How to Make Your Favorite Coffee Drinks Healthier
Coffee drinks can be loaded with calories, fat and sugar. Here are tips to make them healthier.
Do you ever think about how many calories are in your favorite coffee drink? Or how much sugar it contains? While some individuals might hesitate to consume a daily milkshake or enjoy a luxurious treat in the morning, they may not give much consideration to the ingredients in their own preferred caffeinated boost. But unless you stick to a plain cup o’ Joe, you may be adding hundreds of calories or more to your daily intake from your favorite sips.
Life is too short to give up on lattes, macchiatos, mistos, mochas and cappuccinos. But here are ways to make your coffee drinks healthier, whether stopping at your local coffee shop or making a cup at home.
7 Healthier Coffee Hacks
- Use non-fat milk. Whether you prefer dairy, almond, oat or another type of milk, you can save calories and reduce the fat in your drink by opting for non-fat or low-fat versions instead of full-fat milk.
- Flavor with spices instead of syrups. Many coffee drinks get their flavoring from sugar-filled syrups, such as vanilla, caramel or cinnamon. At your local coffee shop, for example, a medium sized coffee contains four pumps of syrup, at about 20 calories per pump. Instead of adding flavor this way, why not add a few sprinkles of cinnamon, cocoa or pumpkin spice? Not only will you add flavor to your coffee, but you’ll get an added boost of antioxidants.
- Get a smaller size. If you want your coffee drink just the way you like it, enjoy it but in a smaller size. You’ll get all the taste you crave with fewer calories, sugar and fat. For example, if you choose a small latte at your local coffee shop, it will clock in at almost half the calories of a medium and 55 percent less than a large.
- Slash the sugar. Instead of sweetening coffee with sugar or sugar-filled syrups, try to get used to drinking less sweet coffee. If you can’t imagine living without a sweetener in your coffee, use a natural calorie-free sweetener like stevia or monk fruit.
- Skip the whipped cream. There are about 50 calories worth of whipped cream in most coffee drinks. Skip it and you’ll not only be saving calories but will be cutting back on sugar, too.
- Avoid artificial creamers and sugar-free syrups. You may save calories by jazzing up your coffee with sugar-free flavored creamers or syrups. But instead, you’ll be consuming artificial sweeteners and other artificial flavorings. So although you’ll keep the calorie count in check, your coffee drink won’t exactly be healthy.
- Calm your caffeine addiction. You may need a jolt of caffeine to get you going in the morning, and there’s research to back up the benefits of moderate caffeine intake. “Having too much caffeine can make you anxious, restless and jittery and it can also mess with your sleep,” says PIH Health Clinical Nutrition Manager, Cortney Kaller MDA RDN CNSC. If you have multiple cups of coffee per day, consider switching to decaf after the first one or two cups, especially if you’re drinking coffee later in the day.
“While the allure of indulgent coffee drinks is undeniable, it's crucial to be mindful of their impact on your daily calorie intake and sugar consumption,” says Cortney. Many coffee enthusiasts overlook the nutritional aspects of their favorite caffeinated beverages. However, making small yet effective changes can lead to healthier coffee habits. Be sure to try these 7 strategies to enjoy your coffee while maintaining a healthier lifestyle. By incorporating these coffee hacks, you can savor your coffee drinks without compromising your well-being. Remember, moderation and conscious choices can make your coffee experience both enjoyable and health-conscious.
