Coffe Creamer

tdoerr2

I bought me a big 20 ounce coffee this morning. When I got to work I proceeded to put my Hazelnut Creamer in and WOW 30 calories per tub. I use 8 in a large coffee, an extra 240 calories. I never looked before and during the winter it is an everyday thing.

I will look for sugar free this weekend.

Tina

BarbWhite09

Wow, you use a lot of coffee creamer! I thought I was bad, haha

Iheartsushi

Yep! My coffee creamer is a must for me. I've also tried using Agave Nectar (light) but wasn't so much a fan. I've just had to get used to drinking my coffee not so light :ohwell: . I allow myself 2 TBSP of Hazlenut creamer in a 8oz cup..comes out to about 60 calories!

deeannhill

Be wary of the sugar free. Really read those labels. Many times, calorie-wise, you're better off shooting for the real thing (cream) and using less of it then looking for a sugar-free syrup if you must have the flavor. I love me some flavored creamer, but the trade-off isn't worth it.

LTGPSA

That's the great thing about logging on here - the mistakes (misconceptions / assumptions) we make are right there in our face - thus we have the opportunity to make changes to better ourselves and our health. Best of luck on finding a better option. :flowerforyou:

Jaymefirst

Coffee creamer is a downfall for me. Especially now that the holidays are getting close, the egg nog creamer is back!! This is one area I refuse to give up! I do many, many things right I want to enjoy my morning coffee (I don't measure, I enjoy the taste)

ScarletFyre

Wow! I never realized how much was in those!! I am glad you posted this! I generally drink my coffee black - i taught myself to do that when trying to cut down on sugar. Now that i realize a packet of sugar is only 30 calories or something like that, i will once in a while put it in, but i still stick to black - then no sugar ever! I have tried just a little bit of honey for something different too. (i am just sure to measure it and not to just squeeze out of the bottle...LOL)

skingszoo

I also used to have to have my coffee a certain color and would use a ton of creamer. I have come to the conclusion I will use one cup thingy )30 cals) ane 2 splenda in 16oz coffee. You just need to cut down. Adn I agree be weary of sugar free sometimes the real stuff is better.

kardowling

I switched to flavored coffee and fat free half and half.. Like the flavors but too many calories.

bdmundt

Silk has flavored coffee creamers that are alot less in calories and sugar. They don't "cream" your coffee as good, but it's a good alternative. Plus, if you ever look a the ingredients list of those flavord "non-dairy" creamers....they are all chemicals!!! Most of the ingredient lists I can't even pronounce! Plus you know they can't be good when the little tubs at the restaurants and gas stations say "no refridgeration required"! Much better off going with something natural like soy milk or almond milk.

ajbeans

You know what? I don't worry about my cream and sugar. When I have my coffee in the morning, it works out to something like 60 calories per mug, and I drink 2 mugs per day. And I really don't care. I dont' drink pop, I don't drink juice, I don't eat candy and cakes very often, and I try to make sure I'm eating whole foods whenever I can. My 120ish calories in the morning isn't really hurting me much in the grand scheme of things. And I refuse to drink fake sugar. It may be lower-cal, but that doesn't mean it's good for you.

hadl0032

I love coffee, espresso, frappes, all of it....but I will tell you right now.... coffee creamer needs to me cut out if you are trying to lose weight. There are far too many grams of sugar and carbs in that stuff!!!! Trust me....I LOVE it too....but its doing you more harm than favor to your taste buds.

My suggestion(well at least what I do)...use unsweetened vanilla almond milk and a packet of Truvia. Truvia is an all natural form of of sweetener. Or just Stevia in the raw. These are natural products that are actually far sweeter than granulated sugar, and you wont need a lot of it.

I drink coffee every single day...but the sugary creamer has become something that I "treat" myself with. Especially during the holidays with the yummy limited time flavors, I know it is hard to resist, but trust me.....it is just way too many wasted calories, sugar grams, and carbs.

gg24

Couple of suggestions since I love my flavoured coffee! Trader Joes has a coconut milk beverage. I use the plain for just adding a whitener to my coffee and vanilla if I want flavoured.

Also you can always pick up a bottle of sugar-free flavoured syrup from the grocery store. These are the bottles the coffee stores use. You can also order them online. Getting a holiday flavour is great or mixing them together. Then I just add some non-fat milk. And, yes, I bring these things to work and lable them as mine.

Right now I'm already doing the Xmas thing with sugar free chocolate and surgar free peppermint. Yum!

Yes, they all have sugar substitutes but if you're sensative to sugar or are diabetic these things are wonderful!

BTW CoffeeMate makes 3 different sugar-free flavours but after so many years I got tired of them.

chazbo35

Yep your right....those are some of the things that we overlook. I know I did for sure and they add up quickly in the fat and cal areas.

ElizabethRoad

Maybe you should switch to tea? If you use that much flavored creamer I don't think you actually like coffee.

Sidesteal

I also use creamer, but because I've been logging it, I'm aware of how many calories I use. 240 for me would be overkill in that I'd much rather allocate those calories towards food.

