I recently tried one of those crazy cleanse diets. For two weeks, I ate entire fields of kale and schools of salmon, and I avoided alcohol, gluten, sugar, and dairy. (I also moaned to anyone who'd listen.)
And while it was a given that I'd avoid the free bagels and bundt cake in the office kitchen, the daily ritual I did keep was my morning cup of coffee (with cream). Giving up chocolate chip cookies and cheeseburgers was reasonably easy; abandoning my creamy coffee was not even a consideration. And I know I'm not alone in this: Whether it's three cans of soda, a couple glasses of wine, or that iconic green and white cup filled with frothy caramel macchiato, sometimes our drink addictions are even harder to resist than free Halloween candy.
And the so-called "diet drinks" aren't any better. "Both sugary drinks and zero-calorie drinks with artificial sweeteners like Aspartame contribute to weight gain," says Peggy Kotsopoulos, nutritionist and author of "Must Have Been Something I Ate." So what does that leave me with � water? I couldn't accept it.
So I turned to nutritionists and healthy-eating experts, and asked them for the most diet-friendly, nutritious alternatives to the delicious, addictive, high-calorie beverages we all love. I asked them what they drink and what their families drink. And, most importantly, I asked what I should have instead of my beloved cup of coffee with cream. So, the next time you go on a diet, pick up these diet drinks that will actually help your cause.
