What's in your coffee?

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) issued a warning about the fat content of coffee creamers this week. According to the CSPI, the labels on coffee creamers may be leading people to think they are a healthy alternative to plain milk.

Here are a few examples of the fat and calorie content of a 1 tablespoon serving of various coffee whiteners:

Heavy cream = 6 grams fat / 50 calories

Light cream = 3 grams fat / 30 calories

Half & half = 2 grams fat / 20 calories

Creamers (plain or flavored) = 1-3 grams fat / 20-50 calories

Whole milk = 0.5 gram fat / 10 calories

Using regular milk in your coffee is the healthiest option. First, whole milk has only ½ gram of fat per tablespoon, so even a generous serving of 2 tablespoons whole milk gives you only 1 gram of fat. If you use low fat milk, obviously the fat content is even less.

Second, milk is a natural food. Most coffee creamers contain partially hydrogenated oils, which means trans fat. Most also contain sugar or artificial sweeteners. Read the ingredient label on your creamer. You may see names that are hard to pronounce, like polysorbate 60 and sodium stearoyl lactylate.

Real milk or trans fats and chemicals – which would you rather drink with your coffee?