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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are you saying it’s physiological or psychological (or do you know)?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Always. Absolutely without exception.
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.
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.
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.)
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.