my refrigerator.
Nutritional facts of our creamer bottles
French Vanilla
The French vanilla creamer we have right now is actually labeled “fat-free“. We don’t normally buy the fat-free creamer because let’s face it, it’s not as good but, I digress. This creamer is 25 calories per tablespoon serving. It is made with water, sugar, vegetable oil, canola oil, sodium caseinate, sodium citrate, artificial coloring, and many more ingredients that add up to a fat-free nutrition-free bottle of garbage. The label also features a “non-dairy”, “lactose-free“, and “gluten-free” description.
Cinnamon Roll
We almost never purchase odd or “seasonal” flavored coffee creamers. For some reason, my husband decided to try this one, yet another reason he shouldn’t shop alone, but again, I digress. The cinnamon roll flavored coffee creamer is 30 calories per tablespoon serving. It is also “lactose-free“. Although, it does have water, sugar, sunflower oil, natural and artificial flavors, sodium caseinate, and potassium phosphate as well as many more! Yet another bottle of sugar-flavored garbage.
The truth is
The truth of the matter is that coffee creamer, whether it is in liquid or powdered form, is an artificial sweetener that may add flavor to your coffee, but it is also not a nutritious or beneficial use of your daily calorie requirement. Personally, I find it hard to justify putting anything in my body that I can’t pronounce. Which is the beauty of the three previously listed recipes! The ingredients are simple, natural and pronounceable! Best of all, they are healthier options without sacrificing flavor.
