Are You Getting Creamed By Your Creamer?
Photo Credit: Colin and Sarah
Most of us use at least 1 tablespoon to cream our coffee. Do I hear 2 tablespoons? Next time you fix your cup of coffee, measure the creamer and find out for sure what your personal creamer serving really is.
I'm talking about the liquid non-dairy creamers that come in different flavors that you buy in the refrigerated section next to milk. If you go this route, it's important to check the ingredient list too, because some of the companies use partially hydrogenated oil which means trans fats are lurking too, along with saturated fat.
Two tablespoons of some of these creamers will add 40 to 80 calories and up to 2 grams of saturated fat and .9 grams of trans fat for every 2-tablespoon serving. If you are a "3 cups of coffee" type of person, this can add up fast in a bad way (up to 240 calories, 6 grams of saturated and 2.7 grams of trans).
What about the soy based or fat free creamers? They must be better right? Actually, most of them are! International Delight Fat Free contains zero saturated and trans fat and 60 calories for a 2-tablespoon serving. Silk brand liquid soy creamers add an average of 30 calories, around .5 grams of saturated fat and zero trans fat per 2 tablespoon serving. The flavored fat free creamers by Coffee-mate (French vanilla or hazelnut) are better than the original types though with 50 calories, .2 grams of saturated fat and .3 grams of trans per 2-tablespoon serving.
You can always try pouring in some fat free half and half. That will only cost you 20 calories per 2 tablespoon serving.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: coffee creamer, healthy diet
8 Comments:
creamer does not make you fat - eating like a fat slob does
Sweet Babyblue,
I never said creamer makes you fat. In fact I never say anything in particular makes anyone "fat" because while the amount of calories we eat not being in balance with the amount of calories we are burning, day to day, is the bottom line to excessive body weight, it is a bit more complicated than that.
WHAT we eat can influence our tendency to take in more calories than our body needs and so can emotions and disordered eating (like binge eating disorder)...and so can the amount of exercise we get on a daily and weekly basis. What our body shape is and how easy or difficult it is for our particular body to put on excess body fat DOES indeed have a genetic component.
And I personally try not to judge people or call them hurtful names--because you don't know everyone's whole story. Even the people with binge eating disorder may have had very traumatic life events that put them in this challenging place.
My father, for example, was a bit of a binge eater in his adult life but you know what? He was in the underground during WWII in Holland in his early 20's and was truly starving during part of the war and had to experience things that were traumatic.
I have the utmost of compassion for people who struggle with their food and emotions and body image.
--Elaine Magee
Thank you Elaine for your understanding. 'BabyBlue' is anything but sweet. She/he sounds like one of those naturally thin persons who can eat anything and not gain weight and think all heavy people are hogs without willpower or character. I do my best to keep people like that out of my life.
It seems like fat people will blame anything but themselves for being fat. I drink 3 cups of coffee every day with HEAVY CREAM and I am 5'7" and weigh 120lbs. I don't understand how people will eat chemically laden Frankenstein "low fat" or "low calorie" foods that were created in a lab instead of cutting out bad foods. If you must eat - eat fruit or salad or whole grains like oatmeal or something. I believe it is much more harmful to use creamer substitutes and sugar substitutes than eating natural products. Ms. Magee, I think that those that practice disordered eating and binge eating are basically food addicts and should be looked at and treated like drug addicts. You are using the same excuses that addicts use like having a traumatic life. They know they should not eat that Big Mac but they drive to McDonalds, purchase the food and eat it. Don't buy processed food like potato chips, etc., then it won't be there to eat. There are healthy options for every craving. If you must gorge - do so on salad. If you can't do that - find a 12 step meeting.
I don't blame people for their weight, but I WILL blame people for bad manners. That you are prejudiced against fat people is your own issue, but you don't need to be mean about it. Do you blame African Americans for their skin color? Are they "addicted" to being black? Do they "gorge" on melanin? Regardless of whether you think fat people are the equivalent of drug addicts, they're still people. Treat them as such.
If I want creamer in my coffee, I'll darn well have some. Usually, I bring milk because it's what I'm used to (and Elaine, I'm one of those 4 cup people, so all of that creamer just sits heavy on me). Much of your body weight is ultimately regulated by genetics.
Ms. Magee, I meant your father no disrespect. That is an extraordinary experience and he is truly a hero for enduring and living through that.
Thanks for honoring my father. My mother also hid two Jewish friends under their house during WWII and they all risked their lives and they all survived. She too starved and experienced horrible events during WWII but everyone handles these live changing events differently.
I just wanted to add that I don't endorse bingeing on anything, even salad.
I appreciate this lively discussion--Because of my education in nutrition and my personal experiences along the way...(I come from a family of athletes who are not naturally thin)...I have en empathy for people who struggle with their health and yes, their body size.
I always remember that saying, don't judge another until you have walked a mile in their shoes. (I think that's how it goes)
When I meet a person my first instinct is I to look into their eyes and truly see the wonderful person inside, I know it sounds unbelievable but I really don't pay that much attention to how thin (or not) a person is. To make my point, I might say, "you look happier and more relaxed today!" instead of "have you lost some weight?"
I just want us all (as a country and a society) to focus on being better people on the inside and to focus on eating and exercising for the health of it and letting the pounds fall where they may.
Just my two cents worth,
Elaine Magee
As smart as we are, can't someone fiqure out a way to make a delicious vanilla flavored coffee that is good for you???
Ann
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