Coffee talk...

polar5554
polar5554 Posts: 576 Member
edited September 24 in Food and Nutrition
I am on my third day of being Diet Pepsi free. So far so good.

I drink a couple cups of coffee in the morning and I'm looking for better alternatives to using Equal.
Anything out there?

Btw just so u know, I do not or cannot stomach the taste of black coffee.

Replies

  • Eng8791
    Eng8791 Posts: 3
    Yes- use Truvia (or Purevia). It is derived from the stevia plant, and is calorie-free but all natural. It has been recommended by many nutritionists that I know, and is perfect to replace other artificial sweeteners in your coffee. Hope this helps!
  • katapple
    katapple Posts: 1,108 Member
    have you tried Truvia? I like it in my tea and coffee!
  • uscm91
    uscm91 Posts: 20 Member
    I was in the same boat..I used to grab sweet tea on the way to work...but I've done away with sugar.

    I found that Organic Agave Nectar in my coffee is awesome...my wife buys the Chocolate Truffle Folgers stuff and the Nectar gives it a great taste. I do not use any creamer in it either....just black.

    Also, I found that it doesn't upset my stomach like the sweet tea did.

    BTW..the Nectar is a slow processing sugar...easy on the glycemic levels :)
  • 6Janelle13
    6Janelle13 Posts: 353 Member
    there are many different flavors of coffee out there. try a lighter roast and flavored roast or even coffee with chicory (my favorite). also try adding less than 1/4 cup milk to your coffee. it smooths out the acid taste some brews have and doesn't alter your day much. I haven't used sugar in years
  • skinnymama157
    skinnymama157 Posts: 32
    In my coffee I use splenda and about 2 tbsp of sugar free vanilla creamer. I can't stand black coffee either! I've noticed that the little bit of creamer is about 20 calories so not too bad, and it gives me some variety with all the flavors. Hope this helps!
  • funauntsherry
    funauntsherry Posts: 41 Member
    good for you! my hurdle was sweet tea.... i just kept reducing the amount of sweetener until I had just unsweetened green iced tea as my caffeine fix :drinker: good luck with a sweetener alternative... for me, if I'm not having the real thing, I guess its none at all :flowerforyou:
  • luv2ash
    luv2ash Posts: 1,903 Member
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE my sugar free coffee syrups by Torani or Davinci, I use them for tons of other things other than coffee too.
  • Bridge_CG
    Bridge_CG Posts: 429 Member
    Hello, I'm in the same boat that you are in. I love Splenda in my coffee and it's just not the best thing in the world for anyone.
    For me, I'm trying to ween myself off of the stuff slowly but surely. Agave nectar isn't too bad, even though it's pretty calorie heavy. It's 60 calories per tablespoon- I think, don't quote me on that. But.. Coffee is way better than soda. I quit on sodas cold turkey. I will have one every now and then, but I don't have those sugar cravings like I used to.

    Good luck!
  • alohajillian
    alohajillian Posts: 40
    Splenda has coffee flavor packs. I think Hazelnut and French Vanilla. Sugar free and no calories.
  • father5
    father5 Posts: 69
    Have you tried Truvia. It's natural, has 0 calories.
  • caribbean1019
    caribbean1019 Posts: 15
    I use splenda and like it, no funny taste.
  • Rubie81
    Rubie81 Posts: 720 Member
    Great thread. I do two coffees a day and use whole milk and 3 teaspoons of sugar (please don't stone me). I'm trying to find better alternatives. 1% milk is an obvious choice or even fat free. I hadn't thought about fat free creamers. Will need to look into that. Splenda, equal, truvia...none of those work for me. Just the thought makes me gag. Thinking of trying honey.
  • Ral263
    Ral263 Posts: 318 Member
    I use the Trader Joe's brand of Stevia / Truvia-- it's only 6 bucks for a huge container, much cheaper than other brands. Also, it's more the consistency of powdered sugar, which I prefer
  • That_Girl
    That_Girl Posts: 1,324 Member
    Artificial sweetner is soooo bad for us. It affects my jaw and gives me HORRIBLE pain.

