Alternatives to water?

ALC131

Hi everybody

I've been drinking purely water for about 3 weeks now, it's been great, but now I'm starting to get a little bored...

I completely cut out coffee when I started my new lifestyle and I'm not missing it too much, so I'm not actually bothered about drinking that.

Does anybody know any alternatives to water? Obviously water is going to be the best thing to drink and also the main, but is there anything that I can have that is equally as good (as a treat, so to speak)?

Thanks in advance!

A

heyitsnicolelee

I use flavor enhancers in my water once in awhile. You can find them in the drink mix aisle in the grocery store. Most of them are only 5 calories.

jennycina93

This is kind of lame but I do enjoy crystal light. There is actually quite a bit of different flavors. And your still getting that water in which is good.

postrockandcats

I still drink coffee and tea, but it's mostly water. I've found that the other stuff makes me thirstier.

ALC131

I use flavor enhancers in my water once in awhile. You can find them in the drink mix aisle in the grocery store. Most of them are only 5 calories.

Thanks! I did look the other day and the only ones I could find seemed to contain an awful lot of sugar for such a little product. I'll have a look in another supermarket and see if I can find any healthier ones!

LeonCX

On the planet Zimdar they drink ammonia, but here I would recommend:

Ice tea
Crystal light
Flavored waters
Club soda
1% milk
Sugar Free Gatorade

bridiemac211

Unsweetened ice tea. Almost zero calories, helps with hydration, and will give you a little "lift" in energy.

5blue1

coconut water or add fruit to your water

heyitsnicolelee

I use flavor enhancers in my water once in awhile. You can find them in the drink mix aisle in the grocery store. Most of them are only 5 calories.

Thanks! I did look the other day and the only ones I could find seemed to contain an awful lot of sugar for such a little product. I'll have a look in another supermarket and see if I can find any healthier ones!

Skinny Girl is a good option. I use them a lot (a little pricey but I use them sparingly). Crystal Light is also a good option!

weight2go

You can find at Walmart. There are alot of choices. I use them all the time. Not a big water drinker, but it beats soda and doesnt have caffeine.

I use flavor enhancers in my water once in awhile. You can find them in the drink mix aisle in the grocery store. Most of them are only 5 calories.

disneygirl626

Try slices of lemon, lime, or orange. Or strawberries, cucumbers, melon.

ALC131

Wow thanks for the replies guys.

I live in the UK so not sure if I can get those here but I'll certainly have a look, if all else fails I suppose I could order them from Amazon or eBay! :-)

Dragn77

I feel you on needing variety. Maybe try infused water... like what they have at spas? Some ginger and lemon, or cucumbers, or slices of citrus or strawberries... If you google infused water, there are a lot of great recipes out there. I personally prefer that to adding artificial flavorings, but thats mostly because I dont like the taste of them...even the no sugar ones taste too sweet and not refreshing to me.

Unsweetened tea is a great suggestion too, I like green tea, jasmine tea and mint teas the most. Unfortunately, kiddo loves it so much, she will guzzle a pitcher of that down in a couple hours before Ive had any LoL

WombatHat42

I hear dihydrogen oxide is a great replacement sorry could resist. I would just add lemon to it. I will occasionally go for a gatorade if I have the calories available.

AoifeeSi

My mom is diabetic, so we have to be careful about what we buy/consume, and it's just easier (and cheaper) to get the sugar free stuff than have 2 sets of everything in the kitchen. They are more difficult to find, but sugar free versions of flavored drink mixes do exist. The one we get most often is by Wyler's light (5 cal, sugar free), they have almost all the same flavors as Crystal Light (they do have a small sugar free line but it is difficult to find them and not as many choices) and Cool Aid. I think Cool aid also now has a sugar free line, but not sure how it tastes.

