What's in your cup?

I am sitting (still in my pjs) drinking my morning smoothie looking at my long list of blog topics I have not tackled. Today, drinking calories. On our house that means a couple of things. First, the kids & juice.
We don't really do juice. Now, both girls will have some smoothie in the morning after breakfast (I think they think it is like dessert). Smoothie is made with the whole fruit. So, the fiber is still there. And that is the glitch with juice. All those fruit sugars (and sometimes added sugar) but, not fiber to tell the body "I just had calories, I am getting full". We do juice for special occasions, at grandma's, at parties, etc. Also, whenever possible, I don't give them full strength juice but, I water it down. Doesn't work with juice boxes obviously.

With the grown ups, we each have our vice. Mine is coffee. Sometimes black. But, when I need to be reminded of all that is good in the world, cafe aulait with a little sugar (cafe aulait is just a latte with coffee instead of expresso). I tried Splenda for a while. But, I have a mommy friend who has a PhD in chemistry. She not only has a sensitive tummy when it comes to Splenda but has fundamental issues with the chemical alteration of sugar to make it. She just plan said it doesn't seem to be a great idea. Well, I felt that way about other artificial sweeteners. I reluctantly added Splenda to that mental list of "it probably won't kill me today but, it might keep me from meeting my grandchildren". I take a bit less sugar in my coffee. Took a little getting used to but, I find it just as yummy.

My husband loves soda. Yes, everyone loves soda. Bubbly chemicals with or without sugar in a cup. What could be better? Well, first drinking extra calories is something no one needs (I would normally say especially me & my husband but on the off chance he reads this one day, I will just say that he is perfect). I keep very little soda in my home. I try to limit it to what we need to mix drinks (hey, you keep your cookies, I will keep my Limonata & vodkas) and my husband loves Crown & Coke (or Gentleman Jack and Coke). I also wind up keeping lots of soda around during the summer. We have a pool and somehow, I am the only one who likes to drink water while floating in water.

What do we do in place of soda? I am for the most part fine with green tea and water. For a little change, I will throw a pitcher in the frig with sliced cucumbers in water or slice up some citrus to throw in my water. My husband drinks iced tea. He does tend to go for sweet tea sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Yep, drinking more chemicals. I just can't win them all.

So, I am going to go make some coffee (and ignore that maybe not everything coming through that filter does a body good and start dreaming about the yummy wine I will have tonight with dinner.