Did you know that the average Canadian drinks 152 litres of coffee a year, ranking third highest among coffee drinkers worldwide? Not surprisingly, most of these litres are consumed when we get up, to start our day! This caffeinated beverage literally serves to wake Canadians up and many of us have become “hooked.”
That’s not to say that we are necessarily addicted to coffee itself, but perhaps to the associated morning ritual. There are social and cultural aspects to going for coffee with friends; and then there is that comforting aroma and ritual of making the morning coffee. So, that got me wondering whether drinking coffee is more a question of habit, almost a reflex. Many of us don’t actually take the time to ask ourselves: Do I really feel like drinking coffee? Is it really the taste I am looking for this morning? As a nutritionist, I believe that it is important to slow down and practise mindfulness when we drink and eat.
Whether you are questioning your need to drink coffee every morning or just want to cut down on stimulants, here are some tips to help you achieve your goals.
- Create a new morning ritual: If you are used to making a cup of coffee the minute you get up, choose something to replace it with. Get out your kettle and make yourself a fragrant cup of herbal tea. You could also set aside a few minutes for a morning meditation or some stretches.
- Instead of coffee, try decaffeinated chai tea: some people find that this tea’s comforting aroma and spices are reminiscent of coffee.
- Take rooibos or herbal tea packets with you: always have a few in your backpack or purse, on hand and ready to use. You will be less tempted to go for that traditional mid-day coffee if you have what you need when you are out or at work.
- Do yoga: it will help you stay focused and in tune with yourself without the need of an outside stimulant.
- Drink plenty of water: keep a bottle of water with you during the day. If cutting your caffeine intake triggers a headache, water will help you stay hydrated and feel better in general.
- Introduce the changes during vacation time: it has been shown that it’s easier to adopt new habits when we step outside our daily routine.
Do you drink coffee for a lack of alternatives? Here are some ideas for you:
- Hot lemon water
- Ginger tea
- Nut milk lattes (check out our vegan cardamom and tahini latte recipe)
- Turmeric latte (golden milk)
- Chaga latte
- Juice and smoothies
- Rooibos tea
