by Judith Willson

Created on: July 21, 2010

When trying to lose weight you probably try to make your diet healthier, and might not even think about drinks at all.  Drinks aren’t food, are they?  However, drinks can be at least as fattening as unhealthy treats and sometimes more so.  Ones to avoid in particular when on a diet are: 

Sodas 

Possibly the number one drink culprit in the obesity battle, sodas are terrible for you.  They are packed with empty calories in the form of sugar, or worse, high fructose corn syrup and have no nutritional benefits whatsoever.  They often contain other less than desirable chemicals such as caffeine, flavourings or colourings. 

Sodas are most certainly not a food but they contain all the calories of it.  Diet versions are not the answer either.  The artificial sweeteners they contain can lead to food cravings, which is the last thing you need when on a diet. 

Coffee

No, not a mug of black coffee with breakfast.  The coffees that cause problems are those laden with all kinds of other things, such as full fat milk, chocolate, cream and syrups.  These are not drinks, these are effectively meals.  If you can’t live without coffee then go for either black, or white made with semi-skimmed milk. 

Alcohol 

There is a reason for the term ‘beer belly’.  Alcohol, like soda, is full of empty calories.  Alcohol itself is effectively processed sugar, and most alcoholic drinks contain lots of normal sugar as well.  Beer and sugary, creamy liqueurs are probably the worst but all alcoholic drinks pack a calorie punch.  If you must have a drink then choose either dry wine, low calorie beer, or spirits with low calorie mixers.  And stick to just one.

Milkshakes

The ultimate milkshake contains over a thousand calories, which is half your daily requirement.  Most have rather less than this but still should be considered a dessert, and not a drink.  They can be nutritious if made just with semi-skimmed milk and fresh fruit but even these should be thought of as a meal or snack.

Fruit juice

Fruit juice is healthy, but only in moderation.  It contains too much sugar to be drunk in large quantities, and for some reason certain brands have added yet more sugar to an already very sweet drink.  Once glass of pure orange juice is good for you.  Two litres will probably have you bouncing off the walls with a sugar high, which will then turn into fat.

Drinks can effectively ruin your diet, without providing the satisfaction of a food treat.  The best alternatives are water and herbal teas.  To make water nice serve icy cold with a slice of lemon or fresh mint leaves.  Herbals teas are a good way to get the comfort of a hot drink without the calories or caffeine.  Serve unsweetened.  Just swapping unhealthy drinks for either of these is a great way to start losing weight, as you’ll be cutting your daily calorie intake substantially without even realising.

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