featured image by Kristen Kilpatrick
Raise your hand if your New Year’s Resolution is related to coffee — we see you. Whether you’ve vowed to drink less of it, spend less money on it, or cut it out altogether, leaving your coffee habits in 2018 might prove harder than anticipated, largely in part due to that oh-so-delightful ritual surrounding your morning cuppa. Believe us when we say this: we get it. It really is the best part of waking up! But if less coffee is what 2019 has in the cards for you, fear not. There are lots of other drinks out there that are equally delicious, and most importantly, more nutritious. Substitute your morning (or afternoon) Joe for one of these alternatives.
Bone Broth
If you’re tired of hearing me sing the praises of bone broth, skip on to the next slide. When the time came to finally treat my leaky gut, I found that homemade bone broth gives my digestive system the anti-inflammatory TLC it needs, and the warm, savory flavor is the comforting drink my body craves in the mornings.
Chai Tea
If you’ve only ever tried the Starbucks version, you’ve never truly tried Chai. Our contributor Suruchi makes a big batch of the classic spiced drink and stores it in the fridge, re-heating or serving over ice each morning throughout the week.
Immunity Tea and Detox Drinks
Hiding from the flu? Shaking off a sinus infection? Trying to flush out the weekend? There’s an all-natural concoction of herbs, spices, produce, and tinctures for just about whatever ails you. This Fire Cider Tonic from Martha Stewart is a favorite that can be batch made in advance, along with this roundup of trusty go-tos.
image by Michael Persico for UO Blog
Fresh Juice
“Juicing” doesn’t have to come in the form of a 5-day cleanse that takes place every January after a month of partying. Instead, incorporate freshly pressed juice from raw produce into your morning routine. It’s a great way to deliver essential minerals, enzymes and vitamins straight into your system.
photo via sakara
Warm Water with Lemon and Himalayan Salt
When consumed on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, this two-ingredient tonic is known to benefit immunity, improve digestion, and fight inflammation. Just take it from radiant women like Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncé, Jennifer Aniston, and Gisele Bündchen who all swear by the healthy brew.
Tea
As tea sommelier Raechel Kelly shared with us this Fall, “Though tea has less caffeine than coffee, it brings a lot of other important compounds to the table, like theanine, an amino acid that’s said to calm the mind. Studies suggest that the theanine and caffeine combo in tea may actually improve cognitive abilities. This very same compound cocktail is the reason we don’t get caffeine jitters or spikes from tea.” In case you needed another reason to revisit the steeped drink, this gussied up version of tea is a new office favorite.
image from The Roasted Root
Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea that not only has the benefits listed above, but also contains good-for-you probiotics and bacteria-killing antioxidants. The strong taste can be an acquired one, but we’re big fans of the stuff. On mornings where we don’t have a batch of bone broth pre-made, a splash of kombucha tends to be a great substitute for treating digestive issues.
A Green Smoothie
Knock out all your daily greens in one fail swoop with a smoothie first thing in the morning. Spinach, kale and spirulina automatically give your day a wellness boost, while the addition of sweet fruit or nut butters balance the flavor of any bitter or overpowering greens. Peruse our collection of tried and tested smoothie recipes here.
