Coffee creamer substitutes that don't suck??

Staying at or under 1000 calories a day means that I reeeally have to be mindful of my choices. That 4 tbs of half and half for my 2 cups of coffee is beginning to feel pricey.

Anyone find a decent creamer for fewer calories? I've tried almond milk, but I can't. I just can't. It's like adding lighter colored water to my darker colored water.

I'd love some suggestions!!
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Replies

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,250 Member
    Why are you only eating 1000 per day?
  • Yisrael1981
    Yisrael1981 Posts: 132 Member
    Walden farms makes a creamer that's not bad
  • kaileyhamilton315
    kaileyhamilton315 Posts: 31 Member
    @Alatariel75 I budget calories with a weekday deficit so I can have a decent date night with my husband at Bonefish Grill if I want to. Honestly, between Zuchini noodle pasta and generous sides of veggies, I feel quite satisfied. That said, it's still slim to squeeze in my coveted half-and-half.
  • kaileyhamilton315
    kaileyhamilton315 Posts: 31 Member
    @Yisrael1981 Thanks! I'll check it out!
  • endlessfall16
    endlessfall16 Posts: 932 Member
    Sorry I have no suggestions. Just wonder how many calories does one cup of your coffee have?

    I just make simple creamer/suger/coffee at 130 cal. Drink it for the caffeine. It can power me all morning to 2pm including 1hr of intensive racquet ball session in between.
  • maxit
    maxit Posts: 880 Member
    Go for the half and half.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,250 Member
    edited March 2016
    I have a single serve of CoffeeMate Hazelnut in my coffee, plenty sweet and creamy for me and only 40 cals. That's when I have creamer. Usually I just add light milk.
  • Mondoweft
    Mondoweft Posts: 49 Member
    I had to look up what half and half was. Just use normal milk. (I use 2% light milk, but that would be even more of a shock).
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    I have no idea what half and half or even what creamer is or why I am contributing to this thread.

    But I assume it's to turn black coffee into light brown coffee.

    What about a splash of lite milk?
  • emmam1212
    emmam1212 Posts: 67 Member
    Ah, fellow coffee lover... Almond milk in coffee is so strange. I don't know how anyone enjoys their coffee that way. I switched from regular to 'sugar-free' version CoffeeMate creamer awhile ago because it's like half the calories and still tastes great. I also cut slowly cut down on how much used. Maybe try 3.5 for awhile? It saves a couple of calories and still tastes pretty much the same. The sugarfree hazelnut and Italian sweet cream are so good though. Goodluck!
  • 25brittany25
    25brittany25 Posts: 27 Member
    So .. I have the same issue . I LOVE coffee and flavored cream. But. I found that adding organic honey to hot black coffee is amazing and only 60 calories is all you need with the 0 calorie black coffee.. I love it because I'm an excessive coffee drinker. And I can still get my fix without the guilt :)
  • cityruss
    cityruss Posts: 2,493 Member
    Milk.
  • bendyourkneekatie
    bendyourkneekatie Posts: 696 Member
    cityruss wrote: »
    Milk.

    /thread
  • bisky
    bisky Posts: 1,090 Member
    edited March 2016
    I wish I could learn to drink coffee black....but NO!! I would sacrifice a lot of other calories but not my half and half. I have learned to use a tablespoon to measure and I now use a bit less but it just makes for a good cup of Joe. I also love cheese but would cut those calories before cutting out half and half. It helps start the day right. :)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    You know that 'creamer' appears to be a particularly American thing that doesn't happen in the rest of the world - if you order coffee you get different types and it comes with or without milk

    From what I understand it's some kind of sweetened milk - so IMHO it's not really coffee you guys enjoy but some kind of sweetened milky drink - so like an adult version of a milkshake - sounds odd :)

    I'd say use a splash of milk and a sweetener if you must

    but to retrain your taste buds try say a month of drinking it without the creamer / sweetener - you'd be surprised how awful sweetened hot drinks taste after that
  • bisky
    bisky Posts: 1,090 Member
    edited March 2016
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    You know that 'creamer' appears to be a particularly American thing that doesn't happen in the rest of the world - if you order coffee you get different types and it comes with or without milk

    From what I understand it's some kind of sweetened milk - so IMHO it's not really coffee you guys enjoy but some kind of sweetened milky drink - so like an adult version of a milkshake - sounds odd :)

    I'd say use a splash of milk and a sweetener if you must

    but to retrain your taste buds try say a month of drinking it without the creamer / sweetener - you'd be surprised how awful sweetened hot drinks taste after that

    No, half and half has less sugar than milk, less lactose milk sugars.
    Half-and-half, also known as half cream in the United Kingdom, is a simple blend of equal parts whole milk and light cream. It averages 10 to 12% fat, which is more than milk but less than light cream. Due to its lower fat content than cream, it can't be whipped.

