I’m sure you must be very familiar with half and half and you probably have one cooling in your refrigerator right now.
Maybe you use it to cook or it’s your favorite coffee creamer, but do you know what it is?
Okay maybe you’ve actually wondered a little and at one point or another, you may have probably asked what half and half is anyway.
Okay maybe you’ve actually wondered a little and at one point or another, you may have probably asked what half and half is anyway.
Is it milk or cream?
And is it healthy for me?
Just as the name ‘half and half’ implies, it’s a mixture of equal portions of whole milk and heavy cream.
That is, half part whole milk and half part heavy cream.
When heavy cream isn’t a very healthy choice and whole milk isn’t rich enough, half and half blends in the two to give a healthier and richer alternative.
It’s creamy and contains only about 315 calories as opposed to a whopping 821 calories in heavy cream.
if this isn’t healthier then I don’t know what is.
Although it’s fattier than milk, half and half has a much lower fat content than heavy cream which is good news for your waist line.
Don’t you agree?
And did you know that half and half has been around since the 1950s?
Your grandparents were probably using it long before you were born.
That comes as a shock to me as I didn’t know that it was that old.
Pros and Cons of Half and Half
If this is your favorite coffee creamer then it only makes sense that you know what you’re gaining from it and what isn’t so great about it, to help you make informed decisions on your health and safety.
Some of the benefits of half and half are;
- It’s a good source of calcium.
- It contains less calories and fat than heavy cream, therefore it’s a healthier alternative.
- It’s also a better alternative to non diary coffee creamers and it tastes great too.
Now to some of the not-so-good aspects of it.
- It can cause an increase in your blood sugar level.
- It makes you temporarily dehydrated.
- It can also make you fatigued or hyperactive.
This in no way means that half and half is bad for.
The answer to the question of whether it’s bad for you is NO! It’s not bad provided you moderate your intake and please stick to the traditional half and half.
And by all means avoid fat-free half and half because it’s definitely bad for you.
Homemade Recipes
Okay, let’s say you just brewed your favorite coffee drink only to discover that your favorite coffee creamer – half and half – is finished.
But there are whole milk and heavy cream in your refrigerator.
Of course neither of them is ideal but those are just what you need to make your own special half and half in your kitchen.
So how do you do it?
It’s simple and just about anyone can do it.
Get a mug and pour in exactly the same volume of whole milk and heavy cream.
Half cup of whole milk and half cup of heavy cream, then thoroughly mix to create your half and half.
And that’s it.
Now isn’t it easy enough?
Alternatively, you can mix 3/4 cup of whole milk and 1/4cup of heavy cream.
This gives a mixture with lower fat and calories.
Coconut milk
Would you like your cup of coffee to be a lot healthier and tastier?
Then, you might want to do away with those dairy creamers and get your hands on some coconut milk.
Yes, homemade stuff, not all that junk and stuff on the shelves of grocery stores.
The coconut milk coffee creamer is an excellent substitute for all the high-fat, high-calories, and high-cholesterol dairy products you’ve probably been using all these years.
And I do hope I don’t come across as a prophet of doom when I say that your health might just be sitting on a ticking time bomb if you keep up with those.
Trust me; this is no fad.
It’s not one of those healthy-eating campaigns people embark on mostly to look cool, neither is it one of those things some people take up just to feel connected to their favorite celebrities.
In truth, it’s a very healthy dietary choice that has been in existence for as far as memory can go.
Before people started taking non-dairy creamers seriously, animal-sourced creamers were all we ever knew about when it came down to topping coffee.
Unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, that changed with World War II when a shortage of everything forced people into rethinking basically everything.
And someone we struck gold.
How lucky!
Suddenly, everyone realized we didn’t really need animal milk after all.
And the non-dairy varieties began to roll in.
Of all the many non-dairy options, it is the coconut milk coffee creamer idea that perhaps gets the cake!
So, if you happen to run be an avid creamer, maybe you shouldn’t bolt to the store across the street for your usual fix the next time you run out of coffee creamer.
And that’s because coconut milk is a much more healthy alternative, and it’s even better when you make it with your own hands.
Relax, you could even get it done with your eyes closed.
Just kidding!
