You are not going to get an o.k. for anything called "creamer" so just let that one go. Many of us use cream (whipping cream) and some use coconut milk. Those are pretty much your two options. Have you tried either of these? Both good options. If you can do dairy then the cream is the way to go. Otherwise coconut milk is doable and surely much better than creamer or drinking it black.

As to the "foodie" thing there is no reason you can't continue to be a foodie. Yes the changes present some limits but there are so many fabulous paleo recipes out there to play with you should never feel that you can't continue your love affair with food. You can get your joy back! Start reading the paleo blogs, maybe buy Mark's cookbook or one of the other paleo cookbooks and start having fun. It can be done.

melinda - you are correct to post your concerns/quesions about this, especially being new to paleo. those ingredients are horrible, and a big huge YES to your question of "but are they really "bad" for you?

mono and diglycerides is just like hydrogention, except it's a sneak to fool the ignorant masses, no joke.

best answer ever for coffee cream: use cream. nothing taste better. there are no healthier substitutes.

for those who are dairy intolerant, i would suggest coconut milk.

theres no way on earth that creamer would ever be considered paleo (in fact, its ind of the antithesis of paleo), so instead of trying to fit it into the paleo paradigm, just work on either eliminating it, or call it your "cheat" or Achilles heel. just dont call it paleo!

as for the joy in food, ive been a cook my whole life and i have always had a deep love affair with food. i read cookbooks like novels, and spend at least 2 hours a day reading recipe blogs. frankly, i have yet to find a "paleo" recipe blog that i enjoy. at all. but everything can be modified with some creativity and some basic skill. it doesnt matter if someone is vegan, GF, kosher, paleo or allergic to everything under the sun- food can still be joyful and expressive. experiment with spices, which present an absolutely ENDLESS possibilities. if youre really a "foodie" then why cant you find joy in paleo food? if youre really a "foodie", then frankly why are you adding "creamer" to your coffee??

It takes about two weeks, but start drinking your coffee black. Long lists of unreadeable ingredients that leaves you thinking "wtf" = not good for you.

I won't choose sides.

Your body's response to creamer is the best way of determining if it's 'safe' in your diet. Go without for a while and then start incorporating it, if you feel fine- awesome, if you have negative effects- er ... bummer ... creamer tastes awesome (I can't drink it either ...I'll go cry now.). But really, how anything affects you individually is the best means of knowing.

If you really want the creamer, despite your upset stomach, try supplementing with probiotics/enzymes that metabolize lactose and the other additives in milk (I'm not too versed on the latter, surely there are people here on PH that know.)

I had a hard time letting go of my flavored creamers, and now I don't even like them any more! Coffee just doesn't taste right to me these days if I'm not using whipping cream or coconut cream in it, with a little cinnamon. I wish I could enjoy it black but I'm not there yet!

Most coffee creamers are shelf stable without refrigeration because they contain trans-fat. Avoid them.

That beign said, coffee is not really something we drink for its nutritional properties, it's a pleasure, and should taste good, otherwise what's the point? Dairy cream, coconut cream/milk or even a little sugar (did I write that?) are totally ok.

Here's my 2 cents. I love coffee, have been drinking way too much of it for way too long. I used to use organic whole milk/ heavy cream/ even done coconut cream, and while all are viable options, especially over the flavored grocery store creamers, I discovered if I drink gourmet coffee (stay away from store-bought pre-ground stuff) from a french press, I don't even desire a "creamer." Starbucks has some solid coffee beans, I prefer Sumatra, that taste absolutely amazing black, specifically from a french press. If you do not like the taste of black coffee, and is only consumed for it's caffeine properties, then I suggest abandoning all hope and stick with tea. It's healthier, doesn't cause a crash (at least within my own experience), and comes in a slew of various flavors. Try green, or yerba mate tea. If you're feeling saucy, try something called Kombucha. It's fermented tea, which has active cultures, and tastes a bit like vinegar. Super healthy concoction. I know it sounds disgusting, but it's actually quite tasty.

I have the same problem, but since my daughter is lactose intolerant we use Lactaid whole milk. I've tried coconut milk but it doesn't settle well, probably because I am fruit intolerant. Trying to avoid fruit, nuts, and dairy at the same time is not so easy. :(

evil!!! if you want healthy coffee try organo gold...it tastes good too http://mycapturepage.com/cp23.php?id=470