    Most of the "flavored" creamers are a mix of chemicals and sweetners.
  • LLT38
    LLT38 Posts: 172 Member
    I don't have any solutions for you. But using up a large portion of your calories on coffee could mean you will miss out on necessary nutrition. It puts you at risk for a nutrient deficiency or bring unable to adhere to your plan. I learned to love my coffee black a few years ago when I realized how many calories are in creamers. Switching sucks but you'll enjoy the taste of coffee more once you get used to it black.
  • aimeezartz
    aimeezartz Posts: 3 Member
    Noname brand in Canada. Its the bright yellow brand. Not sure if it's available in other countries? 10cal per tsp. I just bought some yesterday but have yet to try it. I'm a coffeemate girl myself but at 60cals a tbsp I was looking for an alternative myself.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    bisky wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    You know that 'creamer' appears to be a particularly American thing that doesn't happen in the rest of the world - if you order coffee you get different types and it comes with or without milk

    From what I understand it's some kind of sweetened milk - so IMHO it's not really coffee you guys enjoy but some kind of sweetened milky drink - so like an adult version of a milkshake - sounds odd :)

    I'd say use a splash of milk and a sweetener if you must

    but to retrain your taste buds try say a month of drinking it without the creamer / sweetener - you'd be surprised how awful sweetened hot drinks taste after that

    No, half and half has less sugar than milk, less lactose milk sugars.
    Half-and-half, also known as half cream in the United Kingdom, is a simple blend of equal parts whole milk and light cream. It averages 10 to 12% fat, which is more than milk but less than light cream. Due to its lower fat content than cream, it can't be whipped.

    Most of the "flavored" creamers are a mix of chemicals and sweetners.

    UK doesn't have half cream as far as I'm aware

    We have milk - skimmed, 1%, semi-skimmed and full fat
    or cream - single, double, whipping

  • bisky
    bisky Posts: 1,090 Member
    So half and half would be equivalent of 1/2 milk and 1/2 single cream?
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    bisky wrote: »
    So half and half would be equivalent of 1/2 milk and 1/2 single cream?

    From what I can see it looks like your half and half max fat % = our single cream

    USA
    18–30% Light cream, coffee cream, or table cream
    10.5–18% Half and half
    3.25% Whole milk or regular milk
    2% 2% milk or reduced fat milk

    Our Creams are
    Single cream Contains no less than 18% milk fat )
    Double cream Contains no less than 48% milk fat
    Whipping cream Contains no less than 35% milk fat
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    edited March 2016
    .
  • chandanista
    chandanista Posts: 986 Member
    I don't know that it's necessarily a milkshake type drink, as there's only one or two ounces of creamer added to the cup of coffee. Unless it's a latte, which has loads of milk whipped with the espresso and is delicious. I could see freezing a latte and calling it a milkshake.

    That being said I use sugar free vanilla flavored Coffeemate creamer and I measure it with a medicine cup, 2 tablespoons added to an 8 ounce coffee is a joy on these impossible cold days. Some people don't like sweeteners but I have no problem with them.
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    Protein powder would work oddly enough.
  • gradchica27
    gradchica27 Posts: 777 Member
    The original Baileys Irish cream creamer is 30 cal/serv. I also get fat free half and half for 20 cal/2 tbsp, though I'm switching to 2 tbsp whole milk since that's what's on hand.
  • crystallee85
    crystallee85 Posts: 50 Member
    I just purchased skinny syrup brand, in caramel. I bought it in Canada not sure where it's available otherwise. 0 cal 0 sugar. I drink coffee black but it adds enough flavour it might work for you.
  • Ajocal18
    Ajocal18 Posts: 167 Member
    I drink my coffee black these days , after the first week I have learned to enjoy it that way. Creamer/sugar are just a waste of calories. To me I might as well drink pop or juice at that point, if im drinking calories better believe they contain alcohol.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I use Coffee Mate sugar free creamy chocolate. (the powdered kind) It's 30 calories for two teaspoons and I seem to need less of it than the other flavors.
  • melodyesch
    melodyesch Posts: 49 Member
    I use half and half every day. I have between 1-2 cups of coffee and I went to look up the half and half calories because this thread kind of scared me into thinking I must not be logging correctly. Land O Lakes half and half is 2 TBS per serving and each serving is 40 cals. But one TBS is plenty for one normal mug of coffee (for me). Makes the coffee the color of Halle Berry's skin (perfect). So I'm between 20-40 calories, depending on if I have one or two cups. Maybe cut back to 1TBS per cup and try that?