Coffee Creamer alternatives to Half n Half?

Smaronoah
Smaronoah Posts: 7 Member
edited November 27 in Food and Nutrition
Apologies if this has already been discussed; I didn't find it during a quick search. I'm a nursing student / caffeine addict and MFP revealed to me that I'm taking in an obscene amount of calories by half n half creamer. Obscene.

My coffee is usually fairly light by the time I dump enough in................

Are there any good alternatives? Lower calorie but also not totally chemical? Also- milk just isn't gonna cut it. Grody. Thanks in advance!
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Replies

  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    Skim milk is my go-to. Protein and low calories.
  • jaena4
    jaena4 Posts: 175 Member
    Posting to see the comments - I have the same problem. I put so much junk in my coffee that it's just way too many calories. I've been forcing myself to drink it black during the week and then I make the doctored coffee a weekend treat. But it's hard for me to get excited about black coffee.
  • WholeFoods4Lyfe
    WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
    I use Califa Farms Coconut Creamer.
  • zilkah
    zilkah Posts: 207 Member
    Part half and half , part skim . Those mootopia or fairlife milks have great protein content in the milk - so I use those .

    Also like the suggestion of bottled protein shakes as your creamer
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited June 2018
    I used to use a ton of 1/2 and 1/2...I just cut back on it. I mostly drink my coffee black now as I discovered that when one is drinking good quality coffee that it doesn't need much. I prefer a medium roast...sometimes my wife brings home a dark roast which is too bitter for me to drink black, so I'll use a little 1/2 and 1/2...not much, just enough to cut through the bitterness of a dark roast.

    Milk doesn't really do it for me unless it's whole milk which we never have in the house anymore...and I'm not particularly partial to things like coffee mate and whatnot. If you're going for an alternative like that, make sure you read the labels as some of them contain partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) which is just about the only thing that I will say is inherently bad for you regardless of dosage.
  • VUA21
    VUA21 Posts: 2,072 Member
    Unsweetened almond milk. 30 calories per cup! You can make your coffee very pale and still not add a lot of calories.
  • Smaronoah
    Smaronoah Posts: 7 Member
    I just want to say thanks for each and every response! You guys are awesome!!
  • TxTiffani
    TxTiffani Posts: 799 Member
    Unsweetened cashew milk is my fav! It’s the creamiest of the low cal plant milks that I’ve tried. Really yummy and only 25 cals per cup!
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    Bcaas coffee creamer from man sports
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    Coffee Mate Artisan Creamer is delicious...it doesn't take much and it's delicious! A protein powder of your choice also makes a nice creamer.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I feel your pain. When I was on shift work I measured my coffee by the carafe, not the cup. I gradually loved the taste of coffee and slowly cut the sugar and then the cream. I still prefer a small shot of cream generally, but depends on the brew and the blend. The darker the brew, the less cream. I want to savor good coffee.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,629 Member
    I know you said milk doesn't work for you . . . I'm wondering whether it might work to taper to it, part half & half, part milk, over time?

    Personally, I put (literally) 6 oz of hot nonfat milk in each of my daily coffees, and get a nice addition to my protein goal (2 coffee = 12g protein, 128 calories = works for me as an ovo-lacto veg). Not saying that would work for you, though.
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    Don’t need any creamer with a nitro brew!
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  • BlessedMom70
    BlessedMom70 Posts: 124 Member
    Coffeemate sugar free creamers, or 1/3 carton of a Premier protein shake.
  • MichelleLaree13
    MichelleLaree13 Posts: 865 Member
    I just started drinking my coffee with 1TBS of coconut milk (the kind for cooking that is just pure coconut milk without additives). Pop it in the blender with my 7-8 oz of coffee and it tastes enough like a latte to make me happy. 33 calories per cup x 3 cups = 99 calories
  • CowboySar
    CowboySar Posts: 404 Member
    Smart *kitten* comment....Black

    All kidding aside, I used to drink mine with half and half as well. I drink a ton of coffee through out the day so all that cream added up. I started drinking it black, I didn't like it at first but now it is the only way I will drink it even though now the half and half would be workable.

    I have also mixed up a protein shake and used it as a creamer as another idea.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    As a coffee addict - I feel your pain! I've tried the lo-cal substitutes and they just don't cut it...yuck. And forget using regular milk or even worse skim eee ghads no hehe. In the end I wound up just going with moderation. I limit myself to 2 cups a day (cups!! not a venti or even a grande, just an 8 oz cup) and I drink it how I like it, a wee bit of sugar and good ole half and half, no skimping!! I log it and call it day!
  • umayster
    umayster Posts: 651 Member
    Heavy cream. It is more calories but it is real food and you can skip eating anything else for breakfast. 2 Oz in my coffee keeps me from thinking about any food/lunch til 1-2 in the afternoon.
  • CherylG1983
    CherylG1983 Posts: 294 Member
    I switched to tea with a splash of milk. I just can't do coffee without proper creamer, but like you, I was putting at least 100 calories worth of cream in it so had to cut it out. Not completely, I still have it on the weekends with breakfast.
  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    Just use less. Cut back gradually so you get used to it. Non-dairy creamers aren't any better for the most part.
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    I switched from Coffeemate flavored creamer to Nutpods. They are a blend of coconut and almond milk. Much less sweet, but now I prefer it that way and can't stand sweet coffee! I think it's 20 cal a serving.
  • msmith404040
    msmith404040 Posts: 84 Member
    Agree with the unsweetened cashew milk - very low calorie - 25/cup I believe. I buy the Silk brand.
  • Strawblackcat
    Strawblackcat Posts: 944 Member
    I just use the half and half. I figure that it’s 20 calories per tablespoon, so even 1/4 cup would still be less than 100 calories. And 1/4 cup of creamer makes A LOT of cups of coffee. When push comes to shove, I’ll use whole milk.

    Adding sugar to your coffee is really where the calories start to add up, IMO.
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