Coffee Creamer

ziezio
ziezio Posts: 4 Member
edited September 25 in Food and Nutrition
Okay.. I just had an aha moment! My calories have been good, exercise on point, water good and no weight loss.. I have not been beating myself up over it, but was going with the flow.. I wasn't gaining anymore, so that was good. Then this morning, I thought, well let me just see how many calories are in the cream I use.. Well, it's 35 calories a tbsp. I put at least 5 in my mug (1.5cup).. ugh! I had no idea it was that many calories!!!! No wonder i am not loosing! I have been sabatoging myself with my coffee.

What do you do to reduce the amount of cream used? What are some subsitutes? Ideas? Anything? Any help is appreciated!

-drowning in cream in virginia..
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Replies

  • tam120
    tam120 Posts: 444 Member
    Switch to non-fat milk
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    Personally, I don't think there is any acceptable substitute for real half and half in a cup of coffee, although many people use artificial creamers or milk. So I just carefully measure my half and half when I have coffee (those little measuring cups that come on cough syrup are AWESOME for this as the TBSPs are marked). Plain old half and half is only 40 calories for a 2 TBSP serving.

    But with the amount of cream you put into your coffee, you might really enjoy lattes (non-fat). You can pick up a home espresso machine for around $40 at Target. I have a latte every morning using 8 oz skim milk, and it's 80 calories.

    ETA: You must be using some sort of flavored creamer to hit those calories. Why not buy some sugar free syrups for the flavoring you like and 0 calories? Torani and DaVinci both make nice ones.
  • sweetdianachka
    sweetdianachka Posts: 318 Member
    Use less! Or try coconut milk creamer, its only like 25 per tbsp
  • SMarie10
    SMarie10 Posts: 956 Member
    I weeded myself off of creamer. - I didn't think I could drink my coffee without it, but have adapted just fine. I think non-fat milk might work - otherwise you could try to go cold turkey and leave it out :)
  • nancymmorris
    nancymmorris Posts: 310
    I use Unsweetened almond milk in my coffee. It has only 35 calories in 1 cup.:smile:
  • Cella30
    Cella30 Posts: 539 Member
    I did the same thing! I love coffee mate french vanilla. I wasn't logging it at all because I didn't think it would make that much difference. Finally when I decided to see how much I was getting - it was like an extra 200-300 calories! I almost sharted myself. So now I'm ::very:: careful about measuring it and am too looking for good alternatives after I use it up.
  • sweebeesmom
    sweebeesmom Posts: 148
    I noticed that too recently. I don't drink coffee all that often, but I was SUPER surprised at how many calories are in it. the "light" version isn't that much lighter either. I used to put a TON in, but I've cut back to 2 Tbsp a cup.. and I always use splenda, or whatever fake-sugar is around.

    i agree with the non-fat lattes too. I have a tassimo brewbot and it's about 60 calories for a latte I think... (about the same as 2 Tbsp creamer. :)
  • ivyann73deleted
    ivyann73deleted Posts: 67
    I changed to drinking it black years ago. I don't even miss the sugar & cream.
  • Sandikh
    Sandikh Posts: 116
    If you like the sweetness with the flavor, you can try the Torani sugar free flavored sweeteners. You can usually find them in coffee houses and I just recently bought it in Walmart as well. I'm not much of a "sweet" coffee girl but I do like what creamer does to my coffee. I put I spoonful of Cool Whip free into a cup of coffee. That is less than 10 calories and it actually makes my coffee 'frothy"...I love it!
  • jasonroeser
    jasonroeser Posts: 15 Member
    I'm in the same boat, I switched to Nestles Coffee-mate Fat free french vanilla creamer 25 cal per tbsp. Some things you cant give up, I like my coffee the way I like it. Just include it in your calories now, maybe take a walk around the block to earn extra calories. Good luck - J
  • ZebraHead
    ZebraHead Posts: 15,207 Member
    We use Fat free half and half .

    2 TBS = 20 cals
    30mg sodium
    3g carbs
    2g sugars

    I only need 1 TBS per cup of home ground Starbucks French Roast, so I would say this may be a solution for you as it seems you like to 'Whiten' your coffee quite a bit.

    Hope this is a good suggestion.

    ZH
  • msproducer
    msproducer Posts: 101 Member
    If you have to use that much creamer, the coffee may be too strong. I like the sugar free coffeemate creamers & use about 2 tbsp.
  • jeffrodgers1
    jeffrodgers1 Posts: 991 Member
    Always the hidden calories that set us up for failure!

    I use skim milk and artificial sweeteners. That saves about 160 calories on a double double and mucho fat.
  • tamiller93
    tamiller93 Posts: 195
    This is the very reason I don't drink coffee anymore. In order to drink it and like it, I had to load it up with TONS of flavored creamer and sugar or sweetener. UGH! It tasted more like a dessert after I was finished doctoring it up. Now I just forego coffee altogether.
  • DanieGirl74
    DanieGirl74 Posts: 18 Member
    I love the Skim Plus half & half or milk. Nice thickness, only 15 cals for 2 tbs! And none of the funny artificial stuff in some of the other fat-free half&half's on the market. I think it's Farmland Dairy that puts it out.
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    If you like the sweetness with the flavor, you can try the Torani sugar free flavored sweeteners. You can usually find them in coffee houses and I just recently bought it in Walmart as well. I'm not much of a "sweet" coffee girl but I do like what creamer does to my coffee. I put I spoonful of Cool Whip free into a cup of coffee. That is less than 10 calories and it actually makes my coffee 'frothy"...I love it!

