Delight is a brand of non-dairy creamer made by Nestle. It comes in a variety of flavors like French Vanilla, Hazelnut, and Sweet Cream. Delight creamer is popular because it provides the creamy texture of dairy creamer without the dairy.
Many people use Delight and other non-dairy creamers in their coffee or tea to make them creamy and delicious without adding significant calories. But how many calories are actually in a cup of Delight creamer? Let’s take a detailed look.
Calories in Different Types of Delight Creamers
The number of calories in a cup of Delight creamer depends on the specific flavor:
Original
Delight Original creamer has 25 calories per 1 tablespoon (15ml). There are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup, so a full cup of Delight Original creamer contains about 400 calories.
French Vanilla
Delight French Vanilla creamer has 30 calories per 1 tablespoon (15ml). So a full cup contains about 480 calories.
Hazelnut
Delight Hazelnut creamer has 35 calories per tablespoon, resulting in about 560 calories in 1 cup.
Sweet Cream
Delight Sweet Cream creamer has 25 calories per tablespoon, or 400 calories in 1 cup.
Sugar Free
The Delight Sugar Free creamers like Sugar Free French Vanilla have just 10 calories per tablespoon. This works out to 160 calories in 1 cup.
As you can see, the regular (non-sugar free) Delight creamers range from 400-560 calories per cup depending on the flavor. The Sugar Free version has significantly fewer calories at just 160 per cup.
Nutrition Facts Comparison
Here is a nutrition facts comparison of the different types of Delight creamer per 1 tablespoon (15ml) serving:
| Creamer Type | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 25 | 1.5g | 3g | 0g |
| French Vanilla | 30 | 1.5g | 4g | 0g |
| Hazelnut | 35 | 1.5g | 5g | 0g |
| Sweet Cream | 25 | 1.5g | 3g | 0g |
| Sugar Free French Vanilla | 10 | 0.5g | 1g | 0g |
As the table shows, the regular Delight creamers get their calories from a blend of fat and carbs. The Sugar Free version is much lower in both fat and carbs.
Let’s now compare how the calories and nutrition in Delight creamers stack up to other popular creamer brands.
Comparison to Other Creamer Brands
Coffee Mate
Coffee Mate is another leading brand of non-dairy creamer. Their Original flavor has 25 calories per tablespoon, identical to Delight’s Original. Coffee Mate French Vanilla has 35 calories per tablespoon, slightly higher than Delight French Vanilla’s 30 calories.
Overall, Coffee Mate tends to be very similar to Delight in its calorie and nutrition profile. The two brands use an identical blend of oil and corn syrup as their base.
International Delight
Despite the similar name, International Delight creamer is a different product than regular Delight creamer. International Delight is a branded creamer product sold by Danone.
The Original International Delight has 30 calories per tablespoon, a bit higher than Delight’s 25 calories. For flavored varieties like French Vanilla, International Delight can go up to 40 calories per tablespoon.
So International Delight tends to be slightly higher in calories compared to Delight, but still roughly in the same ballpark. The two brands use similar ingredients as the foundation of their products.
Natural Creamers
Some people prefer to use “natural” creamers made with simple ingredients like milk and cream. For example, half and half contains about 20 calories per tablespoon. Heavy cream has even more at 50 calories per tablespoon.
So natural dairy creamers provide fewer calories than Delight if you use the lighter half and half. But heavy cream actually exceeds the calories in Delight.
Does Delight Creamer have Health Benefits?
When choosing a coffee creamer, some people prioritize taste, while others are more concerned about health and nutritional benefits. Does Delight creamer offer any health advantages?
Unfortunately, Delight creamer has no significant health or nutritional benefits. Here are a few reasons why:
– It is low in protein, vitamins and minerals. The ingredients are refined oils, corn syrup solids, and sodium caseinate. No protein, vitamins or minerals are added.
– It is low fat, but the small amount of fat it contains is from processed vegetable oils, not healthy fats.
– It contains added sugars, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup. The sugar free version contains artificial sweeteners instead.
– Non-dairy creamers like Delight contain additives and stabilizers to achieve the right texture. While these are considered safe, they aren’t health foods.
– Delight has zero fiber. There are no whole food sources that provide important nutrients.
So in summary, Delight creamer is a highly processed food without real health benefits. While it may taste delicious in coffee, it is best used in moderation as more of an occasional treat. Sticking to nutritious whole foods as much as possible is a better idea for optimal health.
Low Calorie Alternatives to Delight
For people watching their calories and sugar intake, Delight may not be the best choice for a daily coffee creamer. Here are some lower calorie alternatives to consider instead:
Skim Milk
Skim milk has about 35 calories per tablespoon, which is 10 calories less than Delight Original. Skim milk also provides a small amount of protein, calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients. Just be sure to stick to 1-2 tablespoons per cup of coffee to keep calories in check.
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Almond milk contains just 10-15 calories per tablespoon. Look for unsweetened varieties to avoid added sugar. Like skim milk, almond milk has small amounts of nutrients like vitamin E.
Coconut Milk Beverage
This is made from a blend of water and coconut cream, so it’s much lower in calories than full-fat coconut milk from a can. Coconut milk beverage has around 10-20 calories per tablespoon.
Coffee Mate Natural Bliss
This is a lactose-free, plant-based creamer made from almond and oat milks. It has about 25-35 calories per tablespoon, similar to Delight. But it doesn’t contain corn syrup or artificial flavors.
Nut Pods
Nut Pods makes nut-based creamers like hazelnut and French vanilla. They have 20-30 calories per tablespoon. Nut Pods uses no artificial ingredients.
Should You Use Creamer Every Day?
The bottom line is that Delight and other creamers add flavor and creaminess to coffee, but provide very minimal nutritional value. Here are some tips on how to decide if creamer should be part of your daily coffee routine:
– Use sparingly – 1-2 tablespoons per cup max to limit calories, fat, and sugar
– Consider intermittent fasting – avoid creamer or milk during fasting period for purer fast
– Skip altogether on occasion – drink black coffee once in awhile to enjoy the true coffee flavor
– Substitute milk or nut milk – provides some nutritional benefits over creamer
– Prioritize whole foods – get healthy fats, carbs, and protein from foods not creamers
– Treat as occasional indulgence – have artificially flavored creamers only sometimes as a treat
– Avoid if diabetic or counting carbs – the carbohydrates and sugar can add up quickly
The healthiest approach is likely using small amounts of plain creamer or milk/nut milk rather than artificially flavored creamers every single day. But an occasional flavored Delight or Coffee Mate is fine for most people. Moderation and variety are key when incorporating creamer into a healthy diet.
Conclusion
Delight creamer contains between 160 and 560 calories per cup depending on the flavor. The original and sugar-free varieties are lower in calories, while flavored Delight can reach up to 560 calories per cup.
Delight has slightly fewer calories than Coffee Mate or International Delight in most comparisons. All these non-dairy creamers are higher in calories than skim milk or nut milks.
While Delight creamer tastes delicious in coffee, it offers minimal nutritional value. Light creamers or milk provide some nutrients and may be healthier daily options. But enjoying Delight or other flavored creamers occasionally can be part of an overall balanced diet.