I also drink caffeine-free tea (o cal unless you add sweetener). Some brands are more bitter and almost always require sweetener of some sort, while others are fine on their own. When I end up sweetening tea I go with all natural honey (we have a honey farm down the street from us, but there are brands at the market that are all natural) and keep within a single serving or less, but I don't like overly sweet drinks (my mother complains because I water down Crystal Light to cut the sweetness). Keep in mind with tea (and anything caffeinated) that caffeine dehydrates you. For every 1 serving of anything caffeinated you need to drink twice as much water to stay hydrated (so 1 cup of coffee or caffeinated tea = 2 cups of water after to rehidrate your body)


From my favorite tea label (celestial seasons Jammin' Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea)
All Natural: This product contains all-natural herbs and flavors, and no artificial colors or preservatives.
Ingredients: Ginger, lemongrass, lemon verbena, natural lemon and ginger flavors with other natural flavors (soy lecithin), rosehips, roasted chicory and citric acid.
Caffeine Status: Naturally Caffeine Free
Gluten Status: Gluten Free
Kosher Certification: Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 tea bag Makes: 8 fl. oz. Servings Per Container: 20
Amount Per Serving Calories 0
Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0
Sodium 0mg
Total Carb. 0g
Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.



From the label of Wyler's light
Nutrition Facts
INGREDIENTS: Citric acid (provides tartness), maltodextrin (from corn), aspartame* (sweetener), artificial flavor, red 40, contains less than 2% of the following: ascorbic acid (vitamin C), magnesium oxide (prevents caking), acesulfame potassium (sweetener), monocalcium phosphate, blue 1. *Warning to Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine.
Caffeine Free.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 5 Calories from Fat 0
Total Fat 0 g
Saturated Fat — —
Trans Fat —
Cholesterol — —
Sodium 0 mg
Potassium — —
Total Carbohydrate 0 g
Dietary Fiber — —
Sugars —
Protein 0 g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 10%
Calcium 0%
Iron 0%
Copper —
Folic Acid —
Iodine —
Magnesium —
Niacin —
Phosphorus —
Riboflavin —
Thiamin —
Vitamin B12 —
Vitamin B6 —
Vitamin D —
Vitamin E —
Zinc —
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Hope this helps some. :-)

999tigger

Tea- geen if you believe the slimming / other benefits.

I love redbush tea. Rooibos.

I dont mind diet soda although it seems to be very divisive.

You could also drink cordial/ squash, but watch out for calories.

Just check on calories.

Probably avoid alcohol because it has high calories,although if its in your plan then thats cool.

You do not have to drink 2 ltrs of water, all drinks count, even tea and coffee. You are also expected to get 20% of your liquid from the food you eat. Just find something you like and maybe keep up the variety.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/07July/Pages/eight-glasses-of-water-a-day.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/water-drinks.aspx

PowerfulHunt

Unsweetened tea and Minute Maid Light Lemonade (5 calories per can).

earlnabby

I have a SodaStream. Most of the time I fizz the water and add the 0 calorie essences to make it like flavored seltzer. Occasionally I will make a soda with the syrup, usually caffeine free diet cola or diet root beer.

northbanu

I use flavor enhancers in my water once in awhile. You can find them in the drink mix aisle in the grocery store. Most of them are only 5 calories.

Thanks! I did look the other day and the only ones I could find seemed to contain an awful lot of sugar for such a little product. I'll have a look in another supermarket and see if I can find any healthier ones!

There are sugar free options. In the States we have sugar free liquid drops. Convenient to add to bottled water, or to the water with which I fill those emptied bottled water bottles. Mio, Crystal Light, and Kool-Aid are popular brands. Mio has a whole line of energy and sports drink drops.

On amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_8?rh=k:mio,i:grocery&keywords=mio&ie=UTF8&qid=1411848380

I'd be surprised if Tesco or Asda didn't have something similar.

I also like club soda, plain or with a slice of lemon or cucumber or two.

tziol

why not to drink clean mineral water plus whatever else you like during the day.......cola zero, tea, coffee....vodka ;-) water is in many food products.....fruits, vegetables.....but remember to avoid sugar....depending on the kind of fruit, it can contain a lot of water but overeating them may not be a good idea if you are on some strict diet as they contain fructose.

why did you stop drinking coffee?

earlnabby

I use flavor enhancers in my water once in awhile. You can find them in the drink mix aisle in the grocery store. Most of them are only 5 calories.

Thanks! I did look the other day and the only ones I could find seemed to contain an awful lot of sugar for such a little product. I'll have a look in another supermarket and see if I can find any healthier ones!

