
You’ve tried to quit. But that hot, steaming mug of coffee is part of your morning ritual. Without that first cup you’re groggy and unable able to function. The caffeine jolt is a powerful tool to wake up your brain. But you know you’re in trouble when you find yourself chasing the coffee high with a second cup and skipping breakfast because the caffeine suppresses your appetite.
Sound familiar? If so, here are five healthy coffee alternatives that will give you a morning boost without the adrenal crash.
Hot Maca

A couple of tablespoons of maca blended in a cup of warm almond milk, with a splash of raw honey and ground cinnamon is a delicious way to start the morning. Maca has adrenal boosting properties and will give you that boost without the crash of coffee.
Dandelion Herbal Coffee Blend

This is the closest to coffee flavor that you’ll get. Roasted dandelion, chicory root and maca come together to give you a fairly close rendition. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty darn close.
Matcha Green Tea
Matcha green tea is all the rage right now. It’s been touted as a superior antioxidant, detoxifier and energy booster. Because you ingest the high-quality powder, rather than the herb infusion, the health benefits are higher than those of green tea.
Lemon Water

I know, I know, this is not anything like coffee. But waking up with a cup of warm lemon water gently wakes up your liver and kicks off your system on the right foot.
Organic, Single-Origin Coffee

If you’ve tried all of these beverages but still can’t kick the coffee habit, try sourcing your coffee beans. Poorly sourced coffee contains mycotoxins (mold) that make your coffee less healthy. If you live in a city where you have local coffee roasters, go ask them about the source and quality of their beans. Try comparing a cup of Starbucks or Peets to the quality beans and see how different you feel. Once you find the healthier bean, try limiting your consumption to special occasions, like a cup once a week on Sunday mornings.

Brigitte Theriault is a chef and health coach who helps people go from kitchen disaster to cooking confidence. She works 1:1 with people to develop comprehensive meals and cooking plans so that they can learn to make healthier food choices as well as create delicious food.
Go to White Apron Chef for tips on how to create more ease in your cooking life.