What do you put in your coffee?

Here’s an ingredient list from a product that most of us are familiar with.

Can you guess what it is?

Hint: It’s found in kosher kitchens, restaurants, synagogues and on airlines.

Ingredients:

Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (coconut, canola, and/or palm kernel), corn syrup solids, sugar, sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), dipotassium phosphate, monoglycerides, natural flavor, salt, silicon dioxide, sodium tripolyphosphate, vitamin E acetate, DATEM, lutein, artificial color, soy lecithin. May Contain Soy Products.

Take a guess. Does it sound like something good for you? Does it even sound like food?

If there’s one product, besides margarine, that I’d like to banish from kosher kitchens, synagogues, restaurants and airline meals, it’s non-dairy creamer.

Whether it’s a powder or liquid, it’s likely to contain trans fat in the form of partially hydrogenated oil. Besides fat, you’ll find a long list of synthetic ingredients. I challenge you to pronounce them, let alone understand what they are!

Does it really taste good or is it just a matter of whitening and thickening your coffee? In my opinion, its only contribution is an off-tasting, oily mouth feel.

What are the alternatives to this main-stay of kosher coffee drinkers?

Keeping it parve gives you these options: Drink your coffee black or use an alternative vegetarian creamer such as a soy, rice or almond beverage.

Most soy beverages and creamers (such as Silk Soy products) have a kosher dairy label. A little investigation often reveals that they are actually dairy-free, but produced on dairy equipment. In this case, you may not use them with, but only after eating a meat meal. (Please consult your Rabbi for further details.) Soy drinks and creamers come in a variety of flavors and fat content.

If you enjoy real cream in your coffee with a dairy meal, consider the alternatives. Full-fat cream may be more natural than non-dairy creamer, but it’s high in calories and saturated fat. Try low-fat or non-fat milk instead. If you insist on a creamy taste, use a small amount of whole milk.
Another creamy option is evaporated milk. It comes in cans and is available in full-fat, low-fat and fat-free varieties. They are all lower in fat than cream.

With all of these options, you can rid your kitchen of non-dairy creamer, enjoy your coffee and take a positive step for better health.