Healthy Coffee Swaps & Options

I'm a believer that small changes and steps lead to big results. I like to encourage and remind my clients and followers that you don't have to change everything all at once to see results and to be healthy. The small everyday changes are as important as the big ones.

For example, looking at how you prepare your cup of coffee.. (usually the first things you consume in your day) is a great way to start. Starting your day off on a good, healthy note will make you physically feel good and also feel proud and accomplished. I love making a healthy morning drink to get me going for the day and I want to share some swaps/recipes you can try out!

*reminder: I always encourage you to drink at least 8 ounces of water first thing in the morning before any caffeine.

*I will link products that I talk about below so you can look at them/purchase on Amazon!

First let's chat about 10 healthier ingredients to add to you coffee.

1. Vanilla extract

Adding a small amount of vanilla extract into your coffee adds so much flavor without the unhealthy chemical creamers that are out there. Try swapping our your flavored creamers with extracts! Other extracts that would be good are almond, peppermint, pumpkin spice, maple, coconut, cinnamon, etc. You will also save money from not buying as many creamer packets!

2. Coconut oil

Adding coconut oil to coffee is a game changer in my opinion. It makes your coffee so frothy and creamy and it also keeps you full from the extra healthy fat! There is a lot of rave around "keto coffee" or "bulletproof coffee" and I agree that there can be great benefits from it, but I just personally use and recommend coconut oil instead of butter. I do not advise or recommend the keto diet BUT having 1/2-1 tbsp of coconut oil to your coffee can come with great benefits! (and tastes deeeeelish)

3. Collagen powder

Along with coconut oil, adding collagen peptides to coffee can make you fuller for longer! It can also add a nice taste if you purchase a flavored kind. Collagen powder has many amazing benefits and stay tuned for a whole blog post about that and the brands I recommend!

4. Cacao powder

Cacao is the purest form of chocolate and it can definitely help up your coffee game and make it so much more nutritious. Adding a small amount to your coffee gives it a nice chocolate flavor, but make sure to pair it with some sort of sweetener so it's not as bitter tasting! Click here to read about the health benefits of cacao and why I have it every single day!

5. Maple syrup / honey

Speaking of sweetener, maple syrup and honey are a great swap for your sugar. I think adding a tsp up to 1/2 tbsp of maple syrup adds in such a yummy flavor and makes you feel like you're drinking a specialty Starbucks drink.

6. Stevia / monk fruit

These are actually the only '0 calorie sweeteners' I reccomend. Stevia and monk fruit are both natural and not chemically made like most 0 cal options. Using just a tiny tiny amount of these (like 2-4 drops) makes your coffee so much sweeter and is great to swap out sugar for. I personally use the liquid versions because I find it mixes way easier than the powders. You can also find flavored versions of these in liquid-form, so that may be a great option as well!

7. Cinnamon / pumpkin pie spice

Don't neglect your spices! Adding a dash of cinnamon of pumpkin spice either to your coffee grinds or just to your mug adds so much natural flavor. Especially during the fall, adding pumpkin spice makes you feel so festive and you won't feel as inclined to stop by Starbucks ;)

8. Dairy free milk

Using your favorite dairy free milk is great to swap out your cows milk for. I find that these are easier to digest and they also can add in a great taste! One of my favorites to use in coffee is coconut milk. Especially homemade coconut milk because it adds in a strong yummy coconut taste and it's a great replacement for coconut creamer. I like to also sometimes warm up some almond milk and froth it up to add on top of my morning coffee and it makes a great healthy latte!

9. CBD oil

You may not have expected this, but adding CBD oil can be great for so many reasons. If you're like me, a lot caffeine can sometimes make you feel jittery and anxious, and CBD helps to calm your body and keep that from happening. You can also get flavored CBD oil such as peppermint that would taste delicious in coffee. Two of my favorite brands are Social CBD and Soul CBD. Check them out!

10. Medicinal mushrooms

Okay before you get grossed out.. hear me out! If you follow me on Instagram you know I LOVE my Four Sigmatic and LA Republica Mushroom coffee. They come packed with healthy medicinal mushrooms like chaga, reishi, lions mane, shiitake, cordyceps, maitake, and turkey tail. These all have such great health benefits and are awesome to add into your coffee. And the best part is... they are tasteless! I promise you can't even tell they are there. However, you don't have to have those brands of coffee to get these benefits. You can purchase medicinal mushroom powders and extracts on Amazon, or Four Sigmatic just has a powder you can purchase with all of the mushrooms in there and you can add it to your coffee yourself!

Now lets talk about the actual coffee!

When picking out coffee, you want to make sure it's a good quality brand. Coffee beans are known to be heavily sprayed with pesticides, so it's important to buy organic. Also, like I previously mentioned, coffee brands with medicinal mushrooms in them are also great and I will link a few brands down below!

Recipe Ideas

Everyday Cup of Joe:

1 cup hot coffee, 1/4-/1/2 cup your favorite dairy free milk, 1/2 tbsp coconut oil, optional: a few drops of liquid stevia.

Frothy Filling Latte:

1 cup hot coffee, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1/2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp collagen powder, 1/2 cup warm frothed milk. (I use a hand frother or a blender)

Pumpkin Spice Latte:

1 cup coffee, 1/4-1/2 cup almond milk, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, your sweetener of choice, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 tsp coconut oil.

Hot Choc Coffee:

1 cup hot coffee, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 tbsp cacao powder, 1/2 tbsp maple syrup, pinch of sea salt, 1/2 tbsp coconut oil, optional: collagen powder.

Coconut Dream Coffee:

1 cup coffee, 1/2 cup coconut milk OR coconut cream from the can, 1/2 tbsp coconut oil, sweetener of choice.

Coffee Lovers Shake:

1 serving chilled coffee, 1 banana, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tbsp cacao powder, 2 tbsp collagen powder, milk of choice. Click here for optional add-ins of this smoothie and to watch a video of how I make it!

These are just a few ideas and recipes that I love and use! Experiment with what you like and let me know what recipes you come up with! I recommend mixing the ingredients with a blender or a hand frother. You can also play around with healthy iced coffee recipes and cold brew recipes! And if you enjoy just black coffee, or with just a little milk, that's great!! You don't have to add in a bunch of ingredients to make it healthy :)

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