That being said, as long as you're aware of it and logging it, I don't see harm in you making that choice, food intolerances aside.

ninelives58

Coffee creamer is one thing that I just haven't been able to budge on. I use the sugar free hazelnut or vanilla because I prefer the taste of it over the regular. (I always like the "diet" drinks better for some reason.) I know it's a big calorie hit each morning. I have been trying to reduce the amount I use in each cup, but I have to really pay attention to what I'm doing or the usual 3+ tablespoons goes in without even thinking.

bcampbell54

Cream in my coffee is a must for me. I restrict it to 2 tablespoons of half and half, and two teaspoons of powdered generic creamer, and yes, I measure, and that is for a BIG mug of coffee.
The powdered creamer seems very bad for my BG level, so I usually medicate then.
It's my indulgence each day, and it's the best I can do!

slimmerme2012

The creamer I use is 40 cal a serving....so Ive just been putting one serving in. Doesn't taste the best as putting 2 or 3 but its going to have to do! Im actually wanting to quit my coffee habit...but wow, its hard!

Jennloella

some of the flavored creamers come in fat free options....they taste better than the sugar free to me....

cindaroses

Unsweetend Almond Milk
Milk

I put these in there, with just a little bit of flavored creamer. Sometimes I even use Muscle Milk Vanilla protein powder and then a TBSP of the creamer. It is great!

deewildwoman

I wonder if the Silk and/or Almond Milk would have the same effect as the creamer. The only reason I use the creamer or milk in my coffee is to stop the heart burn. I love coffee, but thought I would have to give it up becuase of that side effect...until someone told me to start using creamer. Works like a charm. Guess I will have to try the Silk and see if it cuts the heart burn like regular creamer.

Vaanja

Oooooh man I love flavoured coffee creamers, especially this time of year when all the seasonals are coming out (Pumpkin Pie Spice, Gingerbread Latte, Vanilla Spiced rum.../cry) . Before I started recording everything I take in, I had no clue that I was taking in 400-500 calories every freaking day from my coffee alone (I looove coffee, with Tons of creamer).

Now, when I just can't say no to them, I treat it as a dessert, and I'll mix half the amount of the creamer that I want with an equal part of fat-free half&half. Still not the best thing in the world for me, but I love it, and I'm willing to compromise.

cardswimmom

Maybe you should switch to tea? If you use that much flavored creamer I don't think you actually like coffee.

Exactly what I was thinking :drinker:

teagin2002

Find a good low calorie substitute. I use whole milk (1 cup to 1 cup of coffee) and flavored stevia, either chocolate, vanilla or hazelnut. I like to flavor my coffee too.

:drinker:

ginandtonica

After joining MFP I decided to give up creamer. The sugar free is not much better than the regular stuff, calorie wise, and none of it is good for you! I would WAY rather have those calories as food, I am a hungry girl and those extra calories can fill me up as a snack later on. Maybe try a flavored coffee w fat free half and half (even though it is bad too) to start to wean yourself off. I also found that now if I "treat" myself with some flavored creamer I find it way too sweet and that it leaves a gross taste in my mouth. Yay for awareness...now that you know what you are putting in that coffee very morning you will at least be making a choice rather than just mindlessly consuming. Whatever you come up with, good for you...knowledge is power!

Firefighter_Ray

Hi my name is Ray and I am a creamaholic...using 10 of those little cup things a day isn't unusual for me. I have only had 3 today and just did my first protein shake, and I must say it's not really doing it for me. I am going to go look for a coffee flavored shake mix today. Any suggestions feel free to message me...Thanks!

Fat_2_Fit_Mommy

I love my coffee creamer!! I have to have my coffee in the mornings. I use alot of creamer used to but now I measure it atleast 2 tbls of it. I am glad I found this site to help me! I never realize how much sugar is in the creamers but like the others say becareful with sugar free creamers.

meganiross

By the time I add in the 3 Tbsp flavored creamer I like, I'm already past my allotment of sugar for the DAY. Solution I've found - fat free half & half (doesn't give that watery color that skim milk does, and tastes rich), 3 splenda, and some ground cinnamon. 45 calories, almost no sugar.

Other options I've enjoyed:
Seasonal coconut milk flavors. SoyDelicious makes a mint-chocolate coconut milk that's fabulous, and 6g sugar in HALF a CUP - so you can put 1/4 cup in for 3g sugar, 1.25g fat, and 25 calories. 8 tubs of creamer is about 8 Tbsp, so actually you're putting half a cup into your coffee. Careful though - their coconut nog flavor is about double those stats.

Sugar free syrups - I've found versions at my local TJ Maxx/Marshall's stores for around $5 per bottle, and they last a LONG time. I haven't brought those to work, though, because they disappear too fast. My coworkers are wierded out by my coconut/soy options, so those stay in breakroom unmolested. ;-)

dovesgate

I used to be a die-hard coffee additive fanatic. 3tbsp sugar, a ton of flavored creamer, and maybe 6oz of actual coffee in my mug. It got to the point if I wanted to lose weight, all I had to do was stop drinking coffee in the morning.

Not so anymore. I switched to 2-3 packets of Truvia (or another no-cal sweetner) instead of sugar and I measure out 1tbsp of regular fancy flavored creamer - I'm currently trying Cinnabun and Cinnamon Vanilla. Oddly enough, this is all I need to get the creamy sweetness I love and it is only 35 calories.

tdoerr2

Thank You for all the great suggestions!!! I get teased about my creamer habit. The coffee flavor still comes through all that creamer flavor. I can drink it without so much creamer but I love the flavors. Until I started logging everything I didn't realize the calorie content.

I am going to try some of the suggestions given here.

Thanks Again
Tina