Pour some of those into your cup of coffee and you get a mixture that is both healthy and tasty – and how often do we get that?!
And what’s more, the creaminess of coconut milk makes it come in handy as a great creamer for black coffee.
If you have a sweet tooth, you may even throw some maple syrup in the mix.
You’ll see several brands of canned coconut milk in stores around you, but I can’t make any promises about how you’ll feel about it afterward.
So, to be on the safe side, maybe you should get handy with stuff and get it done by yourself.
Plus, it’s fun.
Pros
- Pleasant flavor and mouthfeel
- Improved Immune System
- Contains good saturated fats that fuel the liver
- Promotes Good Heart Health
- Boosts energy and cognitive function
Cons
- Might lead to weight gain if used excessively
- Could cause digestive disorders
Recipe for Homemade Coconut Milk Creamer
Homemade coconut milk creamer for coffee is crazy easy to make.
All you need is quality coconut milk, a healthy sweetener like honey and natural extract.
Ingredients
2 cups shredded coconut organic and unsweetened
4 cups purified water hot not boiling
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla paste (optional)
6 drops liquid stevia (optional)
Directions
Place shredded coconut in a bowl of very hot (not boiling), pure water.
Let soak for 1-2 hours.
Do NOT discard the water.
In the blender, combine coconut, soaking water, and vanilla and stevia, if using.
Blend on the highest speed for about a minute.
Strain liquid through a nut milk bag, paint strainer bag or very, very fine cheesecloth, pressing out all the liquid you can.
Blend the coconut milk, sweetener of choice and vanilla extract together until the creamer is mixed well.
Pour desired amount into your coffee or tea and store the remaining creamer in the refrigerator.
Make sure to shake the creamer well before using.
Enjoy! This creamer will be good for up to two weeks.
Almond milk
If your favorite coffee drink is one with half and half in it but you’re now interested in switching to a healthier non-dairy alternative.
Then I’m really glad to present you with a great replacement; almond milk coffee creamer.
Yeah, that’s right!
And in case you’re wondering what that it, almond milk is a non-dairy milk gotten from almonds.
It is creamy, has a nutty flavor and contains neither cholesterol nor lactose, which makes it ideal for individuals who are lactose intolerant.
It’s a great choice for anyone who wants healthy non-dairy milk and with a little touch up you’ll get an excellent creamer for your coffee.
Almond milk has been around since the Middle Ages when it was consumed by people who were fasting and during special times such as Lent.
Although it has always been available since then, it was always seen as a niche product: a milk used by people who were slightly odd.
Things changed in 2011 when sales rose by 79%.
In 2013 it became more popular than soy milk and by 2014, almond milk accounted for 4% of all milk sales in the USA.
Not bad, eh?
Making almond milk from almonds is something you can do in your kitchen with a little or no hand holding.
Though almond milk can be bought in your local grocery store, the homemade version is surely better.
But for convenience sake, you can always buy one from the grocery store, but the almond milk coffee creamer is one you should make yourself, that way you’ll give it a personal feel.
I’m sure you’ll agree with me that nothing beats homemade.
Pros and Cons of Almond Milk
So you’ve decided that almond milk is your non-dairy milk of choice, now let’s see what benefits come with that choice and also some downsides of it.
Some benefits of drinking almond milk include;
- It’s low in calories and contains good fat which protects the heart.
- It’s rich in vitamin E and antioxidants.
- It’s diary free, cholesterol and lactose free.
- It’s creamy with a nutty taste.
Cons;
- Does not contain sufficient protein and calcium.
- It may have added sugars which can be unhealthy (especially those already made ones).
Recipe for Homemade Almond Milk Coffee Creamer
Here you’ll discover how to make almond milk coffee creamer from almonds and even if you’ve never made almond milk before, have no fear because it’s very easy and straightforward.
Just follow the steps below.
Ingredients:
1 cup of raw almonds
I gallon of clean water
Maple syrup
Vanilla extract
Step 1: Soak the almonds: put your raw almonds (at least one cup) in a bowl with a lid.
Pour in enough water to cover the almonds.
Allow it to sit still for no longer that 48 hours, and make sure you change the water every morning and night.
