How to make your Morning Coffee Healthier (and Actually Like It!)
Coffee and moms pretty much go together, am I right? But it’s not always so great for us because of the stuff we put in. I’m here to tell you that you can make your coffee healthier and still enjoy it.
I try to limit my coffee intake, period. There are times I give it up, but usually around February every year I find myself drinking it again because in the dead of winter here in Canada there’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee in the morning to pick you up when you are ready for winter to come to a close.
My body doesn’t always respond well to caffeine so that’s why I try to give it up for awhile every now and then. But for many, the caffeine in coffee doesn’t bother them as long as they don’t overdo it, or as long as they don’t drink it too close to bedtime.
But generally I don’t think it’s the caffeine that tends to be the problem in the coffee. Often it’s all that cream and sugar. Of course, the easy answer is to drink it black, but if you are like me you’d rather drink water than black coffee. I just can’t do it.
I always admire those purists who can drink their coffee straight up black, but I’ve accepted that I will never be one of those people who can do it. And I’m okay with that.
But, at some point I decided if I was going to drink coffee I needed to make it healthier – that the cream and sugar wasn’t making me feel so good and it was time to go.
Maybe you can relate. And if you can, well, there’s some solutions for you.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR MORNING COFFEE HEALTHIER
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Replace the sugar with maple syrup
Maple syrup contains antioxidants that are good for you. It also contains nutrients that regular sugar doesn’t because it isn’t as processed. If you have blood sugar issues it’s also a good choice because it’s lower on the glycemic index. And it might just be the Canadian in me, but maple flavored coffee is OH SO GOOD.
I’ve tried honey in coffee which would be a healthier choice as well, especially if it’s raw honey, but personally I don’t like the taste at all. I love honey, but it made my coffee taste unpleasant. So, if you want to replace the sugar with something healthier, reach for the maple syrup.
Give up the sugar but keep the cream
You can try giving up the sugar completely, but keep the cream in your coffee. It’ll save you on calories and you’ll still get a creamy, comforting taste. While giving up your sugar might feel impossible if you have a strong sweet tooth like mine, you may be surprised to discover it may not be as hard as you think.
For me, when I gave up sugar in my coffee I did it slowly. For a few days at a time I’d cut back the amount of sugar I’d put in my coffee. First 3/4 of a tsp (okay, okay, it was a TABLESPOON), then 1/2, and then a 1/4. I was able to acquire a taste for less sugar in my coffee a little at a time.
Now I don’t even drink sugar in my coffee, and seriously, I LOVE sweet things. The odd time when my husband or I have made the coffee too strong I’ll add a bit of maple syrup, but usually I add no sweetener now.
Switch the cream to a dairy free option
If dairy doesn’t make you feel so great switch out your creamer to something dairy-free. There’s so many options out there, so you can experiment depending on your taste, and if calories matter to you. There’s almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and soy milk, to name a few. I personally found almond milk didn’t make my coffee taste very good, and was too watery.
In my opinion oat milk gives a creamy taste that is closest to putting actual cream in my coffee.
Add a dash of cinnamon
Flavor your coffee with spices like cinnamon, or a dash of nutmeg. It’s good for you and it tastes good!
Try Dandyblend as an alternative
Maybe you want to give up coffee completely but are afraid you’ll miss it too much. There are alternatives out there that taste similar to coffee. I have replaced my morning coffee at times with a product called “Dandyblend” which is a blend of dandelion root and chicory. While it doesn’t taste EXACTLY like coffee, it’s insanely close and I find it just as satisfying as a morning cup of coffee, without the caffeine which in my case my body prefers.
Drink just one cup
Does the thought of changing anything about your morning coffee make you cringe? Then, decide to enjoy that ONE morning cup of coffee the way you like it, but limit it to just one. Switch to water and herbal teas for the rest of the day.
WHAT ABOUT BULLETPROOF COFFEE?
Bulletproof coffee is become really popular in recent years. In full disclosure, I never liked oils in my coffee. I found the taste to not be appeasing, so it’s easy for me to not jump on the bulletproof coffee trend.
However, while I am no nutritionist, I’m not confident it’s good for me anyways. Adding oils and fats to my morning coffee seems like I’m just adding things that aren’t good for me. I have no problem using certain oils and butter in moderation where it’s needed in my diet, but coffee just doesn’t seem like the place I should be putting those things.
Some foods can have nutrients that are good for us, but also things that aren’t good for us when not in moderation. This is kind of how I feel about grass fed butter, one of the things you put in bulletproof coffee. While I’ll for sure slather this stuff on a piece of homemade bread as a treat, I won’t be putting it in my coffee in hopes that it improves my health.
But, like I said, I’m not a nutritionist and I encourage you to do your own research on it.
WHAT DO YOU ADD TO YOUR COFFEE?
So, did I leave anything out? Do you add something to your coffee to make it healthier that I didn’t put here? If you want a healthier cup o’joe and aren’t sure where to start, consider trying some of the ideas on this list. You may find it’s the only way you like your coffee from now on!
