When I was a kid many years ago, my grandparents would occasionally take me out to breakfast. Sitting on the table was always a dish of those tiny sealed cups of half & half that the adults added to coffee. My grandpa would always slide the dish over to me so I could take a shot or two of half & half before the meal came. I absolutely loved its creamy flavor and thought I was getting away with something when my parents weren’t around.
Can You Drink Half & Half?
So yes, you can drink straight half & half. It is simply a mixture of whole milk and cream in equal parts. Most people use it in things like coffee, desserts, eggs, pancakes, ice cream, panna cotta, and much more. However, it is not a very healthy beverage when consumed by the glass.
Why Not Drink Half & Half
Half & half is high in fat, calories, and cholesterol. Take Horizon Organic Half & Half as an example. Just two tablespoons has 40 calories, 3 grams of fat (2 grams saturated), and 15 milligrams of cholesterol. So, if you were to drink a cup of this half & half, you would be consuming 320 calories, 24 grams of fat (16 grams saturated), and 120 milligrams of cholesterol. We also suspect most people who could stomach a full cup of half & half in one sitting would feel mighty full.
Why Not Fat-Free Half & Half?
You will save some calories and fat (of course) drinking fat-free half & half, but the trade-off is in the ingredients. As Time explains, fat-free half & half often has corn syrup, thickeners, and potentially other unfavorable ingredients. If you opt to drink low-fat or fat-free half & half, you should consider making your own by mixing pure cream with a lower or no percentage fat milk (i.e. skim, 1%, or 2%). You’ll eliminate potential additives and thickeners that can be found in store-bought low/no fat half & half.
