# Do you need to imbibe fluids while eating solid foods, like I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566 "2020-04-11T16:57:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/21 "2020-04-12T15:57:47Z")
During many meals, I just need a sip of water from time to time between bites. But for more tasty, spicy and garlicky/oniony meals, such as Italian or Indian, I need a Pepsi or beer. One notable exception (not sure why) are Gujarati or South Indian food, for which I prefer ice cold water. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/22 "2020-04-12T16:48:44Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Hi Ascenray - something for you to mull over: achalasia. > > NHS link: [Achalasia - NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/achalasia/) > Wiki link: [Esophageal achalasia - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophageal_achalasia) > It can be treated reasonably successfully. > > j Thanks, but I don’t have trouble swallowing, I don’t have a lack of saliva. It’s just that after a few swallows of food, my system wants fluids and if it doesn’t get it, it’s not happy. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/23 "2020-04-12T16:53:13Z")
I’m surprised and gratified to see such a solid percentage—currently the largest percentage of respondents—who are in accord with my choice. I would be interested in some detail from those folks what they experience and feel in this respect. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/24 "2020-04-12T17:13:59Z")
Depends on what I’m eating, but as I’ve gotten older, swallowing can sometimes be problematic, depending on the food. Sometimes it can cause hiccuping. So a glass of water with dinner is a precaution. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/25 "2020-04-12T17:28:07Z")
I’d say it isn’t _strictly necessary_ for me. I can and have eaten smaller meals without a beverage and very occasionally I’ll just take a few sips of whatever even with a full meal. However I want a beverage of some sort at meals 98% of the time and usually I drink all of it and then some more. If I’m out for lunch and order any sort of prepared drink, whether it is iced tea, coffee or a cocktail, I’ll always ask for water as well. I don’t trust the server will always be available to flag down immediately for a refill and I like having a backup drink. So I’m pretty close to the OP, if not quite all the way there. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/26 "2020-04-12T17:35:03Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Thanks, but I don’t have trouble swallowing, I don’t have a lack of saliva. It’s just that after a few swallows of food, my system wants fluids and if it doesn’t get it, it’s not happy. Are you saying it’s physiological or psychological (or do you know)? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/27 "2020-04-12T17:41:53Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Are you saying it’s physiological or psychological (or do you know)? It’s not psychological. It’s a physical need. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/28 "2020-04-12T18:24:00Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s not psychological. It’s a physical need. If it’s a physical need, there must be _something_ different about you physically, compared to those who do not have this need. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/29 "2020-04-12T18:41:24Z")
I’ll either have a glass of water or lemonade, or maybe a Diet Coke when I eat. I don’t need a drink after each bite, but I need some during the course of the meal. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/30 "2020-04-12T20:17:02Z")
I suspect y’all weirdos who need to drink so much with your food would find a significant percentage of your genetic heritage comes from ducks. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/31 "2020-04-12T21:07:55Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > If it’s a physical need, there must be _something_ different about you physically, compared to those who do not have this need. Sure, maybe, but that difference need not be caused by or considered a treatable disorder or illness. Especially given the substantial percentage of people who are clicking that option in the poll. It could just be a simple difference. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/32 "2020-04-12T21:17:05Z")
Always. Absolutely without exception. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/33 "2020-04-12T21:56:35Z")
I usually have something to drink available when I eat, but I don’t always drink any of it. My daughter says I’m a camel. LOL It amazes her how I don’t feel the need to drink anything, when I eat. She always is drinking something when she eats. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/34 "2020-04-12T21:59:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I want something to drink with spicy food. Otherwise, sometimes sometimes. I’m the same. I have to drink with hot spicy food otherwise I’m a “sometimes”. My wife however, absolutely has to drink when she eats. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/35 "2020-04-13T12:07:07Z")
I realized my assumption that drink always goes with a meal was partly cultural, when I had dinner with a Mexican family (in Mexico) who served the drink after the food was eaten. (This was unusual, even in Mexico, but I do think there is a cultural component to this now.) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566/36 "2020-04-13T17:12:15Z")
To me, having a drink with the meal more a custom than any sort of necessity, and only applies when actually sitting down to a meal. I do sometimes get a feeling like something is caught in my throat and need a drink, but, otherwise, I don’t feel it as a need, just as something I might want or not want, depending on circumstance. There is one exception–when I tried an eating contest. Not being able to drink meant I was unable to eat as much as I would have expected, based on how hungry I usually am. But it still took until I’d eaten more than I’d normally eat to need a drink. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-imbibe-fluids-while-eating-solid-foods-like-i-do/851566.md?page=1)