Because as you reach for that second cup of tea/coffee/juice, you might not realise just how many calories are quenching your thirst. We went to our local supermarket for some undercover calorie inspection. And here's what we found out:

 

 

Soft Drinks: A 250mL can of soft drink contains around 300-600 calories. To put this in perspective, remember that the average woman should be taking in around 2000 calories a day.  So that’s potentially ¼ of your daily calorie intake in one can of coke. 

 

Milk: Is a great source of calcium and has lots of health benefits. However, the non-skim varieties are also a great source of saturated fat.  One glass of full-fat milk contains anywhere between 100-200 calories.

 

Juice: The calorie count in juice varies depending on the type of fruit and how much ‘added sugar’ it contains. So to understand how your favourite cordial is going to affect your diet, be sure to check calorie figures on the package. Your best bet is to think of juice as a treat and stick to unsweetened varieties. 

 

Sports Drinks and Flavoured Waters: While many of these performance drinks and fortified waters purport to have lots of electrolytes and vitamins that are good for us, they also contain lots of hidden calories which are not so great for us. Most flavoured waters have around 50 calories per 250mL and sports drinks can have up to 280 calories per glass. And when you consider that most of these beverages come in 500mL bottles, you’ll find you’ve consumed up to 500 calories without even realising. 

 

Wine and Beer: It’s safe to assume that the term ‘beer belly’ isn’t an ironic one.  For one bottle of your favourite ale, you are looking at relinquishing about 150 calories, which isn’t too bad but beer also contains a high level of carbohydrates. It also tends to be consumed in high volumes due to its low alcohol content. Wine fares only slightly better with around 120 calories per glass, dependent on the variety. 

 

Coffee and Tea: When served alone, without milk or sugar, tea and coffee aren’t actually that bad for you. But it’s easy to mindlessly stir in a big teaspoon of sugar and 50mL of full-fat milk without realising the impact you’re having on your calorie count. 

 

So what CAN you drink?

 

• Water. And lots of it. Not only does your body need it, it is calorie-free! 

• Black Tea and Coffee – a little bit of caffeine is actually good for you because it contains antioxidants.

• Skim milk – all the good properties of milk without the fat.

• Everything. In moderation. As long as you think of these calorific beverages as treats and not thirst-quenchers, drinking the occasional glass of wine isn’t so bad.