Non-alcoholic, healthy, cheap 'evening' drinks...

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Non-alcoholic, healthy, cheap 'evening' drinks...

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Started 12 years ago by Darkerside
Latest reply from wee folding bike
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Darkerside
Member

It's probably going to be impossible to write this without some hideous stereotyping about cyclists, sandals and yoghurt weaving... Or sounding like an AA meeting.

Slightly inspired by the recent Hairy Dieters series running on BBC, the future Mrs Darkerside and I have started trying to reduce the obviously unheathly bits of what we eat/drink. Bounding to the top of the pile is the crisp bottle of white wine from the corner shop, possibly accompanied by a selection of delights from the ale section at the local Morrisons.

Given that the population of this forum is presumably healthier than average, anyone found any wine substitutes?

Appletiser is our current favourite, but I have a niggling feeling that it could be cheaper just to buy a soda stream thing and some regular apple juice.

Tea and coffee are out becuase it reminds me too much of work (and whilst I am now hugely resistant to late night caffeine, others aren't...)

Posted 12 years ago #
steveo
Member

Diluting juice, not being a tea/coffee drinker its all I drink after about 7, I hardly even have a beer any more... Jings, I can't remember the last time I had a drink.

Posted 12 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Steveo - sounds like we need another pub evening!

darkerside - soda water with fresh lime juice (or a good lime cordial) is remarkably refreshing.

Posted 12 years ago #
Bhachgen
Member

Further perpetuating the stereotypes you mentioned, there are some nice herbal teas out there these days which don't have any caffeine. Real Foods do a great selection. I like the Moroccan Green and Mint, especially good if you've had dinner later than usual as it helps digestion. The Mrs likes their "Sleepytime" tea which has mint, camomile, tilia and various other obscure stuff.

Alternatively I do like a ginger beer but watch out for the sugar content if you are minding the calories.

Posted 12 years ago #
steveo
Member

Steveo - sounds like we need another pub evening!

Beeeeer.

That was probably the last time something brewed crossed my lips. I've got drinks with work on Friday but I've got a big ride on Saturday so I can't get stuck in...

/derailment.

Posted 12 years ago #
amir
Member

Water's good (but in moderation)

Posted 12 years ago #
wingpig
Member

Grape juice. The bairn was drinking some this morning and his breath smelt almost exactly like a wine-drinker's breath, ~~though he exhibited none of the erratic behaviour and lack of motor skills usually associated with drinking wine~~. Ginger beer is nice and nalcoholic but sugary, so is only used when in a pub-type situation where coffee or fruit juice are unavailable. I tend to stick to uncaffeinated teastuffs in the evening, currently favouring Redbush over nettle.

Posted 12 years ago #
Darkerside
Member

Lime/soda water sounds good, shall investigate.

I struggle with all but the most aggressive herbal teas having blasted my taste buds with overly strong tea as a student. Can't get past that 'tastes like hot water' feeling. Peppermint I can do, and we have got some sleepytime stuff which has impressive valium-like effects.

Ditto with the liking ginger beer, but I optimistically looked at the back of a bottle last week and discovered 46% of RDA of sugar. Slightly stunned...

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Fruit juice of your choice (freshly squeezed, with/without bits, etc.) poured into a glass to between 1/4 to 1/3 full. Top up with sparkling mineral water. Tastes great, lower in sugar than just the neat juice itself. Feels like a 'treat'. Doesn't keep you awake (caffeine does, and alcohol can produce the 'adrenaline' insomnia effect).

Posted 12 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

Are sugared drinks (Schloers, Appletisers, Grape Juices, Ginger Beers) really that much "healthier" than the bottle of wine? Grape juice is very high in sugar (it's often used as a natural sweetener).

Soda and lime is good, as is watering down fruit juices.

Tea? As in not the black, builder's brew off the shelves, but try some more artisan teas for different flavours. Green teas have less caffiene, but I don't find black-based teas have sufficiently enough in them to disrupt my sleeping pattern (not that I have a particularly good sleeping pattern!)

Posted 12 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Appletiser, at least the south african version (which is where i first had it), doesn't have added sugar.

Posted 12 years ago #
cb
Member

Yup, it's unfair to list Appletiser alongside Schloer and the like.

Appletiser tends to be my non-alcoholic pub drink of choice. It narks me when they give you an apple-with-added-sugar-fizzfest instead.

Posted 12 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

we mix juice and ginger beer for a refreshing (albeit quite sweet) drink (pineapple juice and ginger beer is my favourite) - juice and tonic or juice and soda water can also make nice mixes. I also like drinking just tonic, without the gin, but that's got a fair bit of hidden sugar in it too. A slight side effect (though this may just be me) is that I associate the taste with G&T and so manage to feel quite drunk on tonic alone. What can I say, I'm a cheap date! Lemon barley water or lemon squash (like Rocks) are a bit cheaper and if you dilute them down a fair bit not too sugary. Beware that Robinsons have started putting saccharine as well as sugar in their squashes though, if you don't like that sort of thing.

Posted 12 years ago #
Roibeard
Member

For pub use, try Fentimans - I particularly like their Victorian Lemonade. I discovered them in the north of England and some local pubs seem to be sneaking them in.

Bit expensive for everyday use, I suspect - I've not seen any larger bottles, so they're not attempting to compete with the home use soft drink giants.

Robert

Posted 12 years ago #
tammytroot
Member

There are non-alcoholic drinks???

Posted 12 years ago #
lionfish
Member

I'd recommend popping over to Anteaques (Open Fri-Sun). Although I'm generally not fussed about 'flavoured' tea, everyone I've given the white pomegranate tea to has loved it :)

So maybe if you diversify your tea preferences, you might find one that suits? :D

[edit: a link to anteaques ]

Posted 12 years ago #
spytfyre
Member

Go with the soda stream - you can make plenty sugarfree drinks with any cordial you have or get the sodastream flavoured water variety that are sugar free, then you get to save on extra trips to the shops and extra plastic packaging and whatnot

Posted 12 years ago #
cb
Member

To be honest, Council Pop is pretty hard to beat.

Posted 12 years ago #
ARobComp
Member

Beer?

Posted 12 years ago #
Darkerside
Member

Beer I am quite happy with thanks ARobComp :p. Black Sheep Riggwelter for preference, closely followed by Williams Bros Midnight Sun and Harviestoun Old Engine Oil!

Will wander across to Anteaques next time I'm in Edinburgh

Going off the Robinson's juices as they just seem to be getting sweeter and sweeter. Or I'm getting older...

Posted 12 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"they just seem to be getting sweeter and sweeter. Or I'm getting older"

Probably both...

Posted 12 years ago #
ruggtomcat
Member

grape juice diluted with carbonated water is my booze replacement at home, and lemonade+soda+fresh lime is it when I'm out and about.

You can get large bottles of fetomans, their rose lemonade is my personal fav.

Posted 12 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

Prune juice.

It is a warrior's drink.

Posted 12 years ago #

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