    You can get the Torani syrups at amazon, too: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_grocery?_encoding=UTF8&node=16310101&field-brandtextbin=Torani
  • Sammyk50
    Sammyk50 Posts: 77 Member
    Hello!
    Another friend of my gave me this suggestion, bc I too was drinking too many cream calories! She told me about these expresso syrups that are sugar free/calorie free, ( they use these syrups in coffee shops ) and I use them with fat free 1/2 & 1/2. Now my coffee has only 20 calories! I really love these syrups, the only problem was I couldn't find them in a store and had to get them online, which really wasn't a problem. They come in 750ml bottles and quite a few flavors. My favorites are vanilla,chocolate,white chocolate and Irish Creme. The brand is Monin. The website is www.corainc.com they cost $6.50 a bottle plus shipping. To me it is worth the cost! I can not give up my coffee! When I order them now they come in 2or 3 days! Hope this helps! :drinker:
  • ziezio
    ziezio Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks everyone.. I feel like there is hope afterall. All the advice has been helpful! I don't know that I can give up coffee.. I do like it sweet.. I think the coffee is too strong.. I am going to make it using less coffee.. I will also give the syrups a go and I like the idea of using whipped cream..
  • JJHudgens
    JJHudgens Posts: 96 Member
    Great suggestions! :) I am going to look into that Slim Plus. I try to avoid any sugar free products due to the artificial sweetners. That's bad stuff, AVOID it as much as possible! ;)
  • portwood2218
    portwood2218 Posts: 16 Member
    I use flavored creamers too. I actually don't want to have to give them up completely. But since using this program, I've started to measure what I put in to my cup in the mornings. Now I measure out 1tbsp per cup and use one packet of splenda instead of my usual 2-3 tbsp per cup (with no added sweeteners). I still get the flavor and the sweetness, but without the added calories. :)
  • Mommyof3texans
    Mommyof3texans Posts: 347
    I also had this a-ha moment recently although I was using splenda and non-dairy powdered creamer I knew it wasn't great for my diet so I just cut it out completely 4 days ago and it really wasn't that bad. I actually am liking black coffee.
  • Bridgetc140
    Bridgetc140 Posts: 405 Member
    I buy boxes of creamer in the single servings and only use one per cup. It took some time, but I'm used to it now and I count them in with my breakfast along with my daily vitamins.....sucks because that's 135 right there.
  • up2me2lose20
    up2me2lose20 Posts: 360 Member
    Personally, I like strong black coffee. So just drink it black. Sometimes I'll put a little almond milk in it and I don't feel guilty about that (only 35-40 calories per 1 cup) and I certainly log that. Actually, I have to make myself add the almond milk sometimes ... trying to get a higher calcium intake. If I want dessert sometimes I'll add some real 1/2 & 1/2 to a cup of coffee, just a TBLSP, instead of the pie or cake etc.

    Years ago I bought the artificially flavored or artificially sweetened creamers, but not anymore. Just too much junk in my body 1st thing in the morning...no good.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    I use fat free half n half which is 20 calories per 2 tablespoons. You can always add Splenda with flavors for calorie free flavor.
  • MyNameIsNotBob
    MyNameIsNotBob Posts: 565 Member
    I usually have two cups of coffee every morning. Each cup of coffee has 1/4 c. skim milk & 1 tsp. sugar. It's 80 calories total, but very worth it. I know some people prefer cream / creamer to skim milk, but I've just always had it this way, so I'm used to it. Plus, I figure the total 1/2 c. of skim milk is good for me.
  • AllyMcCarty
    AllyMcCarty Posts: 2
    That sounds really good! Almond milk in your coffee!? Is it sweet enough though?
  • ziezio
    ziezio Posts: 4 Member
    Well, I came home yesterday and my syrups I ordered were on my front steps! I am enjoying my first cup of java this morning.. The only thing I put in it was the syrup and it is delish! Thanks to all those who suggested the syrups.
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    I might have to try those syrups. I have been toying with the idea of trying to get myself used to drinking it black...but I just really love my morning cup of coffee and I do use flavored creamers. I am sure I have at least 100-150 calories per cup in the AM....
    things to think about.......
    I used to use skim milk in my coffee, but I found it was too watery and the gray color it turned my coffee was not appetizing. I tried switching to tea...just doesn't feel as satisfying as a creamy cup of java!
  • Sarahr73
    Sarahr73 Posts: 454 Member
    I use powdered Coffeemate creamer, it's about 10 calories per tsp and to me it is more creamy tasting than the liquid form. I use about 3 tsp for every 6 oz of coffee and that's nice and creamy to me.
  • vaavamom1
    vaavamom1 Posts: 136 Member
    i had black coffee with no sugar or sweetener ,it was ok... will get used to it.
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