For me, coffee isn’t coffee without the perfect amount of sweetness and cream. And, over the last few years there’s been an influx of creamers: dairy, non-dairy, powder, plant-based and functional … there’s something for everyone these days. When choosing a healthy coffee creamer, look for options that are free of additives, chemicals, artificial sweeteners and unhealthy oils. You also want to avoid those with a ton of added sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, both of which add unnecessary calories to your cup of joe.
If you love your creamer as much as I do, you’re in luck, because I’ve put together a list of the healthiest store-bought coffee creamers based on eating style.
BEST DAIRY COFFEE CREAMER
ORGANIC HALF-AND-HALF
Per 1 tablespoon serving: 20 calories, 1 1/2g fat, 1g carbs, 1g protein, 1g sugar
Ingredients: organic milk and cream
For dairy creamer, you can’t beat good, old, organic half-and-half. It offers the creamiest texture without the fat and calories found in heavy cream. I recommend going with organic, grass-fed creamer because you get a dose of omega-3 fats as well (around 147% more than conventionally raised milk.) Grass-fed milk also has 52% fewer omega-6 fats than conventional milk, and consuming too many omega-6 fats increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.
CHOBANI SWEET CREAM COFFEE CREAMER
Per 1 tablespoon serving: 30 calories, 1 1/2g fat, 4g carbs, 0g protein, 4g sugar
Ingredients: natural cream, real milk, cane sugar and natural flavors
Chobani sweetened dairy creamers are made with only four ingredients: milk, cream, cane sugar and natural flavors. It doesn’t contain any unhealthy oils or additives and comes in a variety of flavors. It is sweet, so a little goes a long way.
COFFEEMATE NATURAL BLISS SWEET CREAM COFFEE CREAMER
Per 1 tablespoon serving: 35 calories, 1 1/2g fat, 5g carbs, 0g protein, 5g sugar
Ingredients: nonfat milk, heavy cream, cane sugar, natural flavor
Coffeemate’s Natural Bliss Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer is available in most stores and meets my requirements for a healthy creamer. It comes in several flavors, too, so you can have fun making your flavored coffee creation.
BEST PLANT-BASED COFFEE CREAMER
NUTPODS UNSWEETENED NON-DAIRY CREAMERS
Per 1 tablespoon serving: 10 calories, 1g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: purified water, coconut cream, almonds, natural flavors, acacia gum, sunflower lecithin, dipotassium phosphate, gellan gum, sea salt
Nutpods Non-Dairy Creamers are a great option for plant-based eaters. They’re made with heart-healthy almond and coconut cream with no added oils. They come in sweetened and unsweetened varieties and are free from artificial flavors, corn syrup, and refined sugar that’s normally found in other non-dairy creamers. Nutpods are also a good option for a keto or Paleo lifestyle.
SO DELICIOUS DAIRY-FREE ORGANIC COCONUT MILK CREAMER
Per 1 tablespoon serving: 15 calories, 1g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: organic coconut milk, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, gellan gum
For the nut-free crowd, So Delicious Dairy-Free Organic Coconut Milk Creamer is a simple coconut milk creamer with no added sugar, and it’s free of artificial flavor and added oils. I like that it’s organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, too.
ELMHURST ALMOND MILK, BARISTA EDITION
Per 1 cup serving: 90 calories, 7g fat, 5g carbs, 3g protein, 4g sugar
Ingredients: filtered water, almonds, rice. Contains 2 percent or less of cane sugar, dipotassium phosphate, salt
Elmhurst Almond Milk is a silky smooth almond milk creamer that’s free of flavors, oils, gums and emulsifiers. It foams and steams like regular milk and it’s a great option if you take your coffee without sugar.
MILKADAMIA UNSWEETENED LATTE DA BARISTA BLEND
Per 1 cup serving: 45 calories, 4g fat, 1g carbs, 1g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: filtered macadamia milk, pea protein, calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, potassium phosphate, natural flavor, locust bean gum, salt, sunflower lecithin, gellan gum
Macadamia nut milk is a great substitute for cream in your coffee, you’ll love the flavor and texture.
FUNCTIONAL CREAMERS
VITAL PROTEINS
Per 2-scoop serving: 140 calories, 9g fat, 4g carbs, 10g protein, 1g sugar
Ingredients: collagen peptides, organic coconut milk powder, natural vanilla flavor, organic bamboo shoot extract, organic acacia fiber
Vital Proteins non-dairy collagen creamers pack 10g of collagen per serving and MCTs from coconut milk powder. The collagen is great for adding some satiating protein to your coffee and it also helps support healthy hair, skin, nails and joints.
HONORABLE MENTION
These creamers are not found in the grocery store, but they are great options if you’re shopping online.
FOURSIGMATIC NON-DAIRY CREAMER
Per 1-scoop serving: 15 calories, 1g fat, 1g carbs, 0g protein, <1g sugar
Ingredients: medicinal mushrooms, MCT oil, adaptogens, probiotics and other functional ingredients.
These mostly organic ingredients support gut health and digestion and help maintain healthy gut flora. The MCT oil from coconut can help provide sustained energy all morning long.
POWERCREAMER (FRENCH VANILLA)
Per 1 tablespoon serving: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: grass-fed ghee, organic extra-virgin coconut oil, MCT oil, natural vanilla flavor, non-GMO sunflower lecithin, organic stevia extract
PowerCreamer is a great option if you’re following a high-fat, low-carb eating style. This coffee creamer is sugar-free, lactose-free, casein-free, gluten-free, carb-free and sweetener-free. It’s made with grass-fed ghee, organic coconut oil and MCT oil. It’s great for anyone looking to add a fat source to their morning coffee because it’s not heavy — it can even be frothed.
PRYMAL CREAMER (CINNAMON DOLCE FLAVOR)
Per 4 teaspoon serving: 45 calories, 4g fat, 6g carbs, 0g protein, 0g sugar
Ingredients: coconut oil, ketosweet (erythritol, chicory root extract, monk fruit extract, stevia leaf extract), natural flavor, medium-chain triglycerides, organic coconut milk powder, inulin, erythritol. Contains 2 percent or less of each of the following: cinnamon, sodium caseinate, sunflower lecithin, silicon dioxide (as anti-caking agent), Himalayan pink salt, vegetable juice color.
Prymal has a great collection of powdered creamers in flavors like salted caramel, red velvet and cinnamon dolce. It’s sweetened with monk fruit and stevia so there’s no added sugar. This makes it a great option for keto diets as well as plant-based flavored coffee aficionados.
THE BOTTOM LINE
You can still enjoy adding a little creaminess to your morning coffee as well as sweetness and flavor without sabotaging your health goals. The trick is to look for creamers that give you creaminess without adding excessive calories, sugar, carbs and chemicals.
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