Zero calorie drinks for spring socialising

Posted on 17 October, 2018

If life was simple, we’d all just drink water.

But life is not simple and a delicious beverage or two is used for much more than just quenching thirst. We do so many meaningful things over drinks. Take my life, for example. Growing up, if something good happened we were rewarded with a special dinner and this always included a glass of Coca-Cola. For years this drink was associated with treats, family night and fun.

Even while I was at university studying nutrition (over 15 years ago), I was in the University of Canberra refectory, drinking a bottle of Coke and eating beef and black bean takeaway. A handsome, but rather awkward guy asked me out for coffee, right after he food shamed me when he found out I studied nutrition. “Should you be drinking that?” he said.

On my first date with my husband, I drank an iced chocolate at 11 pm at My Cafe in Manuka. He had a flat white. They charged him $32 for both drinks, which he dutifully paid as he didn’t want to cause a scene in front of me. I would later find out that this guy hates being ripped off, and he never pays full price for anything. Best $32 he’s ever spent, if you ask me.

The other day I was venting about the perils of running my own business to another local business owner. That wonderful person dropped in a bottle of wine to The Healthy Eating Hub that afternoon, saying she felt like I needed it. What a woman. It was such a beautiful gesture.

As you can see, even nutritionists aren’t immune to the social and cultural influences over what we drink. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

None of these drinks immediately cause you ill health (unless you drank copious amounts in one sitting). I drank Coke as a kid and teenager and I turned out ok. However, high, regular and consistent consumption of any of them would mean a few things:

• • excessive sugar intake and increased risk of weight gain from soft drink, ice chocolate, juice, and cordial
  • fatty liver and increased risk of weight gain from wine, and sugar-sweetened beverages
  • excessive caffeine intake and excess energy from milky coffees, energy drinks, and iced coffees

Due to the fact that spring means more BBQs, more catch ups at cafés and more ‘chilling on the deck with a cold one’, I’ve put together a list of low-calorie drinks to help you make consistently healthy choices, while you enjoy springtime

Infused water

Add all, one, or some of the following to a jug or bottle of water and store in the fridge overnight:

• cucumber
• fresh mint leaves
• frozen berries
• lime wedges
• lemon wedges
• fresh ginger

Mineral or soda water

Enjoy the sparkle without the sugar! Infuse it with the flavours above.

Pre-infused mineral water

Many of the brands that make mineral water (e.g. Mt Franklin) have these delicious infused versions that aren’t sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners. They are a great option to change up the flavour from your standard plain or sparkling water.

Green tea

A low caffeine, hot drink. You can enjoy so many different variations – swap some of your milky coffees for this. If I have a day of meetings, I order a green tea instead of coffee, otherwise, I’m a hyped up crazy lady full of milk.

Herbal tea

After dinner, a peppermint, chamomile or other herbal tea varieties are great options to wind down with at the end of a long, hard day. We form positive associations with smells, so why not change your after dinner sugar habit to bonding with your favourite aroma?

Fruit tisanes (fruit tea)

Delicious fruit infusions to spruce up your water. You can make them hot or cold. Try this fun recipe:

Ingredients

• Approx. 2L boiling water
• 3-4 berry tisane bags
• small handful fresh mint
• 1 lime sliced

Method

In a two litre jug, pour boiling water on the tea bags, let them infuse for five mins then add ice, mint, and lime. Drink immediately or store in the fridge.

In the end, how you eat and drink is completely up to you! If you’re keen to drop a few kilos and wanting to develop long-term healthy eating habits, starting with reducing your high-calorie drinks is an excellent place to start!

If you need further help with your nutrition, my team can help.