There are sugar free options. In the States we have sugar free liquid drops. Convenient to add to bottled water, or to the water with which I fill those emptied bottled water bottles. Mio, Crystal Light, and Kool-Aid are popular brands. Mio has a whole line of energy and sports drink drops.

On amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_8?rh=k:mio,i:grocery&keywords=mio&ie=UTF8&qid=1411848380

I'd be surprised if Tesco or Asda didn't have something similar.

I also like club soda, plain or with a slice of lemon or cucumber or two.

Is Aldi in the UK? They sell their own brand of sugar free flavor drops too.

bv109

no. you're giving yourself an excuse to go back to bad habits.

SassyCalyGirl

add lemon, mint, and cucumbers (its delish)

judychicken

I drink decaf Iced Tea, Crystal light, Propel and Kirkland (Costco) Vita Rain Zero has 3 flavors and vitamin enhanced water I love this a lot.

earlnabby

no. you're giving yourself an excuse to go back to bad habits.

How on earth is drinking a zero, or almost zero, calorie beverage that you enjoy a bad habit?????????????????

ALC131

Didn't expect so many replies, thank you everybody - extremely helpful!

I stopped drinking coffee because I was using full fat powdered milk and having 2 sugars each pop - not very healthy. I dislike it black with nothing so I think it's better to leave coffee out.

I was literally drinking probably 4-5 cups of coffee a day, 6-8 330ml cans of full fat coke and no water at all (in pure form!) - so I just cut the crap, water is good and that's what I've stuck to so far.

I think I'll stay off the coke because I think I would probably slip back into old habits with it, I'm happy with water - I just need to spice it up a little occasionally!

Additionally I'm staying off alcohol because I'll end up with a fat greasy kebab if I get drunk, I always do and then I'd go crazy at my self!

tziol

Didn't expect so many replies, thank you everybody - extremely helpful!

I stopped drinking coffee because I was using full fat powdered milk and having 2 sugars each pop - not very healthy. I dislike it black with nothing so I think it's better to leave coffee out.

I was literally drinking probably 4-5 cups of coffee a day, 6-8 330ml cans of full fat coke and no water at all (in pure form!) - so I just cut the crap, water is good and that's what I've stuck to so far.

I think I'll stay off the coke because I think I would probably slip back into old habits with it, I'm happy with water - I just need to spice it up a little occasionally!

Additionally I'm staying off alcohol because I'll end up with a fat greasy kebab if I get drunk, I always do and then I'd go crazy at my self!

I think that's a good choice in that case. I personally drink clean mineral water mostly during the day and a coffee (but without any sugar added)....and I was joking with vodka :-).

tziol

no. you're giving yourself an excuse to go back to bad habits.

How on earth is drinking a zero, or almost zero, calorie beverage that you enjoy a bad habit?????????????????

It may be a bad habit when drinking excessively because of ingredients it contains i.e. aspartame and I think its better to choose more healthier alternative if possible but at the same time not to exaggerate by thinking that it will do some harm if drunk from time to time.

northbanu

@tziol....

There's nothing wrong with aspartame or sugar.

sofaspud

On one of the food programmes on TV they recently had some type of water (either soda or tonic water) to which they added Bitters to flavour them...............and NO I'm not on about Boddingtons or John Smiths - Angostura Bitters, Orange Bitters and A.N.Other which I forget now. Although I'd check alcohol & calorie content before drinking gallons, but I suspect as you only use a few drops that both would be minimal - but don't trust my judgement on that.

It was the Food & Drink programme (with Michael Roux) so may be available online??

I haven't tried them but the presenters seemed to like them.

You could also try the fruity herbal teas, either hot or cold.

Even just having fizzy water rather than stlll can seem like a totally different drink if you fancy a change.

Good Luck finding something you like!!!!

tziol

@tziol....

There's nothing wrong with aspartame or sugar.

I'll leave the dispute about aspartame to experts as there will probably be divided opinions. To my knowledge high excess of it is bad. With sugar, of course, your body needs it...but it is very easy to exceed the amount you need, which in consequence will have bad effect on you if exceeded often.