# Do you drink (any nonalcoholic beverage) while you eat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988 "2011-11-05T21:17:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/21 "2011-11-06T00:47:02Z")
We were always given a glass of milk or water as kids to drink with dinner. Having something to drink was part of the meal. I generally feel the need to have something to drink while eating a meal to this day. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/22 "2011-11-06T00:59:38Z")
Probably about 20-32 oz diet soda with each meal except breakfast then, OJ and 5-6 cups of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/23 "2011-11-06T01:23:40Z")
All this talk of drinking milk is making me throw up in my mouth a little. _urp_ Gross. ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/24 "2011-11-06T01:28:06Z")
Water. Wine with dinner. More palate cleansing than “washing down food”, but I need something on hand for those times when an errant crust or crumb catches in my throat. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/25 "2011-11-06T01:54:43Z")
Always water with food. Even if it’s just a sandwich. I don’t like sweet stuff with food as it conflicts with the flavors. Having said that, out for dinner often beer, but if I’m feeling rich I’ll get a good complementary wine on the recommendation of the sommelier. ---
**Author:** ![JoThrive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@JoThrive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoThrive)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/26 "2011-11-06T01:58:48Z")
I drink water with my meals. However I love my cup of coffee with breakfast. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/27 "2011-11-06T02:30:31Z")
I have something to drink on hand at all times. Usually iced tea (not “sweet tea,” I should be shot as a Southerner.) I’m not sure I could make it through a meal without something to drink. In fact, the thought makes my throat want to close up. lol ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/28 "2011-11-06T03:12:46Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > I don’t eat without something to drink. If I’m at a restaurant and my glass runs empty, I will wait for my refill before resuming my meal. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/29 "2011-11-06T04:43:01Z")
I drink a fair amount of water if I’m eating at a restaurant, but not very much if I’m having a quick bite to eat at home. Presumably the food is saltier and the meal lasts longer in most restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/30 "2011-11-06T04:49:59Z")
I usually finish a glass of whatever (usually water, but sometimes milk, juice, or lemonade) while I eat. My mom doesn’t drink a lot. Figure that one out. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/31 "2011-11-06T05:07:44Z")
I used to live with a girl who would never drink anything during a meal. Her father believed that drinking a liquid during a meal meant that you were not chewing enough. So she would usually have a drink by her meal, but would never touch it until she was done. On the other hand, I always have a drink with every meal. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/32 "2011-11-06T07:20:07Z")
I always have something to drink when I eat. Usually a can of diet soda and some kind of sugar-free drink such as Crystal Light. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/33 "2011-11-06T11:33:15Z")
I’ll usually have at least 2 glasses of water when we eat out. At home, it’ll be water or a sugar-free flavored drink, like crystal light. I rarely have alcohol under any circumstances, and I try to avoid caffeine after noon. When I was still working, I’d generally nurse a liter bottle of water through the afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![jem\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@jem\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jem_1)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/34 "2011-11-06T12:02:43Z")
At home, I take just a few sips of water or skim milk during a meal. In restaurants, a margarita or glass of wine. If I ask for a glass of water, I then feel guilty for not drinking it. I can’t understand how people can down huge glasses of water and pop during meals, I mean, how is there room for food?! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/35 "2011-11-06T12:54:18Z")
Copious quantities of water or weak diluted orange squash. Like a pint or two, with a main meal. Coffee with breakfast or a light.meal. I can eat without drinking, but I prefer not to. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/36 "2011-11-06T16:15:04Z")
I do a glass of milk with breakfast, and lunch. Also during the day I will have a glass of cranberry juice [knudsens, 1 oz in a 24 oz glass, fill with ice, add water and splenda to taste. I hate apple juice based cranberry drinks. Too sweet.] I will also have copious amounts of ice water. I drink somewhere around a gallon of assorted beverages a day. I don’t snack, I drink iced water. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/37 "2011-11-06T17:00:05Z")
I’m a heavy drinker, and I’m not talking about being an alcoholic. At work, I go through a 2 liter bottle of soda, at least three 12 oz. glasses of water, and 1 12oz. glass of coffee. I drink a lot more then most people, I always have. If I’m at a restaurant that refills from a pitcher, I request they bring a full pitcher of whatever I’m drinking and leave it at the table. If they won’t I base my tip mainly on how long it takes to refill my glass. Peace - DESK ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/38 "2011-11-06T17:04:39Z")
I always have something to drink with a meal, and I’ll drink it while I’m eating. My old German-language professor back in Texas once told us that drinking during the meal was an American habit, that Germans would finish eating and then drink their beverage. I’ve been in Germany but forgot to pay attention to see how true that was. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/39 "2011-11-06T18:30:23Z")
Since thirst can be mistaken as hunger, I always drink something before and during meals. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988/40 "2011-11-06T20:01:08Z")
I usually drink my beverage right after the meal too. If I’m really thirsty then I’ll have a few sips before eating. I rarely stop eating to drink my water or tea. I prefer keeping that fork in my hand. 😃 > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I always have something to drink with a meal, and I’ll drink it while I’m eating. My old German-language professor back in Texas once told us that drinking during the meal was an American habit, that \*Germans would finish eating and then drink their beverage. \*I’ve been in Germany but forgot to pay attention to see how true that was. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-drink-any-nonalcoholic-beverage-while-you-eat/601988.md?page=3)