    I don't know any alternatives. I just use vanilla cream.
  • chrysnel
    chrysnel Posts: 78
    I put a big splash of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze in my coffee - gives it a creamier taste with just a hint of sweet. And it's only 40 cals per cup so even if you use 1/4 cup, it's only 10 calories :)
  • gretchann917
    gretchann917 Posts: 18
    I cut out coffee completely. If you really need that burst of energy in the morning and you allow your body to adapt to it, orange juice can give you the same effect. Coffee is highly acidic, and acidic foods/ drinks make you store fat. (unless, of course, it is fruit.)
  • Amber_2005
    Amber_2005 Posts: 28 Member
    I think you can still lose weight by taking your coffee with a tiny bit of skim milk and 2-3 teaspoons of regular sugar. That is the way I take it. I don't personally like artificial sweeteners. Aspartame has in studies caused cancer in laboratory rats. You just don't want to go crazy having several cups of coffee like that a day.
  • thebuxompilgrim
    thebuxompilgrim Posts: 53 Member
    There is a brand called Sweet Leaf that makes liquid Stevia drops (instead of a crystal consistency). They even have flavored ones like vanilla and peppermint if you prefer a flavored coffee. Check the coffee aisle at your regular grocery store first or wherever you would find Truvia. If you don't find it there, you might find it at a co-op, supplement store, or a fancier grocery like Whole Foods. I know you can buy it on Amazon too. :)
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    Yes- use Truvia (or Purevia). It is derived from the stevia plant, and is calorie-free but all natural. It has been recommended by many nutritionists that I know, and is perfect to replace other artificial sweeteners in your coffee. Hope this helps!

    Purvia and Truvia are not all natural. Purvia is owned by Pepsi and Truvia is a Coca-Cola owned company..........

    These 2 products are highly processed forms of Stevia and are made from GMO plants.


    The best Stevia is to get your own plants and a pestiule and dry the leaves, then grind it yourself............or use a brand of Stevia purchased from a Vitamin shop or health food store.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    There is a brand called Sweet Leaf that makes liquid Stevia drops (instead of a crystal consistency). They even have flavored ones like vanilla and peppermint if you prefer a flavored coffee. Check the coffee aisle at your regular grocery store first or wherever you would find Truvia. If you don't find it there, you might find it at a co-op, supplement store, or a fancier grocery like Whole Foods. I know you can buy it on Amazon too. :)

    Yes, sweet leaf is the greatest Stevia I have found. Also, Trader Joes brand is pretty good too.
  • tmaksparkie
    tmaksparkie Posts: 279
    I am on my third day of being Diet Pepsi free. So far so good.

    I drink a couple cups of coffee in the morning and I'm looking for better alternatives to using Equal.
    Anything out there?

    Btw just so u know, I do not or cannot stomach the taste of black coffee.

    Try flavored coffee, that's what I do.
  • bodyrocks365
    bodyrocks365 Posts: 81
    Splendaaaa :):) equal stinks but it's better than the pink sugar substitute. I make my coffee nice and strong (black) so I don't have to rely on creamer for flavor. If it's too strong, that's when I add splenda :)
  • bodyrocks365
    bodyrocks365 Posts: 81
    I cut out coffee completely. If you really need that burst of energy in the morning and you allow your body to adapt to it, orange juice can give you the same effect. Coffee is highly acidic, and acidic foods/ drinks make you store fat. (unless, of course, it is fruit.)
    Orange juice is highly acidic...not to mention the quick carbs...and fructose (in fruit) is considered the "fat" carb...
  • tdixon00
    tdixon00 Posts: 24
    Agave or stevia are the best natural sweeteners to use, they are supposed to not only be better for your body, but they don't have the calories of regular sugar. Plus you only need to use a little bit for just as much sweetness!
  • dalbers
    dalbers Posts: 61
    Splenda is cheap and tastes great and very low calorie.

    Its been around 20 years and has had no demonstrated ill effects.

    If you want to spend more for stevia cause it is natural by all means, but unless you are taking a LOT of sweetener, I do not see a concern.

    But what really matters if you are making a change whatever you choose :)
  • helenbeee
    helenbeee Posts: 130 Member
    I think its kind of good to get a little perspective here.
    Currently you are having 2 cups of coffee a day right? It is also totally unrealistic to cut out sweet flavours in our diet (we are born with sweet taste buds after all)
    I absolutely agree that there must be personal control on the AMOUNT of sugar we consume particularly being aware of the hidden sugars in processed food.
    So if we are in charge of adding sugar then we get to control the amount.

