Well, does it?
For the purposes of this article, we're going to ignore the reality that many people (myself included) live on a diet of mostly coffee and coffee accessories.
And also, purely for the purposes of this article, we're going to open up our working definition of a meal to include those meal replacement shakes. And those little protein bars, why not.
I don't mean the good-tasting protein bars, either. Just the ones that look and taste like cardboard.
Anything that can reasonably be categorized as a "meal replacement."
Can Coffee Replace a Meal?
A serving of black coffee—about 98% water—has about 2 calories. That's low enough to be virtually zero.
In fact, it's low enough that the action of consuming and digesting it can burn more calories than you're taking in by drinking it.
It does contain some great nutrients and antioxidants.
But do those alone make a meal?
The answer, my friends—because you are my friends—is an emphatic, resounding, resonating, reverberating—"no."
A meal replacement should be able to... well... replace a meal.
That is, it should have most of the nutrients your body needs to function optimally. Including calories, carbs, and protein, at a minimum. And coffee, as nutritious as it is, doesn't have all the nutrients your body needs.
So no, coffee by itself simply cannot replace a meal.
In other words, don't drink a few cups of coffee and act like you ate breakfast and lunch. (This advice brought to you by: everyone’s moms.)
Does Coffee with Milk/Creamer/Sugar Count as a Meal?
It really depends what exactly you're adding to your coffee.
Depending on what's added to it, a big cup (or glass) of coffee could be equivalent to drinking a glass of chocolate almond milk with some caffeine and antioxidants in it. Not terrible for you, but not exactly a meal either.
Or, if you're adding protein powder or something similarly nutrient-packed to your coffee, it could be more like a meal replacement shake with coffee in it. It's probably not going to be a very balanced "meal," but it can technically replace a meal. (If we are to believe that those meal replacement shakes are worthy of replacing a meal, that is.)
There’s also the unique case of bulletproof coffee (MCT oil and grass-fed butter), which we’ve written on before.
So, to answer the question: yes, in the way that a meal replacement could be considered a "meal," coffee with the appropriate things added could "count as" a meal. But you'd have to add a lot more to your coffee than most people do for it to really count. And the original question wasn't "does coffee count as a meal if I add 12 scoops of peanut butter protein powder to it?"
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But What about When I'm On The Go and Have No Choice?
Look, if your options are to drink a calorie-rich coffee beverage like a latte or eat nothing... drink the latte. (Preferably with at least a cake pop or something, because balance)
Again, it's not going to be a very balanced "meal." It's not ideal, but it's absolutely better than literally nothing. It has some calories, it has some nutrients, it has some protein, it has some fat—it even has some vitamins.
It's not going to give you all the nutrients in the world that you need to live, but it's a hell of a lot better than nothing.
If you're one of those captain-of-industry types who's always on the go and never has time to sit down for a “real” meal (read: freelancers) , my suggestion would be to keep some kind of emergency food with you at all times.
Or if you work mainly from home and have the luxury of being able to make a real meal for yourself, then do it, by golly.
But if you're on the go and your options are limited, don't beat yourself up for getting a coffee or (preferably) latte/macchiato/frappe instead of a "real" meal—on the rare occasion. It'll certainly help you get through until you can get to a real meal. Trust me, I've done it literally 400,000 times— more hours than I've even been alive! I should know.
TL;DR:
No, coffee is not a meal. That's not what coffee is for. It can be part of a meal. And in a pinch, it's better than nothing. Just don't make a habit of it.
Also, it's worth mentioning that regardless of its meal-or-not status, coffee is still pretty delicious and full of caffeine, antioxidants, and other good stuff. So drink up, in good health. Just don't call it breakfast.
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