By Taylor Sutton, MS, RD
United Supermarkets’ Lifestyle Desk
National Coffee Day was on September 29 but let’s be real, it’s a celebration everyday when that first sip crosses your lips. There is something special about it, whether it is the ritual of coffee, the taste, the jolt of energy, and so on.
Specialty coffee sales have been increasing by about 20% per year and as of last year, coffee was an $18 billion industry. Statistics show that consumers on average drink about three cups of coffee per day.
Now, while that may not seem like a lot of joe, it can add up calorically if you are adding fun creamers and sugars. What defines a cup is the type of coffee bean used, how it is roasted, the amount of grind, and how it is brewed. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it’s safe for most people to drink three to five cups of coffee a day with a maximum intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine (1-8oz cup is about 95 mg of caffeine).
With that in mind, while water is still the best choice for quenching your thirst, coffee can count towards your daily fluid goals even with the mild diuretic effect, it is offset by the total amount of fluid from the coffee.
Let’s talk about decaf. Did you know that according to U.S. regulations, at least 97% of the caffeine must be removed to carry the decaffeinated label? If you’re indulging in a non-decaf coffee later at night it’s important to note that the caffeine may have an effect on your ability to fall asleep since it’s generally known to give people a boost in their morning cup.
Decaf coffee, compared to its fully caffeinated version, has been seen to lower anxiety, lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Lower doses of caffeine may cause increased alertness, energy, and ability to concentrate, while higher doses may have negative effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and increased heart rate. The best part is that it contains the same antioxidants as regular coffee, but slightly lower amounts due to the extraction process.
So, breakfast for dinner, anyone? This would be a perfect time to indulge in the decaf option! We’re big fans especially when we can include a few vegetables in this mix within an omelette or into cheesy grits, or maybe a fun green smoothie on the side.
Breakfast is one of those versatile meals that can be good at any time of day be it breakfast tacos, waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, grits, cereal, French toast, toast, biscuits, scones, hash browns, donuts, muffins and the list goes on for carbohydrates! You can make breakfast sweet or savory and that’s the beauty of it. All breakfast, no matter what time of day it is, goes exceptionally well with coffee and we’ve got the perfect recipe for you to enjoy both.
Jumbo Herb Frittatas
INGREDIENTS
1/4 c. Half and half
4 Eggs
1/2 small Onion
1/2 bunch Kale
2 oz Asiago cheese
5 fresh Sage leaves
6 fresh Thyme sprigs
2 fresh Rosemary sprigs
1/2 lb. Hot breakfast sausage
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease a jumbo muffin pan
3. Crack eggs into a bowl with half and half and whisk
4. In a medium pan, brown the sausage
5. Dice onion
6. Mince kale and herbs
7. Add vegetables and herbs to the sausage mixture and cook for 5 minutes
8. Evenly distribute mixture to the 6 muffin tins
9. Evenly distribute the egg mixture between the 6 muffin tins
10. Sprinkle the asiago cheese on top
11. Bake for 20 minutes