    So back to you....you are having 2 cups of coffee a day if you are really desperate for the FLAVOUR of sugar and you had 1/2 a teaspoon in each coffee you have only consumed 16 calories.
    If this helps you to stay on track to healthier diet then its valuable if it prevents you going cold turkey and succumbing to a sugar binge down the track because sugar binges after abstination are nasty.

    Sugar, if consumed in large amounts is like alcohol, if we overdo it it is poison to our bodies it really messes us up.

    Now sugar does have carbs to consider also, but there are low GI sugars on the market called logicane. Its sugar but it has a natural molasses sprayed on the granules which converts it to a low GI.

    Our local brand of low GI still has the 16 calories for a teaspoon of sugar but only 4g total carbohydrate.
    The amazing thing is that it takes longer to be digested, resulting in a slower release of energy, which can help curb hunger cravings. But it tastes like sugar because it is sugar.

    Now Im not pushing sugar here quite the contrary but it has to taken into account that some people particularly in the first few weeks fall off the wagon because they cant do the cold turkey cut out sweet flavours in their diet. Other people (and Ive read quite a few posts here) where people were doing great going cold turkey but they were craving it like mad, only to fall off the wagon with a sugar binge.

    Perhaps its just a matter of getting things into perspective and being nice to ourselves saying I can have sweet flavours but I get to decide the how, the when and the what.
    Not eat some processed muck only to discover AFTER youve consumed more than you intended that it was laden with sugar which is the real reason we are addicted to sweet, fatty food.

    Try the Stevia and other sweetners by all means I just didnt like the flavour myself and in the end chose to slowly reduce my sugar to nothing granule by granule and now if I want to add flavour Ill sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on top which is another really nice alternative.
    It was really hard though and a couple of times I binged and paid the nasty price of shakes, headaches and headspins. I have done some research on this and it might be an alternative if other methods dont work.
    Good Luck
  • dalbers
    dalbers Posts: 61
    I think its kind of good to get a little perspective here.
    Currently you are having 2 cups of coffee a day right? It is also totally unrealistic to cut out sweet flavours in our diet (we are born with sweet taste buds after all)
    I absolutely agree that there must be personal control on the AMOUNT of sugar we consume particularly being aware of the hidden sugars in processed food.
    So if we are in charge of adding sugar then we get to control the amount.

    So back to you....you are having 2 cups of coffee a day if you are really desperate for the FLAVOUR of sugar and you had 1/2 a teaspoon in each coffee you have only consumed 16 calories.
    If this helps you to stay on track to healthier diet then its valuable if it prevents you going cold turkey and succumbing to a sugar binge down the track because sugar binges after abstination are nasty.

    Sugar, if consumed in large amounts is like alcohol, if we overdo it it is poison to our bodies it really messes us up.

    Now sugar does have carbs to consider also, but there are low GI sugars on the market called logicane. Its sugar but it has a natural molasses sprayed on the granules which converts it to a low GI.

    Our local brand of low GI still has the 16 calories for a teaspoon of sugar but only 4g total carbohydrate.
    The amazing thing is that it takes longer to be digested, resulting in a slower release of energy, which can help curb hunger cravings. But it tastes like sugar because it is sugar.

    Now Im not pushing sugar here quite the contrary but it has to taken into account that some people particularly in the first few weeks fall off the wagon because they cant do the cold turkey cut out sweet flavours in their diet. Other people (and Ive read quite a few posts here) where people were doing great going cold turkey but they were craving it like mad, only to fall off the wagon with a sugar binge.

    Perhaps its just a matter of getting things into perspective and being nice to ourselves saying I can have sweet flavours but I get to decide the how, the when and the what.
    Not eat some processed muck only to discover AFTER youve consumed more than you intended that it was laden with sugar which is the real reason we are addicted to sweet, fatty food.

    Try the Stevia and other sweetners by all means I just didnt like the flavour myself and in the end chose to slowly reduce my sugar to nothing granule by granule and now if I want to add flavour Ill sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on top which is another really nice alternative.
    It was really hard though and a couple of times I binged and paid the nasty price of shakes, headaches and headspins. I have done some research on this and it might be an alternative if other methods dont work.
    Good Luck

    *** clapping ***

    Moderation is everything.
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    Can you get Truvia in the UK? I know you can get Splenda... I might give that a try! I have 3 spoons on coffee >.< in my coffee, and usually have 1 a day... but some times 2!
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