The keto diet has become one of the most popular diets for weight loss in recent years. This very low-carb, high-fat diet puts your body into a state of ketosis, which promotes fat burning.
On the keto diet, you drastically reduce your carbohydrate intake, typically limiting carbs to less than 50 grams per day. This reduction in carbs puts your body into ketosis.
When you’re in ketosis, your body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy instead of carbs. This leads to rapid weight loss and other potential health benefits like lower blood sugar levels.
However, the keto diet does require you to be careful about the types of foods and ingredients you consume. Some ingredients that are commonplace in a standard diet are too high in carbs to fit into a keto eating plan.
One ingredient that keto dieters often ask about is half and half. Half and half is a popular creamer for coffee and tea as well as a cooking ingredient. But can you enjoy it on a ketogenic diet?
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at half and half and its compatibility with the keto diet. We’ll discuss:
– What is half and half?
– Nutrition facts for half and half
– Is half and half keto-friendly?
– How much half and half can you have on keto?
– Low-carb substitutes for half and half
– Tips for using half and half on keto
Equipped with this information, you’ll be able to determine if and how you can incorporate half and half into your keto diet.
What is Half and Half?
Half and half is a creamy liquid made from half whole milk and half light cream. The milkfat content ranges from 10.5% to 18% depending on the product.
This popular creamer has a creamy, smooth texture and a mild, sweet flavor. Half and half is commonly added to coffee, tea, hot cereals, soups, and more. It’s useful for both drinking and cooking.
Some key facts about half and half:
– Made from equal parts whole milk and light cream
– Milk fat content from 10.5–18%
– Thicker and richer than milk but thinner than heavy cream
– Mild sweet taste
– Sold refrigerated in cartons or bottles
Compared to other dairy products:
– Thicker than milk which contains 3.25–4% milkfat
– Thinner than heavy cream which contains 36–40% milkfat
– Less fat than light cream which contains 18–30% milkfat
The moderate fat content of half and half gives it a rich, creamy texture without being too heavy. This makes it a popular choice for many uses from coffee creamer to recipes.
But how does this creamy dairy product fit into a keto eating plan? Let’s take a look at the nutrition info.
Nutrition Facts for Half and Half
Here are the nutrition facts for a serving (1 tablespoon or 15ml) of half and half (10.5% milkfat)**:**
| Calories | 20 |
|---|---|
| Fat | 2g |
| Saturated Fat | 1g |
| Carbohydrates | 1g |
| Protein | 0g |
As you can see, half and half contains 2 grams of fat per tablespoon with minimal carbs and protein.
With only 1 gram of carbs and 20 calories per serving, half and half can potentially fit into the keto diet which restricts net carbs to under 50 grams per day.
However, the amount of carbs can change based on the product. Some versions may be slightly higher in carbs. Always check labels for nutrition info.
It’s also important to pay attention to portion sizes as the small amounts of carbs and calories can quickly add up if you consume too much.
Next, let’s take a closer look at whether half and half is keto-friendly.
Is Half and Half Keto-Friendly?
When determining if a food is keto-friendly, you need to look at the total carbohydrate content and account for fiber and sugar alcohols.
For keto, you want to focus on net carbs: total carbs – fiber – sugar alcohols. Generally, foods with less than 5g net carbs per serving are considered keto-approved.
Based on a 1 tablespoon (15ml) serving size, half and half contains:
| Total carbs: | 1g |
|---|---|
| Fiber: | 0g |
| Sugar alcohols: | 0g |
| Net carbs: | 1g |
With only 1 gram of net carbs per serving, half and half can fit into a keto diet when consumed in moderation.
The small serving size and low carb count per serving make it possible to incorporate half and half into your daily keto carb limit.
Of course, as with any food on keto, portion control is key. Let’s look at how much half and half you can safely enjoy on the keto diet.
How Much Half and Half Can You Have on Keto?
When using half and half on keto, the most important guideline is moderation.
While a small serving of half and half is low-carb, the carbs and calories quickly add up if you consume large amounts. To keep half and half keto-friendly, follow these tips:
– Stick to 1-2 tablespoons (15-30ml) per serving
– Measure carefully rather than eyeballing portions
– Use sparingly in recipes and coffee
– Count it toward your daily net carb allowance
– Avoid going overboard even if technically “fits” your macros
1-2 tablespoons is enough to add rich creaminess to a cup of coffee or tea. However, downing multiple cups a day with hefty pours of half and half is not a good idea.
In recipes, use half and half sparingly. For example, when making a cream sauce, use just enough to achieve the right texture without overdoing it.
Be diligent about tracking your servings and net carbs. This will ensure that half and half remains a keto-friendly addition to your diet.
Low-Carb Substitutes for Half and Half
If you want to further reduce carbs, there are several alternatives to half and half to consider:
Light Cream – Contains slightly fewer carbs with about 0.5g net carbs per tablespoon. Also has a thicker, richer texture.
Heavy Cream – Much lower in carbs with only 0.4g net carbs per tablespoon. Denser texture.
Coconut Cream – Made from coconut milk, provides creamy texture with 0.5g net carbs per tablespoon.
Almond Milk – Unsweetened almond milk has just 0.2g net carbs per tablespoon. Won’t provide quite as creamy texture.
Cashew Milk – Like almond milk, unsweetened cashew milk has 0.2g net carbs per tablespoon.
Here is a comparison of the approximate net carbs in 1 tablespoon of each:
| Half and Half: | 1g |
|---|---|
| Light Cream: | 0.5g |
| Heavy Cream: | 0.4g |
| Coconut cream: | 0.5g |
| Almond milk: | 0.2g |
| Cashew milk: | 0.2g |
These low-carb swap-ins allow you to mimic the creamy qualities of half and half while keeping carb counts even lower.
You can also make your own “half and half” mixture by blending one part heavy cream or coconut cream with one part unsweetened almond or cashew milk.
Tips for Using Half and Half on Keto
Here are some tips for keeping your half and half keto-friendly:
– Measure it out rather than free pouring. It’s easy to overdo it when eyeballing.
– Read labels and count carbs carefully. Different brands can have slightly more carbs.
– Budget for it in your daily carb allowance if adding to coffee.
– Use sparingly when adding to recipes. Don’t go overboard.
– Consider intermittent fasting and skipping cream in morning coffee to allow more later in the day.
– Substitute lower-carb alternatives like heavy cream if you want more wiggle room for carbs.
– Avoid drinking multiple cups of half and half-laden coffee or tea per day.
– Be extra careful of portions when using in cooking as it adds up very fast.
– If weight loss stalls, cut back on higher-carb ingredients like half and half.
The key is keeping your total net carb intake per day within recommended limits for ketosis. With mindfulness of portions, half and half can be an occasional keto-approved treat.
Conclusion
Half and half can be part of a keto diet when used in moderation. While not as low in carbs as heavy cream or nut milks, half and half only has 1g net carb per serving.
This makes it possible to incorporate small amounts into your daily keto plan. However, be mindful of portion sizes as the carbs and calories add up quickly. For best results, stick to 1-2 tablespoons per serving and avoid overdoing it.
Substituting lower-carb alternatives like coconut cream or cashew milk can provide even more wiggle room. But if you are diligent about tracking your intake, half and half can be an occasional nice addition to coffee, recipes and more on the keto diet.
