Since going OFF coffee at the start of this year, I’ve pretty much been all about my alternative morning elixirs. At first, I stuck to just my hot water + lemon. I love hot water and lemon first thing in the morning, and I still drink it from time to time. However, just I pretty much only drink water throughout the day…so I was getting kind of bored of it.
Enter my morning latte creations. I realized I was missing out on an opportunity to kick start my day with a ton of healthy nutrients. Each of the recipes I’ll share are packed with benefits which can help to naturally heal your body.
I’ll share more about WHY I decided to cut out coffee a little later. As I was making this transition though, I will say one of the things I was most worried about was how the absence of coffee would affect my morning ritual. I have always loved waking up, pouring a hot cup of joe, and then starting my day slowly either reading, or just being still, maybe on my balcony or the stoop of my apartment when I lived in Brooklyn.
Not to mention, the caffeine! I usually liked to down my coffee and work through this slow morning aspect before hitting the gym. Sometimes I’d even take a second cup of coffee to the gym with me! I remember going to bed most nights, feeling my body yearning for what would give it life again the following morning. I was so incredibly addicted to caffeine.
BUT…after a long series of mindful observations, and as I’ve grown more intuitive to understanding my body and how it reacts to certain foods and substances, coffee had to go.
And guess what?
I’ve never felt better! I have more energy than I did drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day, and this energy lasts throughout the whole day, without any horrible crashes or weird side effects (again, I’ll elaborate more on quitting coffee in another post!).
Below I’ll share the few morning cocktail go-to’s which have helped me to feel even better about hopping off of the coffee train. Let m know if you decided to try any of these, and how you like them!
First up…
Matcha Latte
If you’ve followed along on my Instagram at all, you know I loveeee my morning matcha. Matcha does include caffeine, but it’s a fraction compared to the amount in coffee.
When I feel like I need a little extra boost, I go for matcha instead of coffee, now. It is much more sustained than coffee, so I don’t get jittery, or feel a crash later in the day.
Matcha also has so many health benefits compared to coffee. It helps to boost metabolism and burn calories naturally. It’s packed with antioxidants, including EGCg, which can’t be found anywhere else! Matcha detoxifies your system effectively and naturally, and is rich in fiber, chlorophyll, and all kinds of vitamins.
My Recipe:
1/2 cup hot water (not boiling)
1/2 cup nut milk ( I pretty much always use almond milk, but you can use any kind of milk you’d like!)
1 scoop collagen (I have been loving Vital Proteins lately)
1 tsp matcha powder (I am not partial to any specific matcha I’ve used, but I am using Nativas currently, and really like it!)
1 tbsp melted coconut butter (I like Maranantha)
1/8 tsp or a dash of cinnamon
+ optional small amount of honey or maple syrup to sweeten
Blend everything together, & enjoy!
Dandelion Tea
I posted a picture of my dandelion tea a while back on my Instagram. This has been a new recipe I’ve been experimenting with, primarily because dandelion tea itself has so many health benefits, especially for us women during our ovulation phase. I wanted to work dandelion into my diet somehow, and was pleased to discover it actually works perfectly as a coffee replacement!
Beyond that it legitimately tastes like coffee in a way, some of it’s health benefits include liver detox, muscle recovery, blood circulation, and aid in digestion. In fact, this tea has become the go-to remedy for digestion in our house, anytime we might be feeling like something we ate didn’t sit right.
My Recipe:
1/2 cup hot water (not boiling)
1/2 cup nut milk ( I pretty much always use almond milk, but you can use any kind of milk you’d like!)
1 scoop collagen (I have been loving Vital Proteins lately)
1-2 tbsp Dandy Blend, depending on how strong you want the taste. I love 2 full scoops, but you might want to start out with just 1.
1 tsp Four Sigmatic Caffeine-Free Adaptogen blend (this is optional, but highly encouraged to give you an extra medicinal kick, and add a little to the overall taste)
a dash of Pumpkin Pie Spice (found at Whole Foods or Trader Joes) or cinnamon
+ optional honey or maple syrup to sweeten
Blend everything together, & enjoy!
Turmeric “Golden Milk”
Finally, one of my favorites, the turmeric “golden milk” latte! I’ve been experimenting with turmeric probably longer than any of the others. When I discovered a “golden milk” recipe, I instantly had to give it a try. I remember it was one of the hottest days of last summer in NYC, but I opened all the windows in my Brooklyn apartment, and turned up the stove to give this baby a try. My first attempt…awful! LOL but I think I’ve gotten better over time…
I love turmeric because it is beneficial for your WHOLE body and brain. It battles against inflammation, increases your antioxidant capacity and helps to boost the immune system, eases joint pain, boosts mood, protects your heart and your gut, plus much more! Turmeric has been shown to improve long-term cognitive function through it’s active ingredient curcumin which directly supports the health of an important brain hormone.
I like to use turmeric as much as I can, but especially during the ovulation phase of my cycle, and especially in the form of my golden milk latte! Check out my *improved* recipe below…
My Recipe:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup nut milk ( I pretty much always use almond milk, but you can use any kind of milk you’d like!)
1 scoop collagen (I have been loving Vital Proteins lately)
1-2 tsp ground turmeric (more or less depending on how strong of a taste you like)
a whole cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp fresh or ground ginger
a dash of pepper (important to help activate the turmeric)
1/4 tsp cardamom (optional, and I don’t always use when I don’t have it on hand)
Bring everything to a simmer over low-medium heat, but do not boil! Strain out the ginger and cinnamon stick (you can reuse), froth the top if you’d like, & enjoy!
I am also linking my hand-held frother here because I am obsessed! I use it for all of these cocktails, and it is just too good to live without.
I hope you all enjoy these recipes! Let me know if you give them a try! 🙂
[…] or other fruits if I add it to water. This helps distract from any lingering taste. Now, whether I make a latte at home, or even if I order a matcha or other hot drink from Starbucks or other cafe, I almost always add […]