Step 2: Blend the almonds: next, remove the almonds from the water and put them in a blender.
Add one and half cups of water and blend until the almonds are properly blended and mixed with the water to give a milky white mixture.
Step 3: Separate the milk: to separate the milk from the pulp you need to pour the mixture to a nut milk bag.
Place the nut milk bag in a bowl, pour the mixture into the bag, lift it and squeeze until the last possible drop of milk falls into the bowl.
Before doing this make sure your hands are neat.
Now, you have your homemade almond milk ready.
The next thing is to add some flavors to make it a tasty coffee creamer.
Step 4: Spice up the milk: to make a wonderful coffee creamer add your maple syrup, vanilla extract and stir.
And you have your almond milk coffee creamer ready for use and storage.
That was easy, right?
Add some to your coffee and experience a real difference.
Soymilk
If you’re looking to replace half and half in your coffee with a healthier alternative, then you just found out what you need.
Non-dairy milk coffee creamers are now known to be a lot healthier than your traditional heavy cream or even half and half, and if you successfully make this transition not only will you be healthier but your thighs will thank you too.
No kidding!
One of the excellent choices of healthy non-dairy creamers is the infamous soymilk coffee creamer.
If that’s new to you, then you should know that it’s a coffee creamer made from soymilk.
And soymilk in turn is gotten from soybeans.
The idea of using soy milk as a non-dairy coffee creamer alternative has been around since the 1940s.
Right around when World War II went into full swing.
Soy milk has become one of the most trusted go-to products to refer to when one is on the lookout for an alternative coffee creamer that won’t do a number on a person’s health.
And who wouldn’t want that?
Soy creamers are a healthy alternative to the usual suspects which pack you full with more calories, cholesterol, and lactose than you have a need for.
By stirring some soy into your morning joe, you avail yourself a signature silk smoothness and a touch of sweetness that is completely dairy-free – something you won’t get off those animal-based creamers.
Dairy creamers aren’t exactly the bad guys, but these days, it is very likely that your body needs none of those given the average dietary lifestyle of individuals nowadays.
Soy creamers look like regular creamers in both appearance and texture but they are packed with loads of nutrients while being low in saturated fat.
Pros and Cons
Soy milk serves up benefits that can be found in regular milk and even more.
And that’s because it contains adequate amounts of some essential minerals and natural vitamins that are lacking in regular milk.
And then, it has a particularly pleasant flavor that makes it quite appealing to both kids and adults.
Pros
- It is a very nutritious alternative to animal-sourced milk.
- It contains very little saturated fat and zero cholesterol.
- It helps you lose weight.
Cons
- It contains very little calcium.
Recipe for Homemade Soy Bean Milk Creamer
Most of the bad rep soy coffee creamers have gathered over the years is mostly a direct result of the fact that many of the products in the market are just not good enough.
And as such, making your own soy creamer is always the best bet.
And guess what, it’s not rocket science.
Now, here’s how to go about it.
Ingredients
Soy Milk:
1 cup organic, dry soybeans
5 cups filtered water (more for soaking and rinsing)
1 tbsp. agave nectar
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Soy Creamer:
4 cups homemade soy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
1 tbsp.agave syrup
Step 1: Soak the soybeans in filtered water overnight.
(at least 8 hours) Rinse with clean water and cover with more water.
Agitate the beans to loosen skins.
Remove skins and drain.
Step 2: Place the beans in a food processor with 2 1/2 cups water and process for 3-5 minutes.
Line a large bowl with cheesecloth and pour the mixture in.
Pour the rest of the water (2 1/2 cups) over the mixture.
Step 3: Strain and squeeze all the liquid from the soybeans.
Save the pulp.
And another use.
Step 4: Place the beans in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over med/high heat.
Turn the heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer for about 45 minutes.
Stir the mixture occasionally while cooking.
Add the agave and vanilla and mix.
Chill and serve.
Soy Creamer:
Place 2 cups of the homemade soy milk in a medium saucepan.
Simmer on low until reduced by half.
Add the vanilla and agave, mix and chill.
Add the soy creamer to your cup of coffee and enjoy.
Yield: 4 cups soy milk or 2